At a short Q&A with John DeFries, Pualani Kanahele and Nainoa Thompson after the panel with the Dalai Lama, Kanahele took a little umbrage at a Mana Magazine reporter who asked how it was possible to resolve disagreements among different leaders.

“Are you saying this is a political problem?” she responded. “What we were talking about wasn’t politics.”

Rather, it’s about humanity’s responsibility to the people and the planet, she explained.

Thompson agreed, saying that disagreements were necessary. But he also said this: “Just because you are an elected officer does not mean you are a leader.”

Thompson said that for people to come together and resolve differences requires vision of human values.

“Acts of kindness and compassion are not inconsequential,” he said.

Asked if leaders with differing points of view were invited to the “Native Intelligence” panel, DeFries said there was outreach and that many were in attendance at the East-West Center talk.

Speaking of political leaders, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle quietly snuck into the panel talk after it had begun.

— Chad Blair