From Randy Hack, The National Alliance on Mental Illness Hawaii
HAWAII'S COVID TSUNAMI
Like a TSUNAMI the CORONAVIRUS is composed of a series of waves, called a
WAVE TRAIN, so its destructive force is compounded as successive waves reach
shore. People experiencing a tsunami should remember that the danger may not have
passed with the frst wave and should await ofcial word that it is safe to return to
vulnerable locations. Some tsunamis do not appear on shore as massive breaking
waves but instead resemble a quickly surging tide that inundates coastal areas. THE
BEST DEFENSE AGAINST ANY TSUNAMI IS EARLY WARNING THAT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND. [Emphasis Supplied]
Lt. Gov. Says Hawaii is on “COVID Tsunami Watch”
KHON2 Wake Up 2Day, September 9, 2021
<https://www.khon2.com/wake-up-2day/lt-gov-says-hawaii-is-on-covid-tsunami-watch/>
Tsunamis – These destructive surges of water are caused by underwater earthquakes
National Geographic
<https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/tsunamis>
HAWAII PONO`I
A special game gives the state anthem a chance to remind us where we're from
By Nickolaus Sugai, Honolulu Civil Beat Emerging Writer, January 12, 2016
<https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/01/hawaii-ponoi-the-only-reason-i-know-the-words/>
“The only reason I know the words to the state anthem, “Hawaii Pono`i,” is because we were
required to sing it, along with “The Star Spangled Banner,” every Monday morning at flag
assembly in elementary school. I knew the words; but the meaning behind them escaped me.
This game was so special, everyone had left their tailgate and was actually in their seat for
kickoff, a minor miracle for any sporting event, much less one on a warm Saturday evening on
Oahu. We sang the obligatory national anthem, but it felt antsy.
Amongst the cheering and yelling and the screams, “Hawaii Pono`i” started. And instead of
the eye rolls and indifference I threw at it in elementary school, I started singing — along with
the entire stadium. Fifty thousand people doing anything at the same time is always awesome.

But 50,000 people singing about a song about where they're from, well, that's just magnificent.
As tight knit as we think we are and despite all of the “ohana” rhetoric, people in Hawaii are
no different that our mainland counterparts. We bicker over a rail because it doesn't serve our
personal daily interest. We can't figure out how to lower the astronomic cost of living. We
can't agree on a telescope on top of Mauna Kea. And we can't figure out why there are so
many self-storage units here. Let's agree to get together … and remind the rest of the country
what we're all about. Because when else we going to get to sing “Hawaii Pono`i?”
_______________________________
PONO
There's no shortage of meaningful words in the Hawaiian language. There are hundreds of
words and phrases that are deeply rooted in the ancient culture and shared wisdom of the
Hawaiian people. And there are few other cultures that practice what they preach as sincerely
as the Hawaiians do. This is why learning the Hawaiian language is a glimpse into a living,
vibrant culture that is one of the world's great treasures. One word in Hawaiian, which defines
how many Hawaiians look at life, is pono.
Pono is commonly translated as 'righteousness'. In fact, it’s right there in the state motto,
which reads Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono, and literally translates to 'The life of the land
is perpetuated in righteousness'. But like most Hawaiian words, pono is powerful and
descriptive, and can be applied to many different areas of life and community - so there are
many different ways to interpret this tiny slip of a word.
What are the different meanings for the word pono?
Strictly speaking, the Hawaiian dictionary by Mary Kawena Pukui's and Samuel Hoyt Elbert's
gives six Hawaiian meanings and eighty-three English translations for the word pono! Just a
few of the direct translations for pono into English show the range of the word: from ideas of
goodness (uprightness, morality, moral qualities, correct or proper procedure) to objective
excellence, personal or communal well-being or material prosperity, welfare, shared ideas of
wealth such as equity, and ways of communicating the benefit or purpose of something, it's
true condition or nature, and almost countless other ideas around virtue or desirable things,
both material and spiritual.
These are only superficial translations. The word carries a lot of depth and meaning, and to
understand the true significance of the word, it isn't a dictionary we must turn to. It's Hawaiian
culture itself, which reflects the values that pono stands for.
What is the deeper meaning of the word pono?
In life, pono stands for righteousness and balance. In Hawaiian, if a person is living pono, it
means that they have struck the right balance in their relationships with other things, places,
and people in their lives. It also means that they are living with a continuous conscious
decision to do right by themselves, by others, and by the world in general.
Essentially, pono is a state of existence that is characterized by integrity and a feeling of
contentment when everything is good and right. The idea behind this word and this way of life
is that moral behavior leads to happiness for the doer and for everyone around them.

What effect does the practice of pono have on the society?
The short answer would be that it has an extremely positive effect on people in particular and
the society at large, made up of all the communities that people are a part of. People who
follow the principle of pono are always hopeful and optimistic. Pono is one of the main
reasons why the people of Hawaii always have a ready smile and a helping hand, and it's why
Hawaii as a whole is one of the happiest and most beautiful cultures to learn about,
experience, and immerse yourself in.
Aloha Shirt Shop
<https://www.alohashirtshop.com/hawaiian-lifestyle/pono-meaning/>