Lost in the Shuffle: “Rise Up” for Mauna a Wākea
Photo by Ashley Morishita
Hawaiʻi, it’s up to you what side you stand on, just make sure to choose the right one. You will have to live with it forever.
“The line has already been drawn, but the only question is what side of the line do you stand on? Rise Up!”
— Keala Kawaauhau
Local singer-songwriter and founder of RSP, Ryan Hiraoka, released “Rise Up” on April 4, 2015 to rubbahslippahproductions.com and YouTube.com. The Protect Mauna Kea and Aloha ʻĀina movements were the inspiration for this song.
The song features Keala Kawaauhau, lead singer for Sudden Rush. In the song he takes his stand by rapping in both Hawaiian and English taking his stand against sacred and ancestral land being desecrated on Mauna Kea on which a 180 foot tall telescope is being built.
The song starts off, “E nā Hawaiʻi mai a Niʻihau a hiki i ka moku o Keawe, ʻo kēia ka manawa a kākou e kū haʻaheo, e kū no ka Mauna a Wākea.”
Those lyrics translate to, “Hawaii from Niʻihau to the district of Kiawe, this is the time we all must stand proud, stand for Mauna Kea.”
Mauna Kea is literally translated to “White Mountain,” but is a short version of Mauna a Wākea, a name that connects it to the sky father, Wākea.
Hiraoka sings, “Rise up, rise up, rise up Hawaiian people, we must unite and fight against evil.”
Opponents of the telescope, might misinterpret the lyrics as automatically saying that science is evil. However, Hiraoka clarified his intent in a comment reply to user Kai Six on his YouTube page. “Astronomy is not evil. Nor is science for that matter,” he said. “What I’m referring to as ʻevilʻ in the song is the mind set [sic] of people who put money & politics before what is right. This has happened throughout history & is what I’m calling Hawaiian people to rise up against.”
Personally, when I first listened to this song, I too got carried away with the lyrics and without hesitation made the assumption that “evil” was science. Then, as I listened to the lyrics more, I began to understand the real message behind it, which is that itʻs imperative that we protect Mauna Kea from being desecrated. Not from science, but from money and politics. Our roots are not based on a monetary system or politics; therefore, keeping Mauna Kea as is will prevent us from straying away from tradition.
There is no doubt that what the Thirty Meter Telescope could possibly discover beyond our universe could be awesome. However, considering the historical significance and mana left on Mauna Kea, the telescope will be a major eyesore for me now and for all inhabitants and visitors of the Big Island in the future.
Go check out this song on YouTube and or download it for free at rubbahslippahproductions.com. This song will not be released in stores, for its sole purpose is to inspire and to educate.
“Rise Up” by Ryan Hiraoka ft. Keala Kawaauhau
Bob • Apr 29, 2018 at 11:46 am
After decades living on the big island I am so very surprised at the volume of TMT’s opposition. But then again I was also surprised at the rejection of the inter island ferry. I think that the loud minority is making dialog difficult. I also think that dialog isn’t what the opposition wants.
While I do honor the argument that some feel that the telescope will desecrate the sacred mountaintop, I think that most people see far more consequential problems facing people living here. It seems that the idea of the telescopes has been mishandled from the beginning. If the scientists had focused on their stewardship and Hawaiian cultural priorities at the site and further envisioned the telescopes as a Heiau dedicated to the gathering and dissemination of Astronomy, the gulf between the pro and the con side would be much less and would have more fertile middle ground. As a people, who more inclined to star study than the Hawaiians? Indeed it was this study and mastery that made their arrival here possible.
I have not heard those who support the TMT receive near the coverage of the protestors. I applaud any effort of widespread dialog, perhaps especially in high school newspapers!
Kealii Mossman • Apr 23, 2015 at 8:36 am
I know I will be in the minority here, but I don’t care.
