W. Henry Greenwell monument, Kealakekua, Hawai'i Island
Along the highway in Kealakekua stands a lone monument on a hillside just across from the Kona Historical Society. I've driven past it hundreds of times not giving it a second's thought. Recently, I climbed the leaf-strewn steps that lead to it to take a closer look. On the side facing me was the inscription: "W. Henry Greenwell Born June 7, 1869 Died June 17, 1927". Underneath the English inscription was another one in Japanese characters. The Greenwell name is well-known on the Kona side of the island as a family of ranchers and merchants. What I saw on the other side shocked and moved me. The inscription there read: "As an eternal remembrance to his friendship this monument is erected by his Japanese friends. TO HIM ALL PEOPLE ALIKE".
This rich, influential white man was born right after the American Civil War. Throughout his lifetime, racial intolerance was accepted among his kind and lynchings of African-Americans occurred regularly on the mainland. However, here on this speck of land in the middle of the ocean, there lived a man so decent to people of another race that they actually built a monument to him. Just fourteen years later, America would enter a war with the Empire of Japan. These same citizens who Mr. Greenwell saw as equals would be dehumanized in propaganda, treated with suspicion, and face overwhelming prejudice.
This lonely monument symbolizes the capacity for compassion and decency in every human being. I am better for having seen it.
W. Henry Greenwell monument, Kealakekua, Hawai'i Island
Along the highway in Kealakekua stands a lone monument on a hillside just across from the Kona Historical Society. I've driven past it hundreds of times not giving it a second's thought. Recently, I climbed the leaf-strewn steps that lead to it to take a closer look. On the side facing me was the inscription: "W. Henry Greenwell Born June 7, 1869 Died June 17, 1927". Underneath the English inscription was another one in Japanese characters. The Greenwell name is well-known on the Kona side of the island as a family of ranchers and merchants. What I saw on the other side shocked and moved me. The inscription there read: "As an eternal remembrance to his friendship this monument is erected by his Japanese friends. TO HIM ALL PEOPLE ALIKE".
This rich, influential white man was born right after the American Civil War. Throughout his lifetime, racial intolerance was accepted among his kind and lynchings of African-Americans occurred regularly on the mainland. However, here on this speck of land in the middle of the ocean, there lived a man so decent to people of another race that they actually built a monument to him. Just fourteen years later, America would enter a war with the Empire of Japan. These same citizens who Mr. Greenwell saw as equals would be dehumanized in propaganda, treated with suspicion, and face overwhelming prejudice.
This lonely monument symbolizes the capacity for compassion and decency in every human being. I am better for having seen it.