…that life can be perceived afresh—even in conditions of turmoil, chaos, even despair. What else is there to do, anyway? Give in? Give up? Sure, that is all within the realm of possibility; it even happens frequently, and anywhere at all. But I think the point is one can choose; one can choose to give in to despair and entropy, or one can make the best of things.

It remains amazing to me, every time I think about it, how Hawaiian culture, to cite just one example (near and dear) has survived a history that hasn’t been kind to it. I think of other native American tribes, many on the brink of extinguishment, that haven’t fared nearly as well. And yet they have a shared history of being set upon and conquered.

There are many differences, to be sure, but my gut feeling is that without a certain resiliency—and sheer luck—Hawaiians would have been themselves on the edge of the abyss for a long time now. But they are not. Some things still remain profoundly disturbing, but I do think Hawaiians now have a fighting chance of seeing their culture through for many generations to come.

To have become part of that story, now, has been the surprise of my life.