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Changing Hawaii

By Diane Yukihiro Chang

Monday, February 12, 2001

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A maritime and
cultural disaster

WARTIME casualties are dreaded and even expected. But when fatalities occur during periods of peace, they draw the world's attention.

Diplomatic bigwigs from the U.S. and Japan are in Honolulu after the sinking of the Ehime Maru by the USS Greeneville on Friday afternoon.

The fishing boat from southern Japan was rammed about nine miles south of Diamond Head by the nuclear-powered submarine, which was practicing a fast-surfacing procedure.

Three Ehime Maru crew members, and two instructors and four students from Uwajima Fisheries High School, are still unaccounted for and presumed perished.

How heartbreaking to see the images of weeping relatives back in the maritime-industry province, hands covering their faces and doubled over in debilitating grief.

Some of them have arrived on Oahu, continuing to hope and pray but undoubtedly in shock at the growing realization that this isn't a bad dream.

A press conference on the now internationally notorious incident was fittingly held at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii this past Saturday.

The venue was appropriate, not only because the missing men were from Japan, but because downstairs, at the entrance to the Moiliili center's historical gallery, are 12 stone guideposts that have stood guard for six years.

Indelibly etched into each guidepost is a cherished value of the Japanese heritage, which significantly include those of:

Gaman or quiet endurance. This is what the survivors must now strive for in the aftermath of this colossal, inexplicable calamity. They must persevere, retain their composure and focus so they can accomplish what needs to be done during this emotion-filled chaos.

Gisei or sacrifice. As the bereaved mourn the loss of their loved ones, they realize how the men gave their lives in the course of performing their duties. The crewmen -- two engineers and the communications chief -- went down with their ship, while the students and teachers were on an excursion as part of their school's core curriculum.

Koko or filial piety. Since the Confucian ideal of respecting and honoring one's parents or elders was strong, it was chilling that the students -- probably the sons of fishing families -- were learning the skills to carry on the honorable but risky line of work.

AS a proud sansei, I join the people of this state and leaders of this nation in extending condolences to the missing nine. And I share one last, stomach-knotting observation.

While monitoring the usual flow of newspaper email over the weekend, I noticed the absence of letters about the sinking of the Japanese vessel, especially from our large and loyal contingent of Japanese-American readers.

Why the silence? Then I realized: Japanese Americans like me must be experiencing mixed emotions.

Our Asian side mourns the death of our ethnic countrymen, who were sailing along, enjoying the ocean and looking forward to their return to port with splendid tales of their transpacific adventure.

Meanwhile, our American side is mortified that, because of one of our nuclear subs, these men are not safe at home.

It is another of those ancestral values carved on a stone guidepost at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii -- that of haji or shame.

As a U.S. citizen, I am embarrassed and so, so sorry.

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Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.