Toma Lawakua Kipaepae
@lawakua.bsky.social
Mai ka moku o Ewa mai au
Mai ke ahupuaa o Waimanalo
Mai ke kula o Pukaua
Mai ke one kahakai o Koolina
Mai ka waonahele o Palehua
Mai ke awawa o Makaiwa
Mai ke ahupuaa o Waimanalo
Mai ke kula o Pukaua
Mai ke one kahakai o Koolina
Mai ka waonahele o Palehua
Mai ke awawa o Makaiwa
Had a good day at Kalaeloa Heritage Park with the brothers. Couldn't help but feel like I was missing someone.
April 26, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Had a good day at Kalaeloa Heritage Park with the brothers. Couldn't help but feel like I was missing someone.
Something I keep noticing: a lot of left‑leaning folks pour enormous energy into being aggressive online. Every thread becomes a battlefield. Every disagreement becomes a purity test. It feels intense, but intensity isn’t the same thing as impact.
January 12, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Something I keep noticing: a lot of left‑leaning folks pour enormous energy into being aggressive online. Every thread becomes a battlefield. Every disagreement becomes a purity test. It feels intense, but intensity isn’t the same thing as impact.
Trump saying adherence “depends on your definition of international law” is straight from the realist playbook. States follow law when it aligns with interest. Anyone who studies realpolitik expected this stance.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Trump saying adherence “depends on your definition of international law” is straight from the realist playbook. States follow law when it aligns with interest. Anyone who studies realpolitik expected this stance.
Congress pushing back while Trump insists only his judgment restrains him is classic great‑power behavior. Realists know executives prize freedom of action over multilateral constraints. None of this is surprising.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Congress pushing back while Trump insists only his judgment restrains him is classic great‑power behavior. Realists know executives prize freedom of action over multilateral constraints. None of this is surprising.
Trump calling Greenland “psychologically needed” and insisting “ownership is important” is pure realism. Hard assets beat paper agreements. Anyone versed in realpolitik saw this logic long before he said it.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Trump calling Greenland “psychologically needed” and insisting “ownership is important” is pure realism. Hard assets beat paper agreements. Anyone versed in realpolitik saw this logic long before he said it.
After strikes across Venezuela, Yemen, Syria, and more, Trump dismissing legal “limits” is predictable. Realpolitik teaches that power shapes behavior, not norms. This is exactly what seasoned observers expected.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
After strikes across Venezuela, Yemen, Syria, and more, Trump dismissing legal “limits” is predictable. Realpolitik teaches that power shapes behavior, not norms. This is exactly what seasoned observers expected.
Trump saying “my own morality” and “I don’t need international law” isn’t shocking. Realists know great powers treat supranational rules as optional. Anyone who understands realpolitik saw this posture coming.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Trump saying “my own morality” and “I don’t need international law” isn’t shocking. Realists know great powers treat supranational rules as optional. Anyone who understands realpolitik saw this posture coming.
Realism isn’t a prescription for cynicism—it’s a diagnostic tool. Blend it with idealist aspirations to navigate today’s complex geopolitics.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Realism isn’t a prescription for cynicism—it’s a diagnostic tool. Blend it with idealist aspirations to navigate today’s complex geopolitics.
Policymakers who ignore power realities risk strategic blunders. Understanding realism helps anticipate moves, negotiate better, and craft resilient strategies.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Policymakers who ignore power realities risk strategic blunders. Understanding realism helps anticipate moves, negotiate better, and craft resilient strategies.
Idealists argue for cooperation, rule‑of‑law, and human rights. Realists counter that such frameworks crumble when vital interests clash. Both lenses are useful—think of them as complementary lenses on the same chessboard.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Idealists argue for cooperation, rule‑of‑law, and human rights. Realists counter that such frameworks crumble when vital interests clash. Both lenses are useful—think of them as complementary lenses on the same chessboard.
From Thucydides’ Melian Dialogue in Greece to China’s Han Feizi, realist thinking predates modern nation‑states. Their core insight? Power dynamics shape outcomes.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
From Thucydides’ Melian Dialogue in Greece to China’s Han Feizi, realist thinking predates modern nation‑states. Their core insight? Power dynamics shape outcomes.
Political realism ≈ the belief that states act primarily out of self‑interest, seeking survival and power. It’s less about moral prescriptions and more about what is—not what ought to be.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Political realism ≈ the belief that states act primarily out of self‑interest, seeking survival and power. It’s less about moral prescriptions and more about what is—not what ought to be.
Why do power politics still dominate global affairs, even when we champion liberal ideals? Let’s unpack political realism.
January 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Why do power politics still dominate global affairs, even when we champion liberal ideals? Let’s unpack political realism.
