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The 2008 Hawai'i Rainbow Gathering is over. I'm trying to stay somewhat objective, because I never sought to be a site focalizer. I've only lived on this island for a couple of years, and I'm kept constantly busy with family and business. I do not have time to scour the island vetting out sites. My intended role for this gathering and for future gatherings, was and is simply to help with internet promotion, and help to run kiddie village in a proper and wholesome manner. However, in order to report accurately on the internet, I needed to know what was really going on, and I submit here my findings with the hope that we can learn from this year and make the 2009 gathering better in almost every way.
This gathering touched a lot of nerves and triggered a lot of angry energy, both among nearby residents and gatherers. Waipi'o residents have some legitimate points to be angry about-- and we gatherers should NEVER have gotten angry back-- that completely smacks in the face of everything that rainbow gatherings stand for, and makes me embarrassed and saddened to even have been a part of this whole ordeal. Rainbow Warriors fight using ONLY the weapons of peace and love. Especially for those who conspire against us. Gandhi was successful in part because he turned many of his strongest opponents into his strongest allies. I think some of the parties involved in spreading their angry energy this year now acknowledge this essential bit of international wisdom. So, good we are LEARNING.
As for the conspiracy against us: happily, I can say there is no Waipi'o Mafia. The community has meetings like any other community, and people talk, and yes, I imagine the bigger land owners have more influence. Early drafts of the letters circulating against us made the false impression that we were defying the will of some Hawaiian Nationalist quasi-government that was threatening us all with certain destruction. Meanwhile, the conspiracy against us raged on the internet, with completely fabricated rumours being sent via private tribe mail that the gathering had been cancelled and the police and the health department were getting involved. The truth? Long time Waipi'o residents know the police almost never come down to Waipi'o. The health department has no jurisdiction. No violent locals on ice attacked us. The gathering was ultimately tolerated, and we made good on our promise to love the land, hand clearing streambeds and fallow kalo lo'is.
What went wrong with the Hawi site? I got this disturbing private tribe message:
aloha - I feel it very important to share with all what is the proper protocol in Hawaii, especially the older villages such as Kohala. Even with the best intentions - even when you are approaching to honor a person, place or thing - you seek the permission of the elders in the community and you wait for their answer and accept it - what ever it is. You include them you do not descend upon them. I am surprised with the years of this intention in Hawaii that this extremely important protocol is seemingly not even known! This is in part why the group met with unkindness here. What is pono - correct and rightgeous is what matters and there is a proper age old protocol to this. The idea of tending to ones own ahupua'a is also at play. I was told by one rainbow-er that our community did not seem to care! very offensive - of course we care and hundreds of volunteers do this work all the time. Camping is only legal at Mahukona and Kapaa - where there is sanitation control. Had this been handled differently - the outcome would have been much different! Lighthouse is the premier surf spot so the territorial imperative of surfers which can be rough was also at play. I would urge following the age old protocol, camping legally and allowing the community to be a part of things... it is obviously very important!
So, there you have it. Kohala is likely too populated to try to camp anywhere reasonably accessible without the direct permission of a private landowner. And offensive "rainbow-ers" opening their yaps give karmic headaches to us all. I observed one interaction between a gatherer and an angry resident checking us out, and there were angry and bitter words coming from both parties. As we have learned this is NOT the way of the Rainbow Warrior, and if we insist on disrespecting even angry locals threatening us with violence, we will find ourselves with no place to gather. For the record, though, it was definitely NOT the surfers who rousted us, but rather those who appeared to want to use the site to smoke ice and illegally hunt. The overwhelming majority of Hawi residents I talked with STRONGLY supported us, and I am saddened that a credible threat of (possibly iced-out) violence forced our hand into a tactical retreat. One thing is for sure: that land still needs a lot of love, and our prayer for the earth has exposed some of this truly wicked darkness to the light.
Why Kohala in the first place, when there are far less populated areas of the island? The vision was and is simply this: to cover all four corners of the Hawai'i Island diamond: we've done Puna in the East, Ka'u in the South, now Waipi'o in the North. For next year, the vision has come to scout Kona in the West. Like Kohala, Kona is so populated, that it is hard to envision a gathering anywhere but on private land. Some site focalizers are optimistic such a site can be found, and our four year long vision can be realized. However, any good site will be considered, and this year has taught us the importance of having a well-scouted backup site. So if you have any energy to put forth to help us with scouting and site focalizing, please, this is the year we need you.
If anybody has the skills, let's expand this marketing scenario: why on earth would a private land owner want to host us? Free labour for one thing... we are passionate about projects that help the 'aina. Free publicity-- we'll bring people to your land from all over the world, and, as the ABC coverage proves, the world is curious and watching us. A sense of helping a people in need-- all we seek is to gather in the cathedral of nature and and commence a multi-day prayer for the earth. After the gathering has moved on, you'll have your pick of motivated WWOOFer type travelers. It is a winning situation for everybody.
