Choices Between Good and Evil: A Call to Truth, Unity, and Courage

Understanding the Nature of Good and Evil

Throughout the ages, humanity has been challenged by forces of both light and darkness. His Majesty, King Edmund K. Paki-Silva II, reminds us that evil is not a distant adversary but a constant presence woven into the fabric of human life. Citing the wisdom of Edward Dahlberg and W.H. Auden, the King explains that evil “shares our bed and dines at our table,” meaning that it is a part of human nature—one that must be recognized and mastered, not ignored.

The message is clear: we each hold the moral responsibility to choose rightly. To remain silent or passive in the face of wrongdoing is itself an act of participation. Each of us influences the ethical foundation of our world, and by choosing virtue, we create harmony for ourselves and for others.

Breaking Free from Unquestioned Traditions

The proclamation shares the parable of the ham, a story about a family that continued cutting off the ends of a ham before cooking—simply because that was how it was always done. The original reason (a small pan) had long been forgotten.

This parable invites us to reflect deeply: How many of our habits and beliefs do we continue without understanding their origin or purpose?

Real progress requires the courage to question the patterns that hold us back. The King urges the people of Hawaiʻi—and the world—to awaken from inherited limitations and to consciously build lives grounded in awareness, compassion, and truth.

Rejecting Division and Negativity

In the life of the Kingdom, words carry power. Negative expressions—such as “it’s not going to happen”—do more than express doubt; they weaken unity and erode the spirit of restoration. The King calls upon the Lāhui Hawaiʻi to speak words of faith, integrity, and encouragement.

When we uplift one another, we strengthen the sacred foundation upon which the restored Kingdom stands. The restoration of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, His Majesty affirms, is not only a political reality—it is a spiritual truth that manifests through the actions and unity of the people.

Affirming the Living Lineage of King Kamehameha

The proclamation directly addresses false claims that the Kamehameha line has ended. His Majesty clarifies his direct genealogical connection to both paternal and maternal lines of Maui royalty, descending from Chiefess Keōpūolani, the sacred wife and mother of Kamehameha’s heirs.

He states firmly: “The assertion that there are no remaining heirs is reckless and transparently serves political agendas. The Kingdom is restored, and the world stands witness to this truth.”

La Kuʻokoʻa – Honoring Hawaiian Independence

Every year on November 28, Hawaiians celebrate La Kuʻokoʻa—the day in 1843 when the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was formally recognized by Great Britain and France as an independent nation.

Despite the unlawful overthrow in 1893, the spirit of the Kingdom never died. On November 22, 2002, His Majesty Edmund K. Paki-Silva II, the rightful hereditary heir, reclaimed and restored the Kingdom, bringing back its dignity, sovereignty, and sacred purpose.

A Present-Day Celebration of Restoration

This month, we honor both La Kuʻokoʻa and the Restoration Day of the Kingdom. Let it be a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewal. We pay tribute to the ancestors and courageous advocates who preserved the Kingdom’s spirit through generations of struggle.

As the King writes:

“By honoring our past and embracing our shared responsibility, we affirm the enduring spirit of Hawaiʻi and the sacred legacy entrusted to us.”

May this proclamation remind all who read it that each choice toward good, truth, and unity strengthens the light of Hawaiʻi—and brings peace to the world.