Dear Students and Families of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community,

In my home office, on my desk is a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each year I have the opportunity to represent NPIEN in Washington D.C. as I take time to visit legislative offices and also participate in the annual APIA Higher Education Summit. As an avid runner, I also do my run from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and run up the steps and stand where Dr. King and his colleagues stood. Daily, I see his picture and I am reminded that we cannot fulfil the Dream in this society until we all truly understand that Black Lives Matter. George Floyd was a person of peace who worked to mentor young people in his community. We have so much more to do to change our society and we will not have equity in America until we review our implicit biases then decide what to do with them. Here on the mainland, our people rallied at the Pasifika March in Orange County, and at a march in Carson among others, and we did very well on our use of face coverings and social distancing. We have the highest rate of COVID-19 nationally, and staying home is an important safety measure, especially for elders like me. We also recognize the many in our community who are essential workers, and first responders. The best way we can show we care for others is to stay home and take care of our health. Yet the young people and students are to be commended for their activism.

Dr. King had visited Hawai’i and was impressed that the people understood integration works, and became very good friends with Reverend Abraham Akaka. Reverend Akaka sent flower lei to Dr. King and his fellow marchers at Selma, in March 1965, to lift their spirits. Jeffrey Akaka, Reverend Akaka’s son, said Dr. King’s work epitomized his father’s definition of aloha: the unconditional regard for your fellow human being. He said, “That’s the message my father and Dr. King and everyone who fights for equality among everybody stood for and that’s what we want to continue fighting for.”

We as a Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people possess a natural Aloha, a love and concern for others. This is what we need to do to stand up to the evil in America: be kind and compassionate, and talk story, and listen to others. As we support our African American community and show the world that Black Lives Matter, we shall overcome racism through the Spirit of Aloha.

Sincerely,

Victor C. Thompson, Ed.D.
NPIEN Executive Director