Reasons Why COFA Employees in Hawaii Quit Their Jobs Easily

My boss at work asked me to give some reasons why I think COFA employees quit their jobs easily without any second thought. And here are my observations:
· Most Micronesians are non-confrontational by nature. When faced with an issue (i.e. wages, vacation and sick leaves, other benefits issues) that makes them angry or dis-satisfied, instead of confronting their bosses about it, they would just quit – walk away from the job without giving any advanced notice about their intention. Here is an example: "Uwa wes me non ei tenengin angang! Esap eu moni mine ekkei noku repwe kan turunufosei ren," said my friend Sinisio Sarafin.
o This problem is exacerbated by their inability to voice their concern because of their lack of English communication skills. In other words, it is frustrating to have an issue that you cannot address because you “cannot talk”.
· Family comes first. For the Micronesians, the family comes before everything else. When there is an emergency in the family like in the case of death, the employee will want to just drop everything and go. The employee will first try to ask, beg and reason with the boss why it is pertinent that she had to go on an extended leave and be with her family at such a time. So, if her request is denied, she might just decide to quit right away – never mind if she had worked for the company for many years.
· In some cases, when the employee is aware that she is a victim of harassment or discrimination, either by her employer or other co-workers, to avoid confrontation, she would just quit her job. Part of her avoiding confrontation may be that she does not have any idea where to go or who to see or talk to in these types of circumstances. In addition, her culture prevents her from talking about such circumstances because she will not want her family, relatives and islanders know about it.
· A long-time employee may quit her job when a newly-hired employee is an adversary or someone whom she just cannot stand to be around.
· An employee will quit her job if she finds out that her brother or a close male cousin or relative is also working for the same company especially in the same department or unit. This is a cultural thing.
· Most Micronesians don’t like to work on Sundays. This is a religious issue that has become a cultural norm. Everybody back in their country goes to church on Sunday. Other than just going to church, Sunday is also the day to visit other family members or do family functions and outings. So, the employee will try his best to avoid working on Sunday and when pressed to come in to work every Sunday, that employee may just decide to quit.
· Another reason why Micronesians quit their jobs is their lack of work ethics. Many of the Micronesians that come to the US have never worked for a wage before back in their country. Many of them lack the basic educational backgrounds needed to work and retain their employment. Most of them were hired to do menial jobs that pay them minimum wage with no rooms for advancement. They will come to work when they feel like it and usually call in sick when they had other things to do. And they will quit without informing their employer about their intentions.
· Another reason why the Micronesian quit his job without any hesitation or worry about the consequences is due to their culture of looking out for each other. This close-knit family relationship or cohesiveness ensure that a family member is taken care of, not go hungry, and is provided a temporary or even permanent shelter in their homes. As far as homelessness is concerned, only a small percentage of Micronesians are deemed homeless because they are camping out in the parks, on the sidewalks or in their vehicles. However, many more are sheltered-homeless-meaning they are transients. They move from one relative’s home to another where they are provided a place to sleep, to shower, and to eat.
· Another reason for the Micronesian to quit his job easily is due to the notion that he is only here in the US temporarily. Therefore, he has no definite plan to remain here, establish a permanent life here, or secure a permanent job with retirement and disability benefits that he will need when he is aged and disabled. He is always thinking of staying here for only a while and then go back “home”.
· Many of the young Micronesians become substance abusers and alcoholics and many quit their jobs because of these habits.
· Micronesians are nomadic by nature. For many, the lure of the “mainland” is hard to resist. They heard that the rent is cheap, the wages are higher, the social programs are abundant so they will just work to safe up for their fare to Seattle, Oregon, Las Vegas, Arkansas or Corsicana and they will book their flights as soon as they have the money for their tickets and then just leave.
o This is interesting because many come back to Hawaii after realizing that life in the mainland is totally different from the island life they grew up in or the life they had in Hawaii which is very similar. For many, transportation is a problem – there is no transit system in the US mainland that will rival The Bus here in Hawaii. For the majority, they miss the social gatherings and get-togethers that they always enjoyed here in Hawaii on almost a weekly basis. There in the mainland, people get together only once in a long while.
· There may be many more reasons why Micronesians quit their jobs very easily but these are the only ones I could think of at this moment. However, if you, the reader, have some other reasons or ideas that would shed some light on this problem, please post it here so we could add to our findings and try to come up with some solutions.


These are my own observations and they are not based on any actual data, survey or report. Some of you may agree, and some of you may not. However, I am hoping that, if we care about changing the attitudes of our people here in the United States, sharing of valuable information that will contribute to better outcomes should never be a problem at all.

Killisou chapur.

