Maui's Veil of Tears
This is the long chapter in Maui's history that is titled the Plantation Era Still where people and corporations come to experiment their products and their systems on Maui, extract from the land and people, and then roll out a milder toxicity to the rest of the world and the US – a more palatable version- without investing in healing the people and 'aina.
It is imperative that we shatter the chains of this plantation-era mentality and break free from its grip. We must decolonize, casting aside the confines of racial percentages and length of stay on this island. We, the people, are tasked with dismantling the oppressive systems perpetuated by those who draw their power from Oahu, tourism, and the remnants of old plantations.
We must challenge a system that caters to the privileged few, promoting crony socialism and seizing social capital for the already powerful. These individuals maintain their influence by joining key institutional boards and organizations in Maui, safeguarding a system that serves a select few but leaves the majority of the population with a circuitous bureaucratic regulatory prison and crumbling infrastructure, which, as we've witnessed, can crumble to ashes in mere hours. The time for change is now, and we must act with the long view in mind befitting the stakes at hand.
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In 2022, I seriously contemplated leaving Maui. It had become a constant struggle to do good work here in healthcare. My kids were in California with their grandparents, and my husband was in New York taking care of his mom with Covid. I found myself alone on my birthday, feeling the weight of fighting a system geared towards extraction and silencing.
However, fate had something unexpected in store. On my birthday, I decided to dine at @nuka. I sat in a quiet corner, pondering my choices. A guy took a seat next to me, and we struck up a casual conversation. After dinner, the server asked if I wanted dessert, and I decided to treat myself – "Yes, the black sesame ice cream please," I said. When she asked, "One scoop or two?" I thought, "What the heck! It's my birthday, I'll have two."
It was during this meal that I met Cameron Merdahl from Air Maui. He asked if I had ever taken a helicopter ride to see Maui from a bird's eye view. My answer was a simple "never." That's when he offered me a seat on his earliest tour. So, the next morning, I showed up for the adventure.
The crew at @airmaui welcomed me with open arms and gave me a complimentary helicopter tour oblivious to my profession but recognizing my solitude on my special day. As we soared into the skies, Maui unfolded before me in all its breathtaking splendor. It was one of those perfect days, with just the right amount of clouds to create an ethereal atmosphere and reveal hidden waterfalls, a testament to the island's natural beauty.
But the most magical part was yet to come. Flying deep into the West Maui Mountains, I experienced Maui's Veil/Wall of Tears, a sight only accessible by helicopter. It was a tall wall with geysers shooting from its many crying eyes on the cliff walls. I had never seen anything like it.
In that extraordinary moment, I sensed Maui's profound sorrow, her untamed fury, yet, most vividly, I connected with her unyielding, unwavering strength, firmly rooted- the very soul of the land. In that moment, an unspoken connection was established.
It felt as though Maui and I had an understanding. I would stay, and she would protect me. I felt this deeply, an assurance that the island had it all figured out, and all I needed to do was trust and have faith that it would work out. And so, I chose to remain, inspired by the beauty of this island and the unexpected gift it had given me on my birthday.