Mo’olelo Stories to bring us closer together
Promises of a better life, there were immigrants from many places distant from Hawaii like the ferries, cargo ships, and other sorts of ocean traveling vessel brought people from foreign lands. My great-grandmother, her eyes barely open without able to recognize me, lay on a bed with her hand raising slowly. A relative who I also don't know walks closer as she wishes to whisper messages to certain relatives as she holds her last days in the hospital wishing to see all. Many have come for these last moments of being in the presence. Nothing more than a blur of time this time felt like and it seems so long ago it is like the thought may have floated away. A thought of a generation of immigrants who knew nothing but the land they were living on in their new home that they dedicated themselves to become their only home. I learned about my family from my home away from home the office in which my grandma would work and her colleagues. My grandfather picked me up from school and I would be enclosed in his honda as he drove with one finger and listening to the Cecilio and Kapono “friends” on kssk radio. He told me how the family worked hard and long hours in the office and out of the office to make sure that the keiki could have a better life then they had and hopefully better medical too. The city was more like a town back then with minimal buildings blocking the Hawaiian skies, and the people knew each other from different buildings who would pass by in aloha shirts. The stories my teachers would tell us would describe immigrants as plantation workers who worked with make-shift equipment made from fabric and whatever they may have had for hat, arm guards, palaka tops, and tabi shoes to protect themselves against centipedes and the harsh sun. I never imagined looking backwards to the plantation in the early days in places like Waipahu that reminded me of that time era with the large smoke stack that would be visible from the streets. The islands population much smaller in such stories about the past and the people and buildings were very much interconnected. Now the population is growing with less people connecting and more people consuming without as much communication as there was before and seen more as a place to do business in the U.S. and not much else. Talking to random people at restaurants of different generations and backgrounds you can see people from many cultures and how certain places were that fantasy like melting pot that is often mentioned, but to many announce their disgust in the commercialization of the term itself “melting pot” to sell Hawaii through the tourism industry. Shared stories tell tales that people who shared no common tongue would use what little english to communicate with one another, but when I look around me there are many who have no such common tongue, with many exclusively sticking to their foreign language. It might have been why I was always pushed to speak proper english with minimal local terminology to better not draw attention to myself, but I still remember my art teacher taught me. Instead of staying in my comfort zone I try to see the person talking as the storyteller and myself as the audience between those who lived the lives of local culture coming together and the contrast of the residential immigrant divide amongst one another, with interventions of supporting narratives of Hawaiian ancestry. Learning about the evolution of words, slang words, old ways and new ways, the terms become much more complex than I had ever imagined as using the terms alone do not do anyone much justice unless thoroughly placed in its context of usage. Kama’aina, Kanaka Maoli, Local, Haole, Malahini, and so on are tricky as they have been so overused by commercialism, politics, personal circles, and work lingo that opinions start to be a pattern its description or a way of use that is less than common to make people think. Being brought up early with a Hawaiian family when my parents were busy working had instilled the importance of the ‘āina as well as a window into the good old days and the everchanging future and readiness would be most important. Food would be of vast importance in those times playing with toys and eating food together with Papa who would make sure he had all his things ready for a game of racket ball. Preserving a time of intimate family connection is what was ingrained not only from this experience, but also from my grandfather with his endless lessons, both papa and grampa had pushed to understand the people of the land and the land and to respect both. As I knew it might be rude to say an opinion, I was never told to be quiet when speaking my piece at either home. Asian and Pacific islander communities are used to compete with each other in the U.S. colonial efforts and have actually have been quite successful in supporting topics of Asian Colonialization, Latinx Colonization, and Black Colonization, all to avoid the topic of U.S. Colonization. Which topics in particular are commonly causing