Born on the Fourth of July, Orion-Independence Kahikina Enocencio, the author's son, picks protea (pincushion) flowers on the Big Island of Hawai'i at Hōkūkano Ranch in Kealakekua, Kona. - Photo: Courtesy of Jeno Enocencio

Surviving the enemy

The freedom to choose: proud American, proud Hawaiian — or both

By Jimmy F. "Jeno" Enocencio

Benjamin Franklin said, "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." Another quote along those same lines, "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security."

A couple of weekends ago, Caroline and I had the opportunity to attend my Disabled American Veterans convention in Līhu'e, Kaua'i. The weather was beautiful, though our room felt muggy when the eastern sun blazed mid-day through the patio window. It was an eventful convention of old men acting like 19-year-olds, a rejuvenating sauna of memories as veterans of three generational wars gathered and pondered their experiences. I gathered my thoughts on my war experiences during Vietnam but quietly ushered them out of my mind, replacing them with the solemn humbleness of being an American citizen – a Hawaiian warrior. This statement appears to be an oxymoron, an American citizen and Hawaiian warrior – one considered imperialistic and invasive, the other passive and welcoming by nature. Whatever the implication, I'm proud of being an American and very much of being Hawaiian.

Many have told me that I need to choose either or. I choose to be both. And that is what makes being an American great – I choose who I want to be. I get to choose where I want to go in life and what I want to achieve – the skies have no limits. I choose my words and share my ideals. I can express my perspective, which bears rights to argue and disagree. I choose the associates with whom I want to be; my life partner, the children that we raise. I can worship idols or express it in faith. I can write, and readers can criticize. We can reciprocate and not fear disparaging thoughts or retaliation. And we have the very laws that protect us embedded in our Constitution that affords us this freedom – which we enjoy, yet take for granted.

I wanted to write about a topic that we've been experimenting with at our 'ohana's ranch at Kalalau ahupua'a here in Hilo titled New Chicken v. Old Chicken, which concerns our efforts to introduce a new food that has been in Hawai'i for ages to feed our ever-growing population. But I'll save that for next month because this month's Fourth of July holiday provides the perfect time for expressing my patriotism to both flags (yet another example of my freedom to choose what I wish to share with my readers).

Not only do I celebrate the birth of America, July 4, 1776, but I also embrace the birth of my son, Orion-Independence Kahikina Enocencio, July 4,1980. What an honor to have been blessed with a son born on this special day. Every fourth we make it out to Hilo Bay to have our family BBQ and celebrate his and our country's birthday; the cake often reads "Happy Birthday Orion-Independence and America, We Love U Both!"

On Aug. 21, 2009, a day after my birthday, we'll be celebrating 50 years of statehood – of being American. I'm sure many of you may wonder, "Eh, wot kine Hawaiian iz dis ... I taught he wuz one of us?" I think if we wala'au one day, you may be able to understand my personal feelings on this sensitive issue.

One thing I will admit to all, I have taken a stand. I know in my heart that when our Queen was exiled from the throne, there were men and women who were ready to spill their own blood to reinstate her honor. But as Eve had partaken of the fruit from the Tree of Life, that mankind can become, so did the Queen relinquish her honor so Hawaiians can become. I believe that our Queen knew that in order for her children to advance in the forever-changed kingdom, she had to release her children by yielding her birthright. Had she not let go, I can only wonder how much further removed from our homeland and culture we'd become.

Yes, much has been sacrificed since with rampant disease, short life span, and lack of sovereign foods, poverty, and lack of education, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, incarceration, and lack of agricultural lands. But in the onslaught for progression, Hawaiians have achieved and overcome great barriers through the efforts of schools at Kamehameha, Punahou, Maryknoll, Damien, St. Andrews and other high academic standing schools where many Hawaiians have taken the challenge and won.

Public charter schools have demonstrated how many of our Hawaiian youth have increased depth in knowledge and understanding through application when involved in culturally based means for education. An extension of that is what we do at Kalalau: Rediscovering the Ahupua'a Life System, where we express Native Hawaiian and culturally diversified survival and learning techniques, a totally hands-on application for better understanding of academics taught in school.

Today, Hawaiians are lawyers, nurses and physicians, astronomers, professors, diplomats, scientists, agronomists, teachers, judges, lawmakers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, mayors, governors, engineers, contractors, physicists, geophysicists, oceanographers, meteorologists, agriculturists, filmmakers, editors and writers and artists, farmers, ranchers and even more. I don't think this much could've happened for Hawaiians on a large scale had the Queen defended her birthright. It was a sad day for all to have seen the Queen step down from her throne. But I sincerely feel that our Queen realized that her children had to do more than just survive; they, WE, had to "thrive."

I'm thankful for the Queen for giving me a chance to survive in this new world. I'm thankful for America for allowing me to thrive beyond my imagination. I'm proud to be American and very proud to be Hawaiian – this is my stand. The canoe cuts sharply through the wave only when the paddle pushes forward, but only in unison with other paddlers and beat of the drum. It's time for you folks to take a stand too – that is, not to just survive, but to thrive. God Bless America, God Bless Hawai'i – God Bless our Queen.

Jeno Enocencio writes about the many hats he wears.
This is the third in the Surviving the Enemy series about overcoming adversity.
Contact him at pointman_jeno@msn.com