Some in government are saying museums should not tell “bad” parts of slavery. Not new. I must share a true Hawaii story.

With others, I researched Hawaii during the U.S. Civil War and published the results in “The Hawaiian Journal of History” in 2014: “In 1863, after abolition advocate and The Friend editor Rev. Samuel C. Damon proclaimed slavery the cause of the war, a Southern sympathizer replied in The Polynesian, signing only as ‘K’ to mask his identity. K asserted slavery was natural, part of God’s plan to save souls, and declared slaves ‘the best cared for four millions of human beings on the face of the earth.’ The next week The Polynesian editorialized. […] Given slavery is such a wonderful care system, Damon asked, ‘If Mr. “K” has any children, we wonder he does not place them un

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