March 10th, 2009
SNL Skit of Hawaii went too far!!!!
Some of you may have seen the skit on SNL with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and thought of it as funny. But I think the message it sent was not funny for anyone in Hawaii who lives here (as I do….born and raised),…anyone who works here, (whether in the tourism industry or not,)….for anyone who visits us for the 1st time or the 20th time. It was not funny at all. SNL’s skit of Hawaii went too far. The bad thing about it is that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson grew up in Hawaii, went to school in Hawaii and has family still living and make a living in Hawaii. For him to trash Hawaii and the effect it may have on our tourism is very sad. He knows it was not "pono" (right) on his part. He will need to one day make it "right" (pono) with Hawaii.
If you are looking to visit Hawaii for the 1st time, please don’t let this skit give you the impression that’s how you will be treated when you come to the islands. Hawaii will embrace you and treat you with ALOHA.
"Akahai," meaning kindness,
to be expressed with tenderness;
"Lokahi," meaning unity,
to be expressed with harmony;
"Oluolu," meaning agreeable,
to be expressed with pleasantness;
"Haahaa," meaning humility,
to be expressed with modesty;
"Ahonui," meaning patience,
to be expressed with perseverance