Crossing the Sea:
I have my suspicions that there is an “unknown method” on how undocumented people have been crossing the sea and entering into Hawaii Nei. Why do I say this? Because there is just too many people that I don’t even recognize. I don’t even know their Ohana name, I can’t identify their car, and I do not recognize the people in my community.
I grew up in the valley and we knew who was coming in and who was going out. Now, we don’t know who’s coming in, who is visiting, who’s moving in, or who’s moving out. They don’t look like they are from my Ahupua’a or even from the island. These are strangers in my town, and the thing is they don’t even know they’re strangers, they think we’re the strangers. This affects the Native Hawaiians and the people of Hawaii in all aspects of life.
If there are refugees and people who are undocumented entering into Hawaii it affects the United States. This not only affects the people but it also affects the traffic, housing, native animals, food, and health. These refugees take in all benefits such as health and state benefits which should belong to the people of Hawaii. I believe it is important to be aware of what is going on in other places because as people migrate to Hawaii, it is hard to retain land and these people are making it very hard to survive here. We need to take control over our land, and the people of Hawaii have to know what’s going on in the world so we can be aware of it and we can prevent more economic hardships here in Hawaii.
Reading this book, the first chapter is like wow. I never really thought about it that way.
“Crossing the sea with Syrians on The Exodus to Europe” I can’t imagine leaving my home getting on a boat with very little provisions and becoming refugees on a journey to Europe, Japan or wherever else the sea may take us. I know that my ancestors landed here and that this is where we belong and that forever we have a home. When I read a book like this I think, could this happen? I think what would I need? If it was happening what kind of protections would I need. It makes me grateful and thankful that we do have the US protecting us and that we do have protection from the United States laws and Military, it’s a reality check.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to take care of all of the refugees. I want to make sure that they’re all taken care of, they all are well fed, and that they’re safe and that they have fairness. But I can’t help it, I want them to have that in their own country. If they come here and they arrive on our shores, of course without a doubt, I would warm them, feed them and help them, but not to the point where my ohana and I will be pushed out of our home and kicked out to the curb. Only for them to become the rulers, residents, farmers and landlords . We as the kind-hearted and loving people who accepted them on their arrival now are being taken over and become without. Sorry that is not the plan and that is not aloha. so yes we need to know what is going on in parts of the world and why it is happening. so that we can learn from that and that we can have a solution for it and that we can apply it to protect ourselves.
sweetleilani 