Long held sterotypes

One of my FaceBook friends recently posted a "tasteless" example of Native American culture. A storefront Indian at a Grand Canyon store with a colorful headdress made of candy. Not only was the candy headdress tasteless, the Sioux indians who wore the feather headdresses were not from the area. A double hit in commodifying a culture.

I am often faced with all the kitschy Hawaiian items found in ABC stores, Walmart, and every other tourist frequented store. How do "tiki gods" made of "lava stone" portray my culture? How do "warrior helmets" made of seeds portray my culture? How do "fishhooks" made of plastic portray my culture? What do coconut bras have to do with my culture? Where does it all end? In addition you can go to any swap meet in Hawai'i on any given Saturday and see "warrior helmets" with headdresses made of Rastafarian colors made by local folks, or Samoan carvers making "Hawaiian tikis" or "Hawaiian walking sticks". No offense to the carvers, just to the kitschiness of the items.

To some it is how things have always been, to others it's just funny, to some it's cute, but to me it continues the long held stereotypical images of Native Hawaiians as "happy natives" who don't mind any of this. None of these provide any real insight into Hawaiian culture, its traditions and values, its depth, or its sophistication. It becomes an uphill battle to change these sterotypes in great and little ways and to re-establish the importance of these cultural ideas and iconic images.

But one must pick their battles. I am not the culture police, I just do what I do. I choose to support that which is cultural and avoid that which is not. I choose to try to further Hawaiian education and culture. I choose to try to learn as much as I can about my culture. I choose to do this for the rest of my days.

What do you choose?

O'ahu A Lua

While watching the misty rain in the valleys of O'ahu I am reminded again of what a beautiful island O'ahu is. Many years ago I had the opportunity to ka'apuni O'ahu while accompanying the Hui Wa'a O Kaho'olawe. It was a moving time for me. To see an island from the sea is an amazing experience.

Much of that which twists us up in the daily interaction of any island, gets blurred when you are at sea. All that is seen are the mountains and beaches and basic lay of the land. The crazy streets, crowed centers, and teeming bodies all disappear. The land, sea and sky are amazingly clear and a great reminder of why we continue to live here.

So if you have an opportunity to go out to the edges of our island home, into the sea far enough to experience the bigger picture...do it more often. We should all try to do that at least once a year because our perspective will be heightened.

Kane and Kanaloa

During this time of Ka Piko O Wakea when Kanaloa and Kane share some time. Here is a short story taken from Ka Nupepa Kuokoa.
Kaneloa said to Kane, "We have circled Hawaii let us go to Maui." They sailed to and landed on Maui. They toured Maui until they reached Hamakua. They drank 'awa but because there was no water they caused the fresh water to flow and drank all of the 'awa. They continued on and the water which they had caused to flow was called the water of Kaneloa. This water flows unto this day.

A Maui Day

It is still a typical Maui day in Kahului. The wind is a little blustery, the sun is out, the ocean looks fabulous and it's time for lunch. My new favorite place is the blue seafood lunch wagon at the harbor near the breakwater. There is a full array of trucks and tables to tempt you. I'm currently a slave of the panko crusted ahi plate with one scoop rice and extra salad. Try it, you'll like it.

Ka Piko O Wakea

Today is what is known in the western world as the vernal equinox. Here it is Ka Piko O Wakea. It is the time when the sun travels across the equator and the sun is in the center of its sky travel. Couple that with the moon being in perigee and we have an amazing celestial occurance. Go outside and enjoy the day and night, it is once in a lifetime event I think.

E Kanehoalani e,
E Kanehoalani e,
Aloha kaua.

It's a beginning

Aloha and welcome to my attempts to learn more about blogging and keeping connected. This site will give me a chance to talk about cultural things, home things, and things that interest me about our home here on Maui and in Hawai'i. If you're willing to give it a whirl...so am I. Aloha