The main argument presented in Sam L. No'eau Warner's article was non-Hawaiians being able to speak and make decisions for the Hawaiian people. Warner explains that non-Hawaiians who attempt to revitalize the Hawaiian language and culture is an issue for the Hawaiian people because it creates a barrier to their own well-being. In the article it states that, "the kuleana (right, responsibility, and authority) to make decisions on things such as policy related to an indigenous or minority language and culture belongs to that indigenous or minority people from whom the language evolved." This is an important concept because people who are willing to save and preserve the Hawaiian culture is meaningless without the people who are involve. It would be irrational for non-Hawaiians to lead the Hawaiian movement, excluding the Hawaiian people from their decisions and silencing their voices. I believe that all Hawaiians should be able to speak for themselves and take part in important Hawaiian affairs. The Hawaiian people should be given their rights to self-determination to empower their nation.
Another topic that was brought to my attention was the idea of being "Hawaiian at heart." What does it mean to truly be "Hawaiian at heart?" Is it simply knowing the language and culture? Anyone can really say that they could be "Hawaiian at heart" just knowing this information. But, I think that there is more to this idea of claiming to be "Hawaiian at heart" than just knowing the language and history of Hawaiians. These two links that I have provided have some information of how this idea was evolved and what it may mean (http://www.oha.org/kwo/2009/03/story16.php and http://depts.washington.edu/chid/intersections_Winter_2009/Amanda_Mae_Kahealani_Pacheco_The_Hawaiian_Sovereignty_Movement.pdf). I feel that this idea of being "Hawaiian at Heart" is earned by understanding the pain and struggles that the Hawaiian people went through. I also think that an individual who claims to be "Hawaiian at Heart" should have respect and understand the Hawaiian's point of view and outlook of life. I am a local and was born and raised in the island of Maui and still do not consider myself "Hawaiian at Heart." I do not understand this whole concept, but even though I am non-Hawaiian, I have a lot of respect towards the Hawaiian people and their culture.
It is funny to see non-Hawaiians attempt to reason their way into their god-given right to seat themselves into positions of power as it pertains to issues of Hawaiians. Warner reasons that, “it does not follow that a Hawaiian could justify her or his interest in teaching Japanese by saying ‘It's the language of the Japanese ancestors’” (Warner 81). If you think about it, this reasoning makes no sense. Simply stating that, “Japanese is the language of the Japanese forefathers,” is not pertinent to someone’s right or ability to teach Japanese.
ReplyDeleteTo conclude with an example of similar qualities to the Hawaiian situation, Silva remarks, “one can see the absurdity of the feminist movement being led by men” (Warner 79). This statement is a direct parallel to non-Hawaiians and their current role in Hawaiian affairs; it would be absurd for the Hawaiian movement to be led by non-Hawaiians.
I truly believe that each and every one of us living here in Hawai`i, being Hawaiian or non-Hawaiian, need to grasp the background history and culture of the Hawaiians. The voice of the kupuna needs to be heard and the language shall be kept alive through any means possible to save this endangered language. Without the Hawaiian language many means of history and identity will be lost. Non-indigenous people have no right to speak for the Hawaiians, but instead need to listen to the hardships and struggles that the indigenous people went through. By respecting the culture and embracing the history of the Hawaiians I believe that more non-Hawaiians will listen and understand before they act.
ReplyDeleteI like the statement cwkdias makes about non-Hawaiians and their "attempt to reason their way into their god-given right to seat themselves into positions of power as it pertains to issues of Hawaiians". I find it curious how non-Hawaiians (usually Europeans) always assert their so-called "God-given" right to dominate anyone they see as "inferior". To me, this is not a "God-given" right, but it is the racist ideologies that Western culture has towards anyone who doesn't look or think exactly like them.