Kapong Mi Fit Pwos

Upwele mwo pwal eanei ewe sokkun mak chowe ate riaffou rekan eani. Ewe rekan panguratiw are pangurata won palian en nu mi sosotiw lepwel pwe epwe pwal mecheres an io me io repwe kan sokuru o pwal weweiti pwe ir mine ewe chon riaffou me siongaw a kan mak faniter.

Kapong fiti tong chapur epwe wesewesen ngeni io mi kan sakuru ach kei tatan mesen mak won ei weblog. Esap fanitan met nge a wesewesen chok fanitan ach posituk pwe en chon fanuach nge a fansoun langetam ach sise chiwen werifengeni kich.
Ekiekum me ekiekin fanuach iei mi penges fan mwaremwarei. Esap much tori mala.

Choi Seng

The title, to the Oneopese, literally means "those who will cry".  It is one of those phrase with profound meaning that is uttered by our elders who still has keen minds and retained their profound intellect but who could no longer physically restraint the youths from misbehaving or doing mischievous deeds, so all they could do was threw their hands up in the air and said, "Choi (chon) seng".

The Guam Buildup

While it will create a tremendous boom to the economy in Guam and help the fledgling economies of the neighboring Compact of Freely Associated States by creating thousands of jobs and contributing to the local businesses, it worries me just to think about the "other" consequences and the impact that the military buildup on Guam will create in the region. Since the closing of the US base in Okinawa, there has been so much mobilization and activity in this area that it seems to me like we are being readied and groomed to be used again as we'd been used over and over again in the past by our so-called "friends."
I am worried that this commotion (I wanted to say saber-rattling but that is too harsh a word) is used to shift attentions away from somewhere and direct it to us. Congresswoman Bordallo, in her quest to secure major appropriations that will go directly to her district (GUAM), doesn't seem to mind that that the gears on some enemies' ICBMs are turning and Guam is showing up between its crosshairs. I wouldn't be worried except the fact that if worse comes to worst and if an incoming projectile misses Guam by a mere fraction of an inch, the FSM and maybe the Marshalls will be at the receiving end, regardless whether they are a part of the conflict or not. History will be repeating itself only this time, it will be on a much grander scale.
Am I a pessimistic "cry wolf"? You betcha! I would rather be a live pessimist than a dead optimist.

A Letter to My Son

My dearest I.S. Ruben,

Son, tonight, like most nights before you go to bed, you gently opened my door and said, “Good night, Dad. I love you, Dad. Sleep well, Dad.” And tonight, like most nights, I acknowledged you with a mumble, “Hmm, hmm, hmm.” I was so busy reading through other people’s comments and posts on Facebook and caring about their feelings and such that I didn’t even turn around to look at you as you were wishing me a good night sleep. “Oh, and by the way, I had to run home from the park because there was lightning and I was scared,” you added. My usual response was, “Hmmm.” Several hours later, as the house quieted down and as I lay in bed trying to sleep, I thought about you and the way I treated you earlier. I tried to imagine how you must have felt when the only most treasured thing you can possibly give me, the assurance of your unconditional love for me, was fallen on my deaf ears. I got up and went to your room and peeked in. You were already asleep so I went back to my room and I thought some more about you and how you seem to bring sunshine into my darkest days and how you always seem to remind me that the problems and low points in my life are very small in comparison to your problems and your lows. And I thought, then how come you always manage to smile and infect other people, me included, with that killer smile of yours?  Where do you find all the strengths and power to smile and find humor and happiness even in the face of adversity? How do you manage to hide your sorrow, sadness and vulnerability? So, I sat back up and started to write down these thoughts that I have about you and the way I feel about you. I hope that you will forgive me for being such an a**hole of a father. 
It seems like only yesterday when the doctor told me that you had to come out because your mom was not healthy enough to carry you to the full 9-month term. So, you were C-sec'd out two months early. I still remember helplessly watching you through the incubator as you struggled to breath, with tubes in your face and IV needles in your veins, trying to make sense of what had just happened. I prayed constantly during those trying times. I prayed for your mom and I prayed for you. You were so fragile that I flinched every time the nurses moved you, thinking they might hurt you. I was so happy when they finally took off the tubes and IV and let me hold your tiny body for the first time. Your tiny head could fit inside the palm of my hand. As I held you and cradled you in my arms, I thank God for giving us another son. In that ward at the Chuuk Hospital, I made another promise, just like the ones I made when your older siblings were born. I promised that I will love you with all my heart, my soul and my being. You smiled and then you arched your left eyebrow--a feat non of us except your mom can duplicate--then closed your eyes and went back to sleep.
So, tonight, I reaffirm that promise:  Sometimes I may not show it but know this, son: I love you forever. 

Where Do We Go From Here?

