Aloha, a beautiful word that encompasses so many wonderful
meanings and emotions. We are so very blessed to live in the “Land of
Aloha.” In such a beautiful place that
is populated with a rainbow of people from around the world. These islands and the people have not and
still are not treated with the mutual respect that should be reciprocated among
the many children of God. The Hawaiian Islands are literally the
melting pot of the Pacific Rim.
Tolerance and acceptance of the many different cultures, religions and
personalities that visit these islands distinguished the people of Hawaii as
the original ambassadors of lokahi (unity) and aloha (unconditional love).
The original inhabitants of
paradise were plagued by several hundred years of war among the many chiefs
until the great King Kamehameha united the islands. Upon his death, the kingdom and islands were faced with extreme
challenges and influences from within the kingdom and from foreigners from all
over the world. The British, French,
German, English, American, Russian, missionaries, whalers and sailors brought
controversial change to the culture, religion and morality. With the Great Mahele (land division) and
Haole (Caucasian newcomer) controlled agricultural industry came the mass labor
immigration to the islands. First came
the Chinese then the Japanese followed by Russian, Portuguese, Mediterranean
Philippine, Korean, Africans and others.
The field work was harsh and the life style and treatment of the
laborers was at times harsher. With
the labor unions came a more conducive working environment and an official
representation. In 1959 came Statehood
and slowly over the years the politicians, lawyers, doctors, policemen,
firemen, nurses, salesmen, laborers of Hawaii have become a rainbow of people
whose ancestors came from around the world.
The big estates still dominate
the land ownership in Hawaii. However, these estates are controlled by a few men
and women who do not properly represent the majority of people living here
together as citizens equal and on the level of society. In the past, many of our ancestors and
family members were mistreated by people in power in Hawaii. The mistreatment in the past brews the
hatred that is passed on from one generation to the next. The hatred becomes a cancer in the hearts
and minds of the children and eventually destroys the spirit of aloha that God
meant for his rainbow of children to all share in together.
As Freemasons, adults, parents
and mentors we must demonstrate the pure principles of masonry through our
aloha to the public and to the children with our actions and our words. When we are frustrated with business,
politics, religion etc. , it is difficult not to want to cast blame on another
individual, religious or ethnic group.
Masons should never contemplate, let alone state a racist comment, nor
should he remain present if he hears any racist remarks made in public or in
private. It does not matter who our
ancestors were, we are all brothers in Freemasonry.
I am proud to be the Worshipful
Master of a lodge which is made up of American Freemasons from so many
different ancestral and cultural backgrounds.
We have brothers in our officers line that are of Samoan, Hawaiian,
Greek, German, Italian, Philippines, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English,
Scottish ancestry and a just about
every other ethnic background in our sidelines and quarries. We are united into one sacred band or
society of friends and brothers, among
whom no contention exists, except that noble contention, or rather
emulation, of who best can work and best agree. My brothers, I call upon you to help stop the prejudice that we are
aware of and to truly live aloha by our every thought, action and deed.
“Mans
mind plans his way, God directs his
steps.”
Respectfully submitted,
George Theofanis
Worshipful Master
East, West, South, Aloha, March News, March B-Day