So the vision for next year: 2009 Feb 1-13 Hawai'i Rainbow Gathering, possibly in Kona. 2009 Feb 9 will be a Full Moon Penumbral Eclipse, and it will be visible from Hawai'i.
Aloha,
Benjamin
This gathering touched a lot of nerves and triggered a lot of angry energy, both among nearby residents and gatherers. Waipi'o residents have some legitimate points to be angry about-- and we gatherers should NEVER have gotten angry back-- that completely smacks in the face of everything that rainbow gatherings stand for, and makes me embarrassed and saddened to even have been a part of this whole ordeal. Rainbow Warriors fight using ONLY the weapons of peace and love. Especially for those who conspire against us. Gandhi was successful in part because he turned many of his strongest opponents into his strongest allies. I think some of the parties involved in spreading their angry energy this year now acknowledge this essential bit of international wisdom. So, good we are LEARNING.
As for the conspiracy against us: happily, I can say there is no Waipi'o Mafia. The community has meetings like any other community, and people talk, and yes, I imagine the bigger land owners have more influence. Early drafts of the letters circulating against us made the false impression that we were defying the will of some Hawaiian Nationalist quasi-government that was threatening us all with certain destruction. Meanwhile, the conspiracy against us raged on the internet, with completely fabricated rumours being sent via private tribe mail that the gathering had been cancelled and the police and the health department were getting involved. The truth? Long time Waipi'o residents know the police almost never come down to Waipi'o. The health department has no jurisdiction. No violent locals on ice attacked us. The gathering was ultimately tolerated, and we made good on our promise to love the land, hand clearing streambeds and fallow kalo lo'is.
What went wrong with the Hawi site? I got this disturbing private tribe message:
aloha - I feel it very important to share with all what is the proper protocol in Hawaii, especially the older villages such as Kohala. Even with the best intentions - even when you are approaching to honor a person, place or thing - you seek the permission of the elders in the community and you wait for their answer and accept it - what ever it is. You include them you do not descend upon them. I am surprised with the years of this intention in Hawaii that this extremely important protocol is seemingly not even known! This is in part why the group met with unkindness here. What is pono - correct and rightgeous is what matters and there is a proper age old protocol to this. The idea of tending to ones own ahupua'a is also at play. I was told by one rainbow-er that our community did not seem to care! very offensive - of course we care and hundreds of volunteers do this work all the time. Camping is only legal at Mahukona and Kapaa - where there is sanitation control. Had this been handled differently - the outcome would have been much different! Lighthouse is the premier surf spot so the territorial imperative of surfers which can be rough was also at play. I would urge following the age old protocol, camping legally and allowing the community to be a part of things... it is obviously very important!
So, there you have it. Kohala is likely too populated to try to camp anywhere reasonably accessible without the direct permission of a private landowner. And offensive "rainbow-ers" opening their yaps give karmic headaches to us all. I observed one interaction between a gatherer and an angry resident checking us out, and there were angry and bitter words coming from both parties. As we have learned this is NOT the way of the Rainbow Warrior, and if we insist on disrespecting even angry locals threatening us with violence, we will find ourselves with no place to gather. For the record, though, it was definitely NOT the surfers who rousted us, but rather those who appeared to want to use the site to smoke ice and illegally hunt. The overwhelming majority of Hawi residents I talked with STRONGLY supported us, and I am saddened that a credible threat of (possibly iced-out) violence forced our hand into a tactical retreat. One thing is for sure: that land still needs a lot of love, and our prayer for the earth has exposed some of this truly wicked darkness to the light.
Why Kohala in the first place, when there are far less populated areas of the island? The vision was and is simply this: to cover all four corners of the Hawai'i Island diamond: we've done Puna in the East, Ka'u in the South, now Waipi'o in the North. For next year, the vision has come to scout Kona in the West. Like Kohala, Kona is so populated, that it is hard to envision a gathering anywhere but on private land. Some site focalizers are optimistic such a site can be found, and our four year long vision can be realized. However, any good site will be considered, and this year has taught us the importance of having a well-scouted backup site. So if you have any energy to put forth to help us with scouting and site focalizing, please, this is the year we need you.
If anybody has the skills, let's expand this marketing scenario: why on earth would a private land owner want to host us? Free labour for one thing... we are passionate about projects that help the 'aina. Free publicity-- we'll bring people to your land from all over the world, and, as the ABC coverage proves, the world is curious and watching us. A sense of helping a people in need-- all we seek is to gather in the cathedral of nature and and commence a multi-day prayer for the earth. After the gathering has moved on, you'll have your pick of motivated WWOOFer type travelers. It is a winning situation for everybody.
So the vision for next year: 2009 Feb 1-13 Hawai'i Rainbow Gathering, possibly in Kona. 2009 Feb 9 will be a Full Moon Penumbral Eclipse, and it will be visible from Hawai'i.
Aloha,
Benjamin
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