Even though Hawai‘i is a full-fledged US State, living here is so different than anywhere else in the USA. The combination of our global isolation, rich “poi dog” cultural heritage and heavenly geography make living here an experience that is quite hard to describe in words.

One would assume there to be wild celebrations across every corner of the state, but there aren’t. There’s is really no need for them. Everyone is commerating this day in their own way. Some are peacefully protesting, some are partying and some, like me, are simply radiating appreciation and respect for this awesome place and its people.

No matter who is doing what—we are all bound by something great and beautiful: Aloha.

Aloha sums up Hawai‘i in one word. It is what binds people of different backgrounds together to cooperate, flourish and take care of one another. Aloha is also a way of saying hello, goodbye and I love you. And, as Obama proclaimed today:

The Aloha Spirit of Hawaii offers hope and opportunity for all Americans. Growing up in Hawaii, I learned from its diversity how different cultures blend together into one population — proud of their personal heritage and made stronger by their shared sense of community.

Whether you like Obama or not, he captures a pearl of truth in that statement. Sure, it’s got that quasi-cliché Barack-White House tone, but it works.

I just want to make a statement about our 50th State turning 50 today, and wish you all my warmest Aloha.

I think many Hawaiians are longing for some significant public acknowledgement from Obama, to the effect that Hawai‘i has deeply affected who he is today. So far, he hasn’t really done that. Except for the occasional shaka and aloha (very cool when this happens by the way), the world knows little about his Island roots.

To us, Obama perfectly represents the spirit of Hawaii (aloha). He emanates the values we cultivate, nurture and perpetuate in our daily lives: love, humility, tolerance, selflessness, doing what’s right and helping others.

One could rightly argue these values are universal. But Hawaii’s unique cultural heritage and geographic isolation make living here an experience found nowhere else, guaranteed. And we know Obama is all too aware of this.

As to why Hawai‘i stays on the down-low, it’s because of this: anyone who truly embodies aloha has no need to point to its source, but rather works to practice and perfect it in life and in work. As Obama said in yesterday’s inauguration speech:

But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true.

In short, Obama has tapped into universal goodness by way of Hawai‘i. His life here remains a memory, but he has taken the very best of Hawai‘i and built a message of hope and change around it. It’s not about him anymore, as he said to fellow Hawaiians and Illinoisans at last night’s Home States Inaugural Ball: 

It’s not just a matter of me … It’s a matter of all of you pitching in, working together, trying to get past our differences, in order to create the kind of world we want to pass onto our children and grandchildren.

So, Hawai‘i, let’s move with him. I know it’s hard to seperate aloha from Hawai‘i, but maybe sometimes we have to do that. The world needs more people like us, wouldn’t you agree?

One of Obama’s greatest assets he will bring him to the White House will be aloha. Though likely to remain unspoken, unconscious and undefined, the aloha of Obama, or Obamaloha, will finally and officially makes its way into mainstream USA.

We will learn how powerful the simple but profound (and often challenging) act of giving to, helping and loving others can change the world. Obamaloha will quietly take its course through the lives of people across the country and across the world, and we will all be better off for it.

Can you believe we’ve made it this far?!?

Resident President Bush is off galafranting in Peru as he primes the pump for retirement by sipping “pisco sours”, and Obama is clearly applying his even-tempered, diplomatic, cool-under-pressure, ethical and hard-working approach to managing this country. So while hopefully many of us are concentrating on being responsible, diligent citizens, the Honolulu Advertiser today features a front-page article profiling two local Hawaii Obama websites.

One of sites was part of the Hawaii State Tourism website describing “Barack Obama’s Hawaii” and the other was called “Barack’s Neighborhood” created by Honolulu writer Rob Kay. Both of them are very well done – excellent reads filled with all the facts, history, anecdotes and inspiration I could ever want with Obama and Hawaii. They are indispensable resources for any web content consuming Obama follower.

As the creator of this site, someone who is also “a son of Hawaii,” with many parallels and similarities to Obama’s life here, energized as can be about him — you’d think I’d met my match. That there’s no way I can publish anything of original merit because it’s already being done on other Obama-Hawaii websites. But I have a hard time accepting and seeing Obama as centrally a local boy from Makiki. Therefore, turning this site into a mere repository of his past is something I’m not interested in.

Granted, though — it’s vital to understand Hawaii as a major force in shaping Obama’s world view, his temperament and his character. These other sites do a phenominal job of confirming this fact. But Hawaii alone is not the only Golden Ticket — it’s Obama’s innate ability to focus more on where he is going and less on where he is from. Some could argue “that’s the Chicago in him,” and I bet there’s some truth in that.

If you examine Obama’s upbringing in Hawaii, you’ll discover that he was not a typical local boy — he did not have generations of deep-rooted family established here. He did not have dozens of uncles or aunties or cousins: just his mom, sister, grandpa and tutu, and even that was splintered. Really, Obama being born and raised in Hawaii — from a kama‘aina (local’s) point of view –is by all means atypical. Yet it’s that very anomaly — his unpredictable, unlikely story — that helped catalyze his life into the greatness that it now is.

To clarify and conclude: I appreciate the helpful and interesting websites that chronicle Obama’s life in Hawaii. However, this site will not be one of them. I think it’s a slight diversion for people here in Hawaii to be overly nostalgic of Obama’s early life in Hawaii, because it tends to look backward instead of forward.