people into silence? Military Bases, Dole and the Plantation, Waikiki Tourism, History of Iolani Palace, Christian Missionaries, Hawaiian Sovereignty. Many immigrant populations came through U.S. colonialism and those who support such movements of Hawaii Sovereignty are often dismissed through such umbrella terms by not hearing out a discussion of a settler ethnic group that is also affected by the U.S. government and media outlets. Maybe its all an elaborate plan? maybe its the highest form of exclusivity? or maybe its a battle of blood? Much of this competition though does digress the topic of preserving the Hawaiian islands in a finger contest that I can see no victor in the end for of Asian and pacific islander conflicts in this matter. As it seems to play right into the colonial concepts of the “American Color Theory” and blood divisions. The stories my grandpa use to tell me are of the family growing up in Kalihi and later on Manoa with building many thing of what they had. Stories about the importance of the meaning of beach that is more than for entertainment and the respect to have for it with being a limited commodity as a large growing interest of hotels and office buildings will make people so busy they may in the future for forget about connecting with the place and the other people in place of money. To be part of a person living the local life in the Hawaiian Islands is about living, surviving, and existing with one another. This sort of harmony is a topic that is nostalgic to some, but a memory to others of what brings people together rather then divide them in their goals. It makes me think that people all around are to be included in everything in things like gatherings and much of that comes to the people who widely celebrated this and is of their tradition the Hawaiian people. Everyone is in it together as it seemed from what was being conveyed by my grandpa, but participation of many things in Hawaii wouldn’t be as I was told in the years ahead with being excluded from many things, while I would try to include others in sharing my own story and other stories over time, I was always left out of any discussion being a stranger and outsider to many things. The way I spoke was proper English so I was blocked at many times from local discussions, but I attended a small school with less graduates and deemed lesser as a conclusion to those who had never heard of it. No blood or political gains or money to be made would block me from many discussions on those matters as there was always some sort of hidden agenda a person would need in order to be transparent in a matter, rather than a curiosity or willingness to be educated, but instead seen as a threat and a nuisance. I would do my best to persist without any of these exclusions from bothering me too much from understanding the place I was born and felt a responsibility to with generations rooted before me of this land. I wanted to see all the small things too and not just the big things, but when I looked for those smaller things they were seen as unimportant, but I wanted to collect the information just in case someday it became something of importance. So I began to write notes in composition books with drawings that had more than my usual daily practice of doodles, but it started to have key words that would remind me of entire stories I had heard to refresh myself as I am quite forgetful at times. Cultural identity wasn’t as simple as declaring it and that a unclear defined label leads to clear misunderstanding and assumptions of another. Every little thing a person does as well as what they look like changes what others see and what is seen by the person looking in the mirror. Not accepted by circles of people for not being Japanese enough, not Haole acting enough, not Hawaiian enough with no blood, and not geeky enough to be be with the geeks. No place to fit in and walking to a beat of a drum no one else was looking at, but I would still take into account what I had been raised with: not go off trail at night from night marchers, to plant olena (turmeric) to ward off evil spirits, be respectful of the dead no matter the culture. Growing up as Kama’aina was more than just being a resident as I was told, but its with symbolism of things like material objects, the Hawaii myths, the obake stories, ancestors you don’t appreciate going haunt you when they die, and respecting the cultures by appreciating them separately and what they are when they come together. A great fear my grandpa had spoke about would later to me be a story of prophecy in foretelling things that could happen in my lifetime of the disappearance of local that is deeply connected through the lyrics of “Take a Walk in the Country” by the Makaha Sons as it was used as example to appreciate the earth, the ocean, and the countryside, and understand what it is the city represents and what it does and not let any of these urban commodities wreck Hawaii. I can’t help it, when I hear the song my grandpas lectures relapse in my mind, meanwhile being reminded