ReplyDeleteThe writer of this article made an interesting point that as non-Hawaiians attempt to "help" Hawaiian issues, they also attempt to put themselves into positions of power. The Hawaiians should be in charge of their own rights. For example, it wouldn't make any sense to have a non-Hawaiian be the head of a Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian language program. The writer also mentioned a "false generosity" of non-Hawaiians who have given the Hawaiians all of these headaches over the years. The non-Hawaiians are now realizing all the heartache they have caused, but their attempts to "help" the Hawaiians usually do more harm than good. Instead of attempting to "help", the non-Hawaiians need to back off and respect the needs/wishes of the Hawaiian people.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it would be irrational to not include Hawaiians in leading a Hawaiian movement. One thing that really caught my attention while reading the Warner article was a quote. This quote succeeded in portraying exactly how Hawaiians were made to feel about their language, during the language ban. Spoken by a grandmother to her granddaughter on her first day of school, the quote instructs: “Learn well the language of the whites. Do not rely on our language, there is no value there. One's future well-being is dependent upon mastering the language of the foreign people” (Warner 71). It really hurt me to see how the Hawaiians during that time were forced to believe that a foreign language was of greater value to them than their own native language. To add insult to injury, not only did the adults at that time have to give up their first language, their children were not able to learn it and become connected to the foundation of their Hawaiian heritage and culture. As a Hawaiian, it really is my responsibility to learn the language and perpetuate it, especially during its current revitalization. Warner states it best, “For native Hawaiians, the bottom line is that the Hawaiian language should be perpetuated...The Hawaiian language should be perpetuated because it is part of Hawaiian heritage-what can help to make Hawaiians whole again as a people” (Warner 76-77).
It is sometimes quite amusing to to see a non-Hawaiian fight for Hawaiian rights, but at the same time, inspirational for those who are native fighting for basic rights. While growing up, I remember at my elementary school on Kaua'i, a couple of my classrooms would be near the Hawaiian Immersion classrooms. Every morning before class started, I remember seeing the children chanting outside the classroom before entering. I used to think it was weird, but after reading this article, it just shows how much the program has evolved in order to preserve the Hawaiian language. It's nice to know that people out there still care about a slowly depleting language and are fighting to bring it back. And like the article said, it is their right to fight for what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to think that every aspect of Hawaiian life has been taken over by nonindigenous peoples. Hawaiians have been shoved aside when it came to their land, their sovereignty, their language, and their culture. Now, they can't even fight their own fight without having somebody else stepping in to assert their "power" over Hawaiians. And I agree with your views about being "Hawaiian at heart". That's another facet being stolen and claimed by others--the Hawaiian identity. The title of being "Hawaiian at heart" should be given to those that understand what it means to be Hawaiian. And that includes their pain and struggles of being treated very dimly and like "children" as Silva claims about missionaries views on Hawaiians. There are many who claim to be "Hawaiian at heart" just so they can feel special about themselves, but they don't truly understand what being Hawaiian is all about.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a crazy idea to think of non-Hawaiians making decisions and trying to speak for the Hawaiian people. How can the non-Hawaiian people try and take over the Hawaiian culture? I feel that the Hawaiian people have the right and should be the ones to make decisions and be in power of their own rights. Wouldn’t it be bizarre if someone was trying to overpower your standings of the rights of your own culture when they’re not even a part of your culture? It would also be useless if a non-Hawaiian person tried to control the Hawaiian rights without any support of the Hawaiian community. I also agree with Kim, that being “Hawaiian by heart” means not only understanding the history and language of the Hawaiians, but most importantly having a passion for the Hawaiian culture. A true “Hawaiian by heart” will fight for their rights while trying to preserve the Hawaiian culture. Being a non-Hawaiian, born and raised here in Hawaii, I give respect towards the Hawaiian people and their culture. I believe that the Hawaiian people do deserve the right to have control of their own culture and heritage.
ReplyDeleteI think it is acceptable for non-Hawaiian to help revitalize Hawaiian language and culture. But the decision making must be from the Hawaiians. It is not rational to exclude them because this is their own culture. Why people would like to make dicison. That is all about power. They always put their own assertion into it. This is obviously an intangible control. It is not very objective and most of the time they do not understand what true Hawaiians need. Only people growing up in the culture understand what they really need and can strive for their own right. I respect outsiders to back off Hawaiians but please give them rights to make decision themselves.
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