Where are the Hawaiians?

A couple of Saturdays ago me and my brother worked down at Ko'ie'ie fish pond in Kihei. We had been going around Maui helping out at different restoration sites. I was excited to work at Ko'ie'ie because I hadn't worked at a fish pond in a while. I was expecting to be working along side some locals however; I quickly discovered that was not going to happen. When we arrived to the fish pond we joined a group of all haoles, except the two Hawaiian men who were spear heading the project. Me and my brother looked at each other with sad faces and then looked upon the sun burnt faces of our co-volunteers. There were maybe 15 of them. I could read my brother's thought for they were the same as mine: Where are the Hawaiians?As we began to work side by side with the fellow volunteers we go to know them a little better. Majority of them worked on boats and were required to take a free course on the ocean life of Hawai'i. Attending one service project was a requirement to pass the course. I thought that was a little interesting because they weren't there because they wanted to they were there because they had to be. But at least they were there. A few volunteers were there just to "give back."After about an hour and a half of working we took a break on the beach. As we relaxed I noticed three young Hawaiian men barbecuing on the beach. They were whispering to each other. Then they began shouting at our grouping specifically at the haoles. They shouted things like "f*#% you haoles for working on the fish pond, you not Hawaiian! You not even from Maui!" The harassment went on for a couple minutes.I was furious! I could not believe what these men were saying! They were ridiculing these haoles for working in a fish pond while they them selves stood on the side and barbecued. If they were so angry they should have jumped into help. I wanted to cry. Not out of shame or fear but out of sadness. I realized the mentality of our people. The years and years of oppression. The anger that is growing with in our people has been growing for generations. The event that occurred really opened my eyes. To the smaller issues that are occurring right in front of me.Again I ask this question: Where are the Hawaiians? I know there are many of you out there working to help the progression of our people. As for the others, are we going to continue to barbecue on the side while we watch haoles restore our native cultural sites? I'm not saying you have to go work in a fish pond just do something! Anything! There is so much that needs to be done. Take initiative.Malama jah bless,Ku'ulei
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  • ALOHA Kaua, e Ku'ulei, For many years I have been "Put Down" by many native Hawaiians of the 50% Blood Quantum. "Put down" that I was not a Real Hawaiian. That the only Real Hawaiians are those of the 50% Blood Quantum of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
    In the past I had two uncles who attended Kamehameha Schools in the 1930's. Who were also "Put Down" because their last names were McCandless. That they were Hapa Haole and not Real Hawaiians. So they left Kamehameha Schools and went to Punahou.
    To me the worse enemy to the rights of our people, come from within our own Hawaiian people. Hawaiians because of their Blood Quantum can say and do things that we Hawaiians would not allow any Haole to say or do.
    There is a large percent of our people who Ohana members are not of the Blood Quntum. Many are not one drop of the Hawaiian Blood, but they are our Ohana. Not in Blood, but in Spirit.
    Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii Nei, o Pomaikaiokalani
  • Aloha Kuulei,

    "If they were so angry they should have jumped into help. I wanted to cry. Not out of shame or fear but out of sadness. I realized the mentality of our people. The years and years of oppression. The anger that is growing with in our people has been growing for generations. The event that occurred really opened my eyes. To the smaller issues that are occurring right in front of me."

    No worry Kuulei, I get the same stupid myopia experience inside and out. Sometimes I shoot off my mouth too quickly, like my recent 'kaka' of calling my own kine 'fake Hawaiians.' If anybody on this forum should know better it is I. I know better than to look down on our Hawaiians. I have training, long years of activisim, and education, I should be bigger than than the problem. But, I'm only human and fortunately I have friends that kick my ass when I falter, and come away from my true beliefs.

    As for the kanaka's on the beach they are more right than ever to say ????. It is the jurisdiction at the shore that we lost/loosing. And the next conquering is from shore outward. Actually the only way for non natives to live in Hawaii are for them to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and practice our values for their use. I experienced this phenomenon in the 70s and continue this insanity until this moment.

    So no worry the bruddahs when cover, for the future generations and their front line fight that's yet to come. Is your group organized? Do they have stewardship from the state?


    Don't be too hard on our bruddahs, it takes time to reach an understanding. Kaohi
  • Aloha ka kou,

    The injuries are deep and the understanding blinded by impotence. Some Hawaiians wait for answer before they join in. The revolution has already started and I believe it starts inside. Aloha is the way, ho'omana'onui, kindness and most all forgiveness.


    kai
  • Aloha Ku'ulei, You Comment: As we relaxed I noticed three young Hawaiian men barbecuing on the beach. They were whispering to each other. Then they began shouting at our grouping specifically at the haoles. They shouted things like "f*#% you haoles for working on the fish pond, you not Hawaiian! You not even from Maui!" The harassment went on for a couple minutes

    I just have several Question: 1. Did you talk to those 3 boys about there behavior? I don't think so
    Didn't you make that first impression when you and your brother look at each other? my question to you are you Hawaiian? and for the last question like Ululani ask How could you tell the men at the beach were Hawaiian? If you have spoken to the 3 men you probably won't be writing Where are the Hawaiian?.....Aloha Kaewaokalani Me Ke Akua a Malama....
  • I'm curious... How could you tell the men at the beach were Hawaiian?

    These days I cannot tell based on other people's phenotype. Curious how you could tell that they were Hawaiian?
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