I am making these observations as a Chuukese living on the outside looking into this enigma called, “Chuuk.” I am calling it that for I just don’t know what to call it anymore. I used to called it fondly and with pride as my home; my beloved state; where I long to be; my burial place and home of my children’s children’s children. As I peer into this process, I cannot help but recognized some remnants of what used to be a very well organized and yet adaptable society where life was simple but it supported and catered to the whims and well-being of its citizens. And I am saddened to see only the bits and pieces of that proud and peaceful existence. The once fierce and wise leaders and loyal stalwarts of the municipalities and clans that make up Chuuk are gone. However, if they are still alive, they are stripped of their prerogatives to lead their people effectively and control their realms fairly and charismatically. They, along with their wisdom and mastery of negotiations and of conflict resolutions which are key to an island environment where everyone knows everybody, were no longer accepted in this new era and were thrown out like old mats that dirty up our modern linoleum and ceramic floors. In their places are starry-eyed, ambitious young Chuukese with college degrees earned through their theses on Quantum Theories of Relativity and The Philosophy of the Metrosexual Man in Retrospect, and The Experiment: The Effect of Turkey Tails on Island People, and so on. They came and suppressed the old-age knowledge and skills honed through thousands of years of trial and error by our ancestors who knew what was best for the existence of their descendants in and on an island environment and force on the people their new-found knowledge from far away continents which really does not have anything in common with the Chuuk way of life. This changing of the Chuukese way of life to the modern Western lifestyle brings about the demise of the Chuukese identity. They said we should move forward into the 21^st century. It is the only way to go. Well, it seems that we’ve arrived there but what do we show for it? Are we better off now that we have cell phones and high speed internet; that we ride in imported automobiles and fiberglass boats with outboard motors and fly in jet planes to destinations all over the world? In order to have all these modern technologies, nano inventions, and high tech toys, we also need to have a lot of money to make sure that they are always updated and upgraded; that subscriptions are always paid on time; that we always have fuel for our boats and automobiles and, that we have thousands of dollars to purchase United airline tickets to Hawaii or the continental USA. Indeed, we cannot go back to the way we were anymore. We’ve ignored the Last of the Mohicans and there is nobody left anymore to show us how to do just that. In the Mortlocks, only a handful of men still know how to carve a canoe out of a breadfruit tree. But still, they can only now build the single or two-seater canoe. No one still has the skills and knowledge to build a sailing canoe, the majestic Maaisuuk or the sleek and sea-worthy Eachol and the likes. So, herein lies the problem. There are thousands of fiberglass boats with outboard motors owned by Chuukese families through the generous donations and distributions of what was known OIC (Only In Chuuk) as “projects” by our congressmen and legislators. These were purchased by porks that were appropriated every year to buy votes and other political favors by our congressmen and legislators. Many of these “project  boats” are now idled because of lack of money to buy fuel and parts for the motors. And since the canoe was forced out of existence by these sleek and fast fiberglass boats, there are no more alternatives to travel between the islands and to and from favorite fishing spots. The small commercial or passenger boats were also forced out of existence by these thousands of “project boats”--thanks to our distinguished starry-eyed congressmen and legislators. Yes, it's true! We have arrived! BUT, we have arrived at where we once started from. Only this time, we are 100% dependent on someone else to lead us, to show us and to sustain us. So, where do we go from here? Full speed ahead or full speed backwards? You’re a Chuukese, you decide.

The Threat of Sea-Level Rise on Oneop Island

It is a known fact that the warming of the planet has caused the polar ice caps to melt at a very rapid rate that scientists predicted that as a consequence, the sea-level rise will be increased by 1 meter within this century. Well, if  you look at those figures, 1 meter in one century doesn't seem much. But that is if you are living on a continent or at high elevations. But for us on Oneop or on and in any low-lying atolls, where the highest points of our islands are a mere few meters above sea-level, this is BIG! This threatens our very existence and should be given priority over everything else. It is up to us to be creative and try to come up with solutions that will guarantee that our islands are still there for our children and our children's children to live and survive and carry on our legacy as Mortlockese.
Here are a few ideas and suggestions on how to start addressing this threat on a grass-root level instead of waiting for the government or other entities to come and do it for us:

• Radical Landscaping and Shoreline Restructuring - the only way this can work is for every shorelines and tidelands owners to give up the strip of property from shoreline out to 15 meters in the water all around the islands. This property will be obtain by the municipal government through an easement or through an eminent domain scheme. After all, if nothing is done, there won't be any more land or people to hold the deeds to these properties. The island will be gone and everyone will be gone or, if they are fortunate, relocated to another place. At the outer perimeter of this 15 meter strip, this is where the shoreline restructuring will take place. Oneop Island tried to do a similar project in the 90's but it was poorly designed and it met many oppositions by some land and tide-land owners that it, ultimately, failed. This new project will require the cooperation of all the islanders in order for it to succeed. It is a 100-year project and it will take several generations of islanders to finish it and make it work. The people will work on this project with the understanding that their very life and existence depend on the success of this project. It is not a contract so there is no deadline to beat. People will work at their own pace but they should always keep in their minds that they are working on this in order to stay alive. They have to understand that there is no pay. This is purely volunteer work as there is no price on life. There are several methods and types of shoreline restructuring and erosion control that we can adopt for our small and fragile island. Here is a sample of one project. Yes, this is an aesthetic nightmare but it will serve its purpose. Among many, this type of wave breaker/erosion control is ideal for our islands. In fact, one of the benefits of adopting this system is that it not only provide a wave breaker but it also reverses erosion. Because of the shapes of each individual concrete element, when randomly placed, it leaves spaces, nooks and crannies that will dissipate wave force as it breaks on the structure. As the wave recedes, it will deposit sands and coral rocks that it churned up from the sea floor. This constant breaking of waves on the structure will create dynamic sand dunes or beaches beyond the concrete structure. So, that in itself is an island builder. Yes, it is a monumental task or undertaking, but as mentioned earlier, it is a 100-year project and it is doable. If the people are willing to do this project, they can raise some money to purchase the metal forms and then commit themselves to fabricate 10 to 20 elements per year. The government can then provide assistance when it sees that people are committed to this life-saving project. That's how government sometimes work. It needs to see initiatives from the community in order for it to provide support and funding.
• Mitigation and Conservation of Mangroves and Other Shoreline Plants and Vegetation - The decimation of our shoreline ecosystems, primarily the erosion-controlling plants and vegetation (chia, chokiis, net, umaaf, etc.), is one of the reason why we see the rapid disappearance of our shorelines and the acceleration of the encroachment of seawater into our taro patches, plantations and water lens. We often see stumps of coconut trees out in the water and we often wondered why someone planted coconut offshore. In fact, those coconuts were used to be on land and due to erosion of the  beachheads and sand bars, they are now standing in the water. This is a result of the disappearance of our shoreline plants and vegetation which hold the topsoil intact. The mitigation of this ecosystem is essential in the reversal of the erosion of our shorelines. The plants and vegetation also serve as the natural wave and wind breakers for our islands. If we replant or reintroduce these erosion-controlling plants and vegetation, it slowly but surely help restore our rapidly disappearing shorelines.
• Radical Agricultural Practices And Introduction of Salt-water Resistant Crops (Taro, Breadfruits, Bananas and Other Local Staples) -- If we cannot prevent the intrusion of salt-water into our plantation and water lens, it is wise to look at other options that will work well with the building of sea-walls and the replanting of erosion-controlling plants and vegetation. All Oneopese males who often go into the taro patch to plant, cultivate and care for their plants know that there are always controlled seepages of salt-water into our taro patch. In fact, the old men said that the reason why the "konomel" of Oneop is so delicious and popular is because it is "salialela chok" meaning "no need meat". The salt plays a major role in the chemistry and genetic makeup of our taro. The salt-water seepage is controlled by nature so its effects on the whole taro patch is minimal. There are some "weep-holes" from where salt-water seeps into our taro patch all year round. Sometimes the seepage is small, sometimes it is large depending on the position of our planet in relation to the sun and the moon (in other words, TIDES). In addition, the amount of standing fresh water in our taro patch also determines the extend of the salt-water damage. Some of these salt-water "weep-holes" are located at Lukun Lukunopwong, Lukun Kako and Lukun Lukula. Even if we erect a high sea-wall or elevate the land, we may not be able to elevate the taro patch. In fact, it will become lower in relation to dry land and it will be difficult to drain the intrusion of sea water from it. The salt-water seepage from the "weep-holes" will continue to accumulate until the whole taro plantation becomes a murky sea-water lake without any more taro pants. So what is the plan? Well, when all else fail, when we can no longer defeat the intrusion of salt-water into our taro patch, it is only natural that we come up with some radical agricultural practices and techniques in planting our taro. I hate to say this, but we have to start planting our crops in elevated concrete containment like the ones that some of the Yap outer islands experimented with in the 80's and 90's (We'll explore this in detail at other time). We have to work with scientists and experts on developing salt-water resistant crops. The University of Hawaii and other South Pacific institutions are already studying and experimenting on these things. We can also look into hydroponic farming such that some of our allies and friends in the global community are the leaders. We can utilize our close friendship with them and ask them to help us design and build our own hydroponic systems to use to plant our own food.
• We need to address these issues now as the threat of sea-level rise is real and looming over our head. We need to think about our future and the future of our children and their children's children. Once the island is gone, so is our identity. There will be no more "back home" so we will be nomads again.