If we had to single out just one aspect of Obama and Hawaii, the one that is so strongly part of him and who he is, then it should be Aloha. And that is where this website begins.

A huge part of me empathizes with the USA veteran-honoring mindset. My father and grandfather were both competent pilots in the Army, the latter a full-time career Lieutenant Colonel. Grandpa served in WWII and the Korean War, and dad averted Vietnam but neverthess served dutifully as a Huey and Blackhawk pilot throughout Korea, Kosovo, Honduras and the States.

In fact, I recall a visit to the Vietnam War memorial in Washington when I was about 12 or 13. It’s really hard to describe the eerie, blank sadness that takes over as you quietly make your way across walls and walls of names of fallen soldiers. The most poignant moment was seeing my dad gently weep as he looked thumbed through the thick directories of the dead and found a few of his old Army buddies listed. I’ll never forget that afternoon.

I also grew up around, but not on, military bases. So I’m somewhat familiar with the military lifestyle — the bland and characterless rows of uniform housing, PXs and BXs, commissaries, uniforms and saluting. I also had friends whose parents were in the Air Force, Navy or Army. Many of them were a transient lot, moving between various states and countries.

So there’s that part of me that knows and can’t help but respect the US military. But there’s another part I can’t ignore: the part that asks “Why in the world would anyone ever consider joining the military?” Voluntarily joining the service is out of the question for me simply because I don’t support fighting, war, violence and other forms of forceful governance.

Yes, I agree with and fully respect the necessity of such measures for just causes – and the ones who risk their lives to take them. But I would rather first seek solutions that call for mutual dialog. Unfortunately many military types I have known don’t see it this way. It’s bomb first and ask questions later.

And yes, as a teenager I faced a decision to enlist, to follow the honorable service of my father and his father before him. And even though it wasn’t the easiest thing to do at the time — God knows I needed the money — I’m still happy I never crossed that line. If I did, would that mean I would one day have to send my two sons off to serve?

The veterans that this day honors have earned every iota of my respect. I am thankful for our freedom, which clearly has not been free. Good people have died and suffered so I can be here blogging from my couch. But I also I think it’s fair to say that there’s more than one way to serve one’s country. Aloha.

I’m inspired by this if not slightly overwhelmed by the sheer odds of someone like me being picked to do something like work for and with Obama. What I mean to say is that I’m all the way in Hawaii, I’ve got a wife and four kids to take care of on top of a hefty mortgage and I’m in a boatload of debt. Life as we know it these days is nothing but piled-up stress and mounting expenses — all while trying to keep a good face for the children.

But at the same time, I find my intent so pure and my ideals so strong that it’s very hard for me to settle with what many could describe as a good, happy life. I mean isn’t the default plan for the average American to go to school, get a job, get married, buy a house, start a family and settle down? I’ve got those things and let me tell you I’m nothing but grateful for getting this far.

I keep thinking that if Obama can do it, and somehow I’ve gotten this far, what’s to stop me from also striving to my highest potential? Should I let the pressure and the discomfort of working so hard just to stay afloat limit a more meaningful future?

Again — I could not be anymore grateful to have a beautiful wife and four children and a nice house in Hawaii of all places. Yet I know in my heart and in my thoughts that there’s something more than this. I look around at the people I know and they appear to be satisfied and happy with their comfortable lives. Maybe because I’m not so comfortable is why I can’t settle for mediocrity.

So even if I don’t get an “Obama” job, which I’m totally not expecting to anyway (I don’t know the right people and they don’t know me), I do intend on doing something very significant as I raise my young family.

In fact I know there are other people out there, perhaps with a family and a bloated mortgage and little hope for the financial future, who are coping with the same depressing struggles I am. It’s you people I look forward to meeting one day as we perpetuate the greatness of this nation and its people. Aloha.

As campaign and election night bliss glides into poignant history, and as Obama builds his White House dream team, I again question the opportunities and obligations of us fellow citizens. This awesome 21st century shift in nationalistic character opens doors for millions willing to take that first step towards greatness.

I’ve been doing some groundwork on this issue. So far I’ve asked a couple of friends and family what they think they should do. One respondent said, “You’re already doing it. Just keep being a good citizen, work your job, raise your children and pay your taxes.”

Another said, “Start investing in renewable energy. Solar and wind farms — it’s going to be the next goldmine.”

And another, “I’m not really sure yet. But the symbol of Obama’s accomplishment means that so many once doubtful, disadvantaged people will rise up, face their challenges and realize their dreams.”

They’re all good answers, and it showed me that everyone’s approach to this change is going to be vastly different. So what will they have in common? I will have to save that answer for my next post (I gotta really think that through)…

Will be interesting to see if he makes any public appearances or makes any comments to local Hawaii residents.

Where does this transition leave us, the people who supported him and believed in this spectacular vision of America? Are we to feel shut out once again from government? I trust the people and the situation and say the answer is no. Once we rollover next January, I’m sure the enthusiasm will spike again and we can really embark on our new American journey.

But that’s not enough for me. To merely sit here at my desk day in and day out and not take my own leadership to new heights simply won’t do. I want to be involved. I need to serve a greater purpose in this big picture. I didn’t just support this campaign to get a great man elected and then sit back as he takes over.  I’m know this is not how it’s intended to be.

So, I will keep writing and working and dreaming and learning and hoping and aspiring until I can make a magnitude of difference in this country. Let us all do our part starting now. Aloha.