Haunani Kaanaana - Interview in 1984"Yes. I joined the Hula Halau because in my position I felt Ineeded to learn more of my Hawaiian culture. When I was growingup-r—and I'm past forty now—but when I was growing up here inHawaii, parents were not allowed to teach their children to speakHawaiian. We were not allowed to be Hawaiian; we were to beAmerican. So my mother being very obedient, taught to achieve.Most Polynesians are not taught that way; they are not to be that -way. You'll notice that that's why many of our Polynesianstudents here seem a little intimidated by aggressive Americanfriends,I think first as a Hawaiian, I honestly feel I'm Hawaiian. Iknow I'm Hawaiian. I love being Hawaiian. I think my personalityshows I'm Hawaiian. I think my Hawaiian presents itself inthose circumstances where I need to draw upon my Hawaiian heritage,my Hawaiian background; my Hawaiian-ness, which I learned frommy parents. Although they wanted us to be Americans, my parentswere very much Hawaiian, and we learned from example. You cantell me what I should do, but I will copy what you do. I feelI copied my parents, who were very Hawaiian," (You go girl!)
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