King Kamehameha Lei Draiping Ceremony
Statement of Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono in the
U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall
June 9, 2008
Aloha Friends, Colleagues, distinguished guests and my fellow residents of Hawaii.
Hundreds of years ago, a giant in Hawaiian history was born –a man that would unify the Hawaiian Islands and become its first King.
King Kamehameha the First was the living embodiment of a leader—daring, visionary, strong—and very importantly courageous, and not just the kind of courage you find on the field of battle—but the courage to forgive others for the greater good of all.
As a rising leader on the Island of Hawaii, Kamehameha encountered two local fishermen who attacked him years earlier with a large paddle—leaving him for dead. They attacked him out of fear, during a raid that Kamehameha participated in.
Twelve years later, these same fishermen were presented to Kamehameha for judgment. He could have sent them to their deaths with the slightest utterance—but he didn’t.
Instead, he blamed himself for attacking innocent people and astonishingly, gave the fishermen gifts of land and set them free.
History records this act as the basis for the Law of the Splintered Paddle, a law which provided for the safety of noncombatants in wartime. It’s a law that undoubtedly saved many lives during Kamehameha’s unification of the Hawaiian Islands.
While this may have seemed like a simple gesture of kindness, I submit to you that this act took courage and vision.
Courage to Forgive
Courage to appear weak, by not punishing those who harmed him.
Courage to change the norm of the day, even when he didn’t have to, because in his heart, he knew it was the right thing to do.
Having the courage to do the right thing, especially in changing times, is the most enlightened form of leadership.
And that’s something that we all should remember today.
We are undergoing a historic election and challenging times. These are times that have pressed our challengers for high office to acknowledge that when they have finished competing against one another, they must come together and unite for the common good.
We can never forget what’s at stake—and we must have the courage and vision to remember the important work we are called to do.
So today, as we remember that leadership comes in many ways and forms and the greatest form is leadership that acts for the greatest good.
And let us all go forward with courage and vision.
