Lucky — And Thankful — We Live Hawaii
On a week when tradition reminds us to count our blessings, we’re reminded that there are plenty to count in an island paradise we’re fortunate to call home.
As a public affairs news outlet with a focus on investigative and watchdog journalism, Civil Beat is often concerned with the more problematic parts of Hawaii, its governments and its communities.
On any given day, you might encounter on our site stories on a homelessness problem so severe it has been declared a statewide emergency, the latest troubling news on the Honolulu rail project’s budget or an update on the controversy surrounding construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea.
While we are and should be concerned with issues that need to be brought to the attention of those who call our islands home, that mission can sometimes obscure a fact we ought never forget: We’re lucky to live Hawaii.
In this week of Thanksgiving and with just a few weeks left in 2015, then, we at Civil Beat offer just a few of the many things we’re grateful for in our island paradise (in no particular order):
- Lazy mornings on the North Shore, afternoons walking Waimanalo’s white sands and the last set of the day at Sandy.
- Leis on special days.
- The generosity of volunteers and dedication of staff who never forget that too many on Oahu have no home to call their own, no family to turn to and no idea where their next meal will come from.
- The enduring stately dignity of Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States, silently, regally defiant in the heart of downtown.
- The legacies of Duke Kahanamoku, Patsy Mink, Ellison Onizuka, Eddie Aikau, Daniel Inouye and Kamehameha the Great and the countless contributions each made to our islands and the world beyond through lives of service and achievement.
- The panoramic majesty of the Waianae Range, the soaring peaks of the Koolau; hikes through Manoa Valley, the Manana Trail and Likeke Falls, and the views from Diamond Head, Koko Head and the Pali Highway lookout.
- Aunties, uncles, tutus, keiki and the warm appreciation for ohana from shore to shore.
- The rich diversity of our people and communities, and the idea that no matter your race or background, culture or beliefs, you’re welcome here.
For most of us, another work week will get underway on Monday, and in the rush of the holiday season, it might be easy on any given day to forget the graces of the points above, both the simple and enduring. But try to keep them in mind, along with one other idea that we hope is as true for you as it is for us:
If you’re lucky enough to live in Hawaii, you’re lucky enough.
