Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Musings: Squalls and Hafiz

This Christmas got off to a very good start. Slept in till 9:30, then asked Koko if she wanted to take a walk, and from the way she wiggled and squirmed, I knew that meant yes. So we headed down the hill and walked from Lydgate to Nukolii. Then I jumped in the water while Koko raced madly along the water’s edge, like she always does when I’m swimming.

Little squalls were hanging out all along the horizon, but none of them blew in, and while it was windy, it was sunny, and entirely delightful. Yesterday, driving home with bags of organic veggies from John and Nandie Wooten’s Aliomanu farm, I was thinking of how lucky and grateful I am when I looked out over the ocean and saw a small, very dark squall headed for land, carrying a rainbow with it. Mahalo ke Akua.

Then, as today, KKCR was broadcasting Hawaiian music on automatic pilot. It seems station management responded to the prospect of a Christmas Eve confrontation with Ka`iulani and her supporters by simply closing up shop and locking the gate.

That may have spared them a conflict temporarily, but they’re going to have to open up sometime. I wonder how all the DJs felt who had their shows cancelled yesterday and today.

Meanwhile, station managers posted a note on the KKCR website that makes like the shut down and canned programming is “our special holiday gift of aloha, A Celebration of Hawaiian Music! Mele Kalikimaka & Ha`ouli [sic] Makahiki Hou!”

Aside from the fact that they really should keep a Hawaiian dictionary handy, I think it would have been so much easier if station managers had just sat down with Kaiulani and Noel, the other DJ involved in the dispute, and dealt with it face to face, immediately. But by putting it off, and then closing up the station, they’re simply allowing the bad blood to keep boiling, and raising questions — at least in my mind — about whether their preferred method of dealing with tough issues is simply denial and avoidance, neither of which are ideal management styles.

The website also includes this new posting: “KKCR supports the preservation, perpetuation and celebration of the Hawaiian culture and encourages members of the Hawaiian community to get involved by becoming part of the KKCR `ohana. The station actively seeks volunteers to enhance and diversify its Hawaiian programming, including social, political, musical and cultural affairs.”

That’s all very well, and a good intention, but anyone with even the slightest understanding of local culture knows that you don’t get people to become part of your `ohana via email. It’s going to take some major outreach to get locals involved in the station, and quite possibly a relocation of the studio to a more convenient location for the majority of the island's residents than Princeville.

Anyway, if you want to watch a short video on the demonstration at the station, check out this You Tube offering by Koohan “Camera” Paik, the same woman who brought you the popular Discover Kauai video.

Finally, since it is Christmas, that time of peace on Earth, goodwill to all, I’ll close with one of my favorite poems from Hafiz:

STOP BEING SO RELIGIOUS

What
Do sad people have in
Common?

It seems
They have all built a shrine
To the past

And often go there
And do a strange wail and
Worship.

What is the beginning of
Happiness?

It is to stop being
So religious

Like

That.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are very real barriers to participation at KKCR. I think we owe it to ourselves as a community to honestly identify those barriers and do all we can to remove them.
We should listen to the voices of those who have felt excluded: the disabaled, the people of color, the radicals, the working folk. Instead of covering our ears and humming to avoid the discomfort of hearing them, we should open up, listen, take responsibility, and change!

Anonymous said...

I'm left not knowing to whom to throw my sympathy or support, by my being left in the dark about what happened. I mean, if Ka`iulani did something stupid like crack someone across the head over a some difference of opinion or political disagreement, then I wouldn't be inclined to have much sympathy for her. I don't care what kind of big shot kahuna she might be. But if the station is, say, just trying to find an excuse to dump her because she's all hard ass and makes the white liberal establishment uncomfortable, then I'm way totally willing to stand with her and show up at actions supporting her and everything. Not that anybody cares one way or the other what I support or would do. I'm just saying what kind of information an otherwise nuetral person would need to made a decision. I we otherwise nuetral people aren't getting that kind of information.

Anonymous said...

She yelled at another programmer who was being, and has a history of being disrespectful. No violence. The station says she has a long of history of "abusive" and "threatening" behavior, but who is to say that it's not just her being outspoken and not taking crap from people?
The station needs to deal with this situation appropriately and work out this problem. Then, it needs to make substantive changes to its structure and decision-making process to create a community station that truly includes the community.

