Maui Golf Aloha Message

e komo mai

(Welcome)

Golfing in Hawaii is like golfing no where else…because, simply, Hawaii is like no other place in the world. From the flora and fauna to the topography and other natural features, and on to Hawaii’s rich historical heritage, Hawaii is a place that offers a wealth of experiences for the golfing resident or tourist that are simply not to be found anywhere else.

Tourists often comment on the place names. Difficult to pronounce for the non-resident, they look even more baffling when their diacritical marks are included…a practice more and more often avoided these days. Diacritical marks, pronunciation cues, are common to many languages, from the umlaut (the thing that looks like a sideways colon and is often found perched over an “o,” notably in German) or the circumflex accent (looks like an upside-down “v” and “crowns” various letters in a number of languages) to the more common acute accent. Our Hawaiian words have diacritical marks as well, but it’s now less common to use these markings in print—publishers and the public often misuse, misunderstand, or are simply baffled by them. Yet they help impart a sense to the reader that, in the immortal words of Dorothy, “We aren’t in Kansas anymore.”

One of the most famous of names in our state is that of King Kamehameha…who surely never dreamed that one day there would be a golf club named after him! But the club takes care that the quality of its facilities and staff is such that they honor the famous and benevolent king. They even employed cultural advisors and a community liaison to ensure that the club was properly respectful of its name and that name’s heritage.

Clifford Naeole, the man tapped for the permanent job, thought long and hard before accepting the position.

“Why his name…what are your reasons?” he asked Rick Castillo, director of golf operations and memberships for The King Kamehameha Golf Club.

After many phone calls, emails, and face-to-face meetings, Naeole finally accepted the assignment, understanding that it was the club’s view that the king and his name were to be honored, not exploited. “I took this position as a way to create bridges of education and sensitivity for all involved,” Clifford says. “The time is at hand where everyone needs to understand that they are merely the guests on this aina [land].”

In developing the club, respect was the top priority…including a traditional ahu (altar) to honor and acknowledge those who trod the land long before golfers. The second priority was educating all management and employees. A four-hour class focused not only on past issues for Hawaiians but also on challenges of the present-day world. And the third priority? Honor, including copious artwork throughout The King Kamehameha Clubhouse’s entire complex.

Yes, only in Hawaii…. Out on the course, golfers will find some of Hawaii’s indigenous flora and herbal medicines such as guava, naupaka, uhaloa, and aloe. And to complete the effect, try counting your strokes in Hawaiian numbers: ekahi, elua, ekolu, eha, elima, eono, ehiku, ewalu…. No, you’re not in Kansas anymore.

You’re in Hawaii. E komo mai (welcome)!

A hui ho (‘til next time)!

John B. Byrne, Editor

jbyrne@reviewpubs.com

John B. Byrne