that those born of this land are kama’aina and to not allow the what my grandpa would refer to as “Local erosion” of the culture and to protect it by living it with no commitment to anyone but myself on it and being true to the place that is home. Even my last conversation that I had with him would be at my aunties house where he just said “how far I’ve come” with a little chuckle would be a signal to me that he was proud of the direction I was taking. No belief system was really pushed within the household, but there was a presence of — Buddhist, Shinto, Catholic, and sprinkled of international influences without a true practice of them as it was a personal choice to each family member. The house would have to be very clean to make sure things were not cluttered in mind and body as to avoid harsh judgement, the wooden tables are placed for large gatherings with Japanese paintings and Hawaiian music with pictures of places all over the world for a international feeling of awareness of culture. There was a large map of Hawaii on the wall that had the Ahupuaa land divisions and U.S. map integrated into a single poster to show exactly where the Family was in Hawaii and its layers of understanding. When I think of Hawaii I think of this sort of awareness and its incredible complexity involved in it. The english names, the tourism influence, the multicultural effect of immigration and globalization, the silenced locals and repressed indigenous culture that is directly connected to the sacred lands of Hawaii. The best place to start is with street names or places like “Pearl City” with some being English and some Hawaiian with no consideration of its original Hawaiian name of “Manana”. I wanted to learn about the importance of place. To deepen my own understanding of voices of those who are usually quiet, and bond with their struggle. Not to claim being an expert, but an open minded student of the thoughts not my own to absorb, record, and provide a space of discussion to share between human beings our common connection of being human through emotions and move through stories. Each story told to me from their ohana and their experiences are bits and pieces to that puzzle and there are so many out there its impossible to have them all, but together their might be a better chance. My hopes are that everyone hopefully can have a clearer focus to say what they want to say, connect through emotions of these stories, and know in their heart that they may want to overlook appearances, because our blood (koko) is all the same and people have to relate with one another again and feel that the land connects us. While it may not be as beautiful as a mele (chant, song, poem), but hopefully its a way people can connect with these writings, and brings people together so we can all be firmly united. Never separated, as people of the land.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Hawaii BlogThe Hawaii is run by the Imagine Hawaii's team of writers.
Article ListState of Hawaii
Flag of Hawaii Hawaiian Nene Goose Hawaii Days New Years Day Martin Luther King Jr Day Presidents Day Kuhio Kalanianaole Day Memorial Day Kamehameha Day Independence Day Statehood Day Labor Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Mele Kalikimaka Day Hawaii Cuisine Hawaii Food Pioneers Hawaii Cuisine Story Innovations of Hawaii Food Soup Wars in Hawaii Hawaii Establishments Hawaii Convenience Stores Hawaii Super Markets Hawaii Cooking Styles Style of Kauai Style of Oahu Style of Maui Style of Hilo Style of Kona Style of Lanai Hawaii Food Guides Guide to Hawaii Juices Guide to Hawaii Coffees Guide to Hawaii Sodas Guide to Drive Inn Burgers Guide to Saimins Guide to Hekka Hot Pots Guide to Grilled Sticks Guide to Malasadas Guide to Hawaii Pancakes Guide to Ensemadas Guide to Hawaii Fried Rices Guide to Loco Mocos Guide to Hawaii Gravies Guide to Hawaii Stews Guide to Guide to Pokes Guide to Lomis Hawaii Umeke Bowls Saimin Bowls Hawaii Sushi Bowls Hawaii Granola Bowls Hawaii Poke Salad Poke Bowls Oahu Regional Poke Maui Regional Poke Hilo Regional Poke Kona Regional Poke Hawaii Sauces Lets Talk Mayonnaise Hawaii Loco Moco Lets Talk Loco Moco Loco Moco Bowls Pohoe Red Gravy Kalima White Gravy Hawaii Saimin Lets Talk Saimin Saimin Secrets at Home Prawn Saimin Hawaii Saimin Chef Hawaii Rice Lets Talk Fried Rice Hawaii Filleter Hawaii Pokemasters Hawaii Chop Suey Manapua Deliverers Hawaii Okazuya Going to Hawaii Okazuya Hawaii Regional Okazuya People of Hawaii Okazuya The Okazuya Experience Nostalgia of Okazuya Challenges of Okazuya Hawaii Musubimasters Hawaii Barbecue Starting Hawaii Barbecue Hawaii Regional Barbecue Hawaii Barbecue Experience Hawaii Grillmasters Hawaii Imu Pitmasters Hawaii Imu Oven Hawaii Psychology Hawaii Figures James Cook Kamehameha Kuhio Kalanianaole Hawaii Psychology Hawaii Citizenship Hawaii Social Life Collection Obsession Rain Sun and Rainbows Island House Humidity The Spirits of Aloha Ohana Hawaiian Island Fever Hawaii Martial Arts Lua Martial Arts CategoriesMatt MaedaCook, artist, and writer |