Anonymous said...

The woman's bigoted remarks are part of the public record. Thanks to KKCR, we have one less bigot on the radio.

Anonymous said...

Clearly, there is a problem with privileged white settlers attempting to characterize outspoken indiginous people as "bigoted" and "racist" without evaluating the real context of remarks about white people. It is childish and historically ignorant to equate the language of anger about oppression with the language of the hegemonic oppressors. Is this what white settlers in denial are going to do now? Build the case that Ka'iulani was fired for being a "racist"? Pathetic!

There is a difference between belonging to the settler class that is benefitting from the occupation of Hawai'i, and being part of the class that is being wiped out as a result of that occupation.

The occupation of Hawai'i is predicated on racism. The resistance to that occupation is based on the urgency of survival.

Anonymous said...

quote from her next job:

"yah, I used to work for KKCR. You want fries with that?"

Good riddance.

Community radio does not mean enforced equal employment as on-air personalities from all diverse segments of the community.

Anonymous said...

Then what does community radio mean?

By the way, these are volunteer positions we are talking about, taken on by highly skilled concerned citizens. I'm repulsed by the assumtions evident in Gadfly's post.

Anonymous said...

Good Riddance! is right. She's a bigot and an obnoxious loudmouth.

Anonymous said...

guess it takes one to know one?

Joan Conrow said...

Now before we go throwing the b word around, I offer this definition from Webster's: "one obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his own church, party, belief or opinion." I would say that probably applies to most all of us at one time or another.

And yes, Gadfly, community radio DOES mean representing the entire community through both the board and on-air personalities.

Anonymous said...

I must object. My actual title is Evil White Male Hegemonic Oppressor of the Phallocentric Oligarchy; please don't shorten it again. Forty years ago I wanted things to "Burn, Baby, Burn." I grew up and got over it; so should you. You are the one who is "childish and historically ignorant." Rather than heading for prison, I make 6 figures, work 4 hours, and live beautifully in a house worth 2 mil. What's more, whether it be the Superferry or Sovereignty, I will eventually win any fight you start. I'm already laughing with the tasty anticipation of it.

Anonymous said...

"What's more, whether it be the Superferry or Sovereignty, I will eventually win any fight you start."

If you're on the Superferry team, you guys are taking some mean shots from the weather. Looks like a knockout in the early rounds with the Maui travelers flocking to the airlines. Maybe you should stay in your house and watch your teams on your big screen TV. It's fashionable now, so don't worry about not being perceived as trendy.

Anonymous said...

Hey, privileged white settler here. Actually, the only thing funnier than that label is the notion that a critic must be a Superferry employee. That may be true while picking at a GMO free salad at Papayas; but, in the real world, the people who run things and make things run far outnumber you. We are amused at your rants. We are not amused when you momentarily get in the way. You lost the war (and have yet to realize it) when you won the battle on August 28th and gave authority a reason to exercise authority. Like so many children, you are now complaining that your teachers are not playing fair. It's over over over; go sit in a tree (but not for very long).

Joan Conrow said...

To anonymous who left this comment: "but, in the real world, the people who run things and make things run far outnumber you. "

What makes you think those to whom your comment is directed don't run things and make things run, too? Those GMO-free salads at Papaya's ain't free, you know.

Anonymous said...

As a card-carrying PWS and charter member of the EWMHOPO club, my next contribution to society will be a picture of the King of Atooi (Geseundheit!!) with the head of the Burger King (home to my fav "heart attack on a bun") in place of his own rather ugly continence.

Maybe I'll put Ka`iulani next to him with another superimposed head...maybe Rosy O'Donnel...Rosann Barr...Wicked Witch of the East...Paris Hilton (taken from her stunning video...and that ain't no microphone!)...don't know yet.

If she wants to express her "downtrodden natives" tripe, let her do it in a calm, rational manner. If the allegations of yelling, abusive and threatening behavior are correct, she deserved to be bounced.

Anonymous said...

sheesh!
pesky fly!