03-17-2014, 12:29 PM
I can speak "school" English passably but when I get mad the pidgin comes to the forefront. lol
I wouldn't worry about learning to speak like a "local," as actions are worth more than words.
As for accepting newcomers, I was taught to always be respectful until disrespected, so I tend not to pass judgment on the basis of anyone's origins, but being a country boy I do view new people with some reserve due to being burned too many times by outsiders both local and haole.
Like someone mentioned above, even Hawaiians from O'ahu are considered "outsiders" because city folk are just different from country folks.
The suggestion to join a canoe club is an excellent bit of advice. I paddled when I was a teenager and we didn't care who you were as long as you could pull together with the crew. (Lokahi)
Back then there was still a lot of stigma attached to same sex couples but in our club (Kawaihae) we accepted everyone, from the mahu locals, to the JOJ (Just Off the Jet) Californians, to grandmothers who had never even seen a wa'a in real life.
I made some true lifelong friends during my years of paddling, and the conditioning (especially long distance) plus mental "never quit" attitude carried me through my military career at the head of the pack.
I really miss those carefree days, and I've always loved being on the ocean. so if you're not afraid of a lot of hard work then joining a canoe club will be a great thing for you, but you'll never know until you try. It's a great way to make friends as well as learn about the culture. Our canoe club parties were always epic, two or three day affairs, awesome food, and my sides would be sore from all the laughing we did, from setup to breakdown to clean up, we always had a blast!
So, yeah, brah, jus be yoself!
I wouldn't worry about learning to speak like a "local," as actions are worth more than words.
As for accepting newcomers, I was taught to always be respectful until disrespected, so I tend not to pass judgment on the basis of anyone's origins, but being a country boy I do view new people with some reserve due to being burned too many times by outsiders both local and haole.
Like someone mentioned above, even Hawaiians from O'ahu are considered "outsiders" because city folk are just different from country folks.
The suggestion to join a canoe club is an excellent bit of advice. I paddled when I was a teenager and we didn't care who you were as long as you could pull together with the crew. (Lokahi)
Back then there was still a lot of stigma attached to same sex couples but in our club (Kawaihae) we accepted everyone, from the mahu locals, to the JOJ (Just Off the Jet) Californians, to grandmothers who had never even seen a wa'a in real life.
I made some true lifelong friends during my years of paddling, and the conditioning (especially long distance) plus mental "never quit" attitude carried me through my military career at the head of the pack.
I really miss those carefree days, and I've always loved being on the ocean. so if you're not afraid of a lot of hard work then joining a canoe club will be a great thing for you, but you'll never know until you try. It's a great way to make friends as well as learn about the culture. Our canoe club parties were always epic, two or three day affairs, awesome food, and my sides would be sore from all the laughing we did, from setup to breakdown to clean up, we always had a blast!
So, yeah, brah, jus be yoself!
"Life is labor, and all that is good in life comes from that labor..."
"Life is labor, and all that is good in life comes from that labor..."