Posted by Tane on December 29, 2009 at 10:01am in Politics
Understanding the Hawaiian approach to U.S. Occupation
Often U.S. Americans will contrive arguments, whether real or no, based on their way of thinking rather than understanding the point of view of the native Hawaiian and other Hawaii nationals of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. This leads to misunderstanding between the two factions and Hawaiians are put on the defense more often than not. The U.S. is a racists ethnocentric WASP mainstream society which conducts its Manifest Destiny doctrines; while the Kingdom of Hawai'i is a Polynesian-Hawaiian mainstream open society.
It's common knowledge that U.S. Americans have very little knowledge of the Kingdom of Hawaii and perceive it under their racist doctrines which they have been raised within their country. Being inbred with this doctrine is how they perceive the world. Saying we hate the haole (foreigner) is a great mistake; especially when one sees that the most ethnically mixed group in the world is the Hawaiian.
The issue is egregiously misplaced whereby many U.S. Americans think it is an ethnic-racist thing when it is far from the truth. This is a national issue due to the unlawful U.S. military occupation with its civlian arm of governance. Many misuse the word to mean white people when in fact we are referring to a foreigner who happens to be illegally occupying our country. According to the laws of occupation, all U.S. Americans in Hawaii are violating those international laws.
In Hawaii, forced assimilation and compliance is taught in its schools. Those that profess to hate haoles grew up not knowing the source of those feelings and many U.S. Americans take it to mean just white people; thus it was assumed it was a racial issue. When one looks at the source, then much of it makes sense.
Many of us do not have ancestors that entered the U.S. from Ellis island to be U.S. Americans and none who were Hawaiian subjects ever naturalized to the U.S. That doesn't mean that there aren't those with U.S. parentage who are proud U.S. Americans as they should be; the privilege of dual citizenship is something to be proud of; just as being multi-ethnic. Since Hawaiian Kingdom laws had no restrictions of expatriating, Hawaiian subjects could never lose their citizenship of the Kingdom. Those not of the kanaka maoli blood were required to naturalize under establish conditions cited by its laws. Once the U.S. proclaimed us citizens of their country, there was never any naturalization process to the U.S. The only ones that had difficulty with it were Asians and a few Pacific Islanders who were not kanaka maoli. They were restricted fom entering or re-entering the U.S. military-occupied Kingdom of Hawaii.
Hawaii nationals, including non-kanaka maoli, resented the military presence of the U.S. occupiers. Some U.S. white Americans became persona non grata due to their smug arrogance, racism, and some through scamming the local population. Surely one can see the cultural clash between the two societies and their citizens. Today, many take on the U.S. American attitude and logic; especially with the overwhelming amount of settlers that have reached Hawai'i's shores and conditioning of enforced assimilation. Many, especially those in the U.S. military take on the nomanclature of the "Ugly American".
U.S. Americans often become insensitive to the local feelings and express hatred toward others that are not Christians as they perceive it to be; or those that don't adopt their values; or appear like them in any shape, way, or form. We can see it in the Michael Jackson syndrome. If you don't conduct yourself as a WASP; then you are looked down on and considered beneath them. The saving grace is that not all U.S. Americans are like that. Nonetheless, their country must de-occupy ours and we should freely be able to express ourselves as subjects/nationals of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.
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The bloodquantum often is scuddled in small minds and big mouths.
Much more pressing issues, Tad Davis said,
"---the state will be a partner in the planning and execution of a survey and monitoring efforts to address Schofield barracks, Makua Military Reservation, and PTA." ...on the presence of depleted uranium.
I do concur about assimilation. So much have I embraced yet forget where we come from. We must continue to perpetuate and support our langauge and culture; not only the children. The adults must be inclusive to learn the langauge so our culture lives on through our children!
You are 100% correct. Other's right to choose should NOT affect our own. Like you, I have family who don't question their loyalty to America. I am the minority; viewed as different & radical. I prefer to think that knowledge & the ability to be a critical thinker opened doors.
Tracing my mookuauhau & knowing my ancestors; knowing they signed the Ku'e petitions & resisted annexation changed my mindset.
I look at it as removing the cloak of assimilation & seeing our history through the eyes of our kupuna.
ALOHA Mai, e Miliaulani, Hauoli Makahiki Hou ia oe a me kou Ohana. I feel so lucky and blessed to have been raised by my Grandmother. Also being raised in San Francisco was also a blessing for me. It is there in San Francisco that I got to know how lucky we are to be Hawaiian and to have Hawaii as our Homeland. It is my Hope that 2010 will be the year that our people will take a great step and move forward.
Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii Nei, o Pomai
Right on Tane. This helps to clarify our present day situation and differentiate between nationalism & racism. You are right about us being the most mixed w/ other ethnicities. That can be contributed to being open to others & also for survival. How do we reverse the outcome of forced assimilation ingrained over 4-5 generations? Lots of our people are content to be American.
ALOHA Kaua, e Miliaulani, Many Americans did not support their Independence from England. It is the same with our Hawaiian people today. For those of our people who want to continue being American, that is their right. But that right should not stop us from Going Home To The Hawaiian Kingdom. The Hawaiian Kingdom nation of Queen Liliuokalani and our ancestors. I have many family and friends who I know will never stop being American. I do not let them stop me from being a Hawaiian National of the Hawaiian Kingdom nation of Queen Liliuokalani. The only part of the Hawaiian Kingdom nation of Queen Liliuokalani that was overthrown was the lawful government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Hawaiian Kingdom nation was not overthrown. The Hawaiian Kingdom nation continues to remains as a nation. Our people need to look deep within our people on who we are today. We must embrace all members of our people without Blood Quantum. The Blood Quantum is an American concept of what is and who is a native Hawaiian. Within our people are over 50 Blood Lines from people from all over the world. We must not and should not allow Blood Quantum to divide our people, our Ohana, our nation, the Hawaiian Kingdom. Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii Nei, o Pomai
Replies
Much more pressing issues, Tad Davis said,
"---the state will be a partner in the planning and execution of a survey and monitoring efforts to address Schofield barracks, Makua Military Reservation, and PTA." ...on the presence of depleted uranium.
Kaohi
I do concur about assimilation. So much have I embraced yet forget where we come from. We must continue to perpetuate and support our langauge and culture; not only the children. The adults must be inclusive to learn the langauge so our culture lives on through our children!
namaka'eha
You are 100% correct. Other's right to choose should NOT affect our own. Like you, I have family who don't question their loyalty to America. I am the minority; viewed as different & radical. I prefer to think that knowledge & the ability to be a critical thinker opened doors.
Tracing my mookuauhau & knowing my ancestors; knowing they signed the Ku'e petitions & resisted annexation changed my mindset.
I look at it as removing the cloak of assimilation & seeing our history through the eyes of our kupuna.
Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii Nei, o Pomai