Malama

 Years ago, I went to Hawaii for vacation. (~ you go to Hawaii once every 20 years. I think Hawaii is very overrated.)

One of the things I always recall, whenever I am in discussion regarding colonization by superpowers in human history, is - Malama

Malama is more of a pledge than a prayer; Hawaiian people ask visitors to say:

I PLEDGE TO HO`OMA`EMA`E (DO WHAT IS RIGHT)

WHILE VISITING THE ISLANDS AND WATERS.

I WILL MINDFULLY EXPERIENCE THE BREATHTAKING

NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE `ĀINA (LAND) AND THE

WELCOMING ALOHA SPIRIT OF ITS PO`E (PEOPLE).

I WILL BE HA'AHA'A (HUMBLE) AND NO`ONO`O

(THOUGHTFUL) IN MY ACTIONS.

I WILL REMEMBER THAT EACH STEP I TAKE IS UPON

LAND THAT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME, SACRED

SITE, AND LIVING HISTORY.

IF I DO NOT KNOW PROPER, RESPECTFUL, OR SAFE

BEHAVIOR, IT IS MY KULEANA (RESPONSIBILITY) TO

'IMI NA'AUAO (SEEK KNOWLEDGE) AND ASK BEFORE

ACTING.

I WILL BE MAKA'ALA (AWARE) WHILE SWIMMING

AND HIKING, AND I WILL RESPECT THE STRENGTH

AND POWER OF OCEAN CURRENTS, RUSHING

STREAMS AND THE VARIABLE AND UNFAMILIAR

TERRAIN OF THESE ISLANDS.

I WILL ADMIRE WILDLIFE FROM A SAFE AND

RESPECTFUL DISTANCE, AS HAWAI`I IS THE

ENDANGERED SPECIES CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

I WILL TAKE NOTHING FROM THIS WAHI (PLACE)

BUT MEMORIES AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT

GRATITUDE.

I PLEDGE TO MĀLAMA (TAKE CARE OF), 

AND REMEMBER THAT: HE ALI`I KA `ĀINA;

HE KAUĀ KE KANAKA. "THE LAND IS A CHIEF; MAN

IS ITS SERVANT."