Mele Kalikimaka! 🌟🎁
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Mele Kalikimaka! 🌟🎁
Ma ka la ahiku, ua hoike aku au i ka moolelo o Kapuaiwa, Kamehameha Alima, i Kawaiahao. He la hanohano no ia, a i hoonani au i ke Akua me ke alii ma ka haiolelo, a holookoa ia ma ka olelo Hawaii. Hiki ke nana aku ia ma YouTube. Mahalo ia Noah Haalilio Solomon no ke kokua i ka haku ana i ka haiolelo.
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Ma ka la ahiku, ua hoike aku au i ka moolelo o Kapuaiwa, Kamehameha Alima, i Kawaiahao. He la hanohano no ia, a i hoonani au i ke Akua me ke alii ma ka haiolelo, a holookoa ia ma ka olelo Hawaii. Hiki ke nana aku ia ma YouTube. Mahalo ia Noah Haalilio Solomon no ke kokua i ka haku ana i ka haiolelo.
Paahana kela pule aku nei, ame kela pule aku nei a ia pule aku. Ma ka la alima o Dekemaba, i hooko makou i ka Hookuku Heenalu no Eddie Aikau ma Waimea. Manaloa ka hoailona ma kela la, a nani nui ka lani me makani. Mahalo ia Piilani Aikau ame Punana Leo o Waialua no ka lakou kokua ana mai ia makou.
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Paahana kela pule aku nei, ame kela pule aku nei a ia pule aku. Ma ka la alima o Dekemaba, i hooko makou i ka Hookuku Heenalu no Eddie Aikau ma Waimea. Manaloa ka hoailona ma kela la, a nani nui ka lani me makani. Mahalo ia Piilani Aikau ame Punana Leo o Waialua no ka lakou kokua ana mai ia makou.
Poke bowl.
It came from Hawaii, and you're all pretty much doing it wrong.
It came from Hawaii, and you're all pretty much doing it wrong.
November 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Poke bowl.
It came from Hawaii, and you're all pretty much doing it wrong.
It came from Hawaii, and you're all pretty much doing it wrong.
Ua hele makou i ka aina kupuna ma ka Lapule. No ka hui hou ana o na mamo o Kamahelenui o ka moku o Puna.
Went to the ancestral homeland on Sunday for the Kamahele family reunion.
Went to the ancestral homeland on Sunday for the Kamahele family reunion.
October 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Ua hele makou i ka aina kupuna ma ka Lapule. No ka hui hou ana o na mamo o Kamahelenui o ka moku o Puna.
Went to the ancestral homeland on Sunday for the Kamahele family reunion.
Went to the ancestral homeland on Sunday for the Kamahele family reunion.
What are we even fighting about anymore? I'm not really sure...
September 12, 2025 at 12:18 AM
What are we even fighting about anymore? I'm not really sure...
It's so weird, even a lot of older people are putting weird AI generated pictures of him like some kind of messiah. This guy, whose impact on the world was validating hate speech and decrying empathy, is now a saint in the far-right. Wtf is happening? This is an uncurable disease.
September 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It's so weird, even a lot of older people are putting weird AI generated pictures of him like some kind of messiah. This guy, whose impact on the world was validating hate speech and decrying empathy, is now a saint in the far-right. Wtf is happening? This is an uncurable disease.
So I'm on Facebook (the only way I can keep in touch with most of my friends and family, unfortunately) and I posted a comment about understanding *why* a person might have k*lled Kirk. Here's what I said:
September 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
So I'm on Facebook (the only way I can keep in touch with most of my friends and family, unfortunately) and I posted a comment about understanding *why* a person might have k*lled Kirk. Here's what I said:
Ua paahana kela anahulu. Ahaaina no ka Ahahui Kaahumanu. Aha Ula o ka Ahahui Kamehameha. Ua loaa ke kala kokua ma ke kulanui mai Kawaiahao. Ka makamua o ka hookiekie ana ma ke keaka no Chief of War. Hoomaka ka'u hana i ka waihona moolelo o Kawaiahao. Alaila ka hoolaulea no La Hoihoi Ea ma Pokai.
July 28, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Ua paahana kela anahulu. Ahaaina no ka Ahahui Kaahumanu. Aha Ula o ka Ahahui Kamehameha. Ua loaa ke kala kokua ma ke kulanui mai Kawaiahao. Ka makamua o ka hookiekie ana ma ke keaka no Chief of War. Hoomaka ka'u hana i ka waihona moolelo o Kawaiahao. Alaila ka hoolaulea no La Hoihoi Ea ma Pokai.
Imu action at Princess Kahanu Estates a few weeks ago. Forgot to post.
June 20, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Imu action at Princess Kahanu Estates a few weeks ago. Forgot to post.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I at Kawaiahao Church for Alii Sunday commemorating King Kamehameha. (June 8, 2025)
June 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I at Kawaiahao Church for Alii Sunday commemorating King Kamehameha. (June 8, 2025)