Sometimes the island elusion seems only a delusion (which, the majority of the time, most don’t mind deluding themselves with). But as distracted or independent as you may feel, you can never wholly sever the ties that bind. When you’re seemingly disconnected from but totally affected by forces that control your economy, “security”, laws…you get torn. Wouldn’t mind hiding out at the beach, surfing all day. Wouldn’t mind horribly if Hawaii were less reliant on the mainland and the rest of the world. But when these islands were stolen from the Hawaiian people, they began an immediate and progressive take-over, which started with religion and culture and ended with desecration and corporate control of the land. And despite proclamations demanding sovereignty, which by all accounts should be granted, it’s hard to imagine the ability to shed the dependency that has now spanned generations. And when the mood is Jawaiian sweet, it’s a struggle to get motivated. And when the spirit is blessed with Aloha, sometimes people get easily deceived.
Once upon a time, there were no need for telephones, radio, cable TV and the news. People here were apt at reading the ocean, the heavens, and had a soulful connectivity; to the universe, the land, the sea…and to each other. And the news traveled verbally (“talk story”), carried by the mouths of the people. With that kind of background it’s interesting how it continues on even today, where any bit of gossip transmits –through the “coconut wireless”– from person to person ’til the whole town, island, and eventually neighboring islands have gotten wind of (some version of) the truth.
Coconut Girl Wireless is a consortium of wahine rippers: surf activists to humble realists. Hawaii-based – but with our limited forums, happily utilizing the free speech/equal access World Wide Web to communicate island-wide and beyond. We’re glad you could join us. Kukakuka. We’re just getting started. Mahalo!
all text herein copyright ©2007-8 by their authors.
* * *
Contributors:
“Coconutgirl”: Writer and graphic designer, c-grl’s work (under various nom de plume’s) has appeared in The LA Weekly, Alternative Press, Vanity Fair, Icon, Chicago Tribune, The Village Voice….She’s conducted hundreds of interviews from Beastie Boys to Terrence McKenna. In another life she edited the book “Retro Hell: Life in the ’70s and ’80s from Afros to Zotz” (Little, Brown), as well as the Lalapalooza tour magazine, the “I hate Brenda Newsletter”, and for 10 years was the editor/publisher/designer of music/culture magazine Ben Is Dead. And yes, the pict is at A-Bay (Bay-bay).
“Ms. Reef Rash”: Ex-rocker chick and current web designer extraordinaire. Somehow this sassy MILF figures out how to make pancakes, get the kids to school, and pick up CoconutGirl for surf all by 8a.m. Is she sassiest wahine out in the water? She’s got our vote!
More coming sooon…..