When my students in class talk about the TMT and how bad it is and say that it is desecrating our sacred mountain, I get nervous. Personally, I support the TMT and I don’t care one bit that my students have a different opinion than I do – I actually like that they are willing to share opinions that differ from mine. Different opinions make class so much more dynamic. And unlike some teachers, I don’t believe it’s my job to try to sway students to believe one side or the other – but that’s another issue completely 🙂 Anyways, what makes me nervous when I hear students express their opposition to the TMT is the basis for my students’ opinions, not their opinion itself. The development of the TMT went through an extensive environmental impact review and I actually read nearly all of the well over 500 pages that were generated during this review. I find the comments that opponents of the TMT make regarding the waste the TMT will generate, the impact on flora and fauna, and especially the purported violations of state law to be specious and completely disingenuous. Anyone who takes the time to read the EIS would see that those issues were addressed in the approval process. Not once have I seen an opponent of the TMT reference the numerous measures that are being implemented to minimize impacts. That’s where my nervousness comes from – my students are very vocal in their opposition to the TMT, but when I ask them questions – simple questions – they regurgitate the one-sided talking points (basically propaganda) that the very vocal opponents of the TMT spout. When I ask them if they looked at the other side of the issue and read the counter point to each of those talking points, they inevitably say “no.” How can our students make informed decisions on what they say are critical issues to them if they are not making the effort to get the entire picture? It’s like the tale of the blind men who all felt different parts of an elephant and each described the elephant differently because none of them could see the whole picture. It really is important to see the whole picture. If not the whole picture, then at least the main counterpoints to your side of the issue. Most of my students don’t even know the the basic arguments that support the TMT. They only read one side. I worry that my students are often times too easily caught up in the currently en vogue movement of the day . These young minds are easily swayed and it’s not “cool” to be the one student to go against the crowd. As such, they often become like lemmings, just following the crowd – particularly if that crowd is Hawaiian. And if following each other leads to falling off the cliff (metaphorically), then so be it. They don’t seem to care. I don’t think that’s a good thing. I want my students to be critical thinkers, not mere followers. If after they have examined the various facets of an issue they are back to the point they started at, then that’s fine. At least they know all sides of the issue and have an informed opinion. Unfortunately, not many students are willing to be the uncool person who goes against the pack. Neither are they willing to take the time to do the work to understand an issue better. That’s a bummer. There is a saying in the legal arena about attorneys making closing arguments. This saying goes: If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither, pound the table. I think our students are too easily influenced by those who pound the table the loudest. I wish they would do more thinking before they come to their conclusions.
BTW, my thoughts are just general commentary/my observations. There may be a student who has read up on the issue and can speak from an informed position. I haven’t met such a student yet, but I hope there will be one, two, a dozen, hundreds of these types of students in the future.
OK, I’m ready. Flame away. 🙂
Mrs.Cajudoy • Aug 22, 2015 at 11:54 am
Mr. Mossman, Well said!
Keolamainapu`uwaielua Kaukani • Dec 7, 2015 at 9:42 am
To go against your arguement, Mauna a Wakea happens to be the real name of our mountain, and it translates to Mountain of Wakea. This mountain is sacred in our culture. It is the child of Papahanaumoku and Wakea, basically our kupuna or ancestor. By tearing down this mountain just for science and money, you are ruining our culture. How can you not care about your students’ opinions? Are you saying that they are wrong to have their own opinion? Are you insecure because not everyone believes what you believe in? We were fine without all this science. We had a lot of aloha and good things in our culture. But science and technology sucked the life right out of Hawaii.
Kaulike Pescaia • Apr 18, 2015 at 9:57 pm
Maikaʻi kāu moʻolelo. Mahalo no kou manaʻo o ke mele a no kēia puka kekahi. ʻAe, this structure will have a huge impact on education and will allow scientists to see some 13 billion light years into space, which is kupanaha. Akā, i koʻu manaʻo, scientists look over the fact that our ʻāina means so much to us. They just want to use Mauna Kea because it’s the best, which shows how awesome Hawaiʻi and it’s people are. Also, I believe where it says “moku o Kiawe,” it should say “Moku o Keawe,” because Keawe is the aliʻi nui of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi is also known as Moku o Keawe. Otherwise, awesome moʻolelo! 🙂
Ashley-Anne Morishita • Apr 18, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Mahalo e Kaulike, I made sure to make the correction on *Moku o Keawe*
Jessica Kuanoo • Apr 18, 2015 at 7:05 pm
Aloha mai,
ʻO ka mua haʻaheo wale nō wau i kā Kahaia kākau ʻana e piki ana i kemua kumuhana nui koʻikoʻi. He mea maikaʻi WALE NŌ ke komo piha o nā kānaka a pau (ʻōpio a makule pū). He mea nui ko kākou ʻike leʻa a maopopo leʻa e pili ana i kēia mea ʻO Mauna a Wākea.
Mahalo e Kahaia i kou ʻauamo kuleana ma o ka hoʻonaʻauao i ka poʻe i moākāka ka manaʻo ʻoiaʻiʻo o kēia mele
Naʻu me ka haʻaheo
Aunty Jess
Ashley-Anne Morishita • Apr 18, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Mahalo nunui e ʻAnakē ʻIwa Kuamoʻo no kau mau ʻōlelo ʻoluʻolu a kīpaipai. Haʻohaʻo nui wau iā ʻoukou nei ma Hawaiʻi. E ʻoluʻolu e holomua me ka haʻaheo a me ka ikaika no mākou ma Maui.
Aloha,
Kahaiā
France M Kalaola • Apr 18, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Mahalo Kahaia for a job well done again – I never would have known all this if you hadn’t done your homework . Papa and I are very proud of you. Ge Get’um Tiga – I love you, Puna