03-09-2007, 08:13 AM
After lurking for a really long time, I had to join in. This topic is the "third rail" of political correctness in Hawaii. There is an 11th Commandment here that goes something like "Thou shalt not question nor criticize the Native Hawaiians and/or their leaders no matter how looney things get." This is especially true for Native Hawaiians themselves, who risk ostracism if they get out of line.
I knew there was racial resentment against white people long before I moved here, and I chose to anyway. I knew that I could never refer to myself as Hawaiian or "local" because those terms were reserved for other races. No worry, I don't have to call myself those things. I have taken lessons in Hawaiian language and love many things about the culture, so I am not without sympathy for the wrongs of local history. I strongly believe that more needs to be done to get Native Hawaiians in homes and farms on DHHL lands. I seek the wisdom of Kipuna in my area because they know more than I do about a lot of useful and important things.
There are some things that are just too much, though. This is the United States of America. Hawaii voted by a huge margin for statehood in 1959. Anyone with US citizenship is not a foreigner here and has the right to live here. Period. Secession is illegal and has dire consequences. Setting up a system of privileges based on blood quantum and race is almost certainly unconstitutional and won't really solve anything anyway.
The cover of USA Today a few days ago had a feature article on racial tensions in Hawaii with details of a recent parking lot beating on Oahu along with some more general stuff. Personally I think the article focused on the negative, but there was a lot of truth in it. That night the lead story on KITV's 5 pm news was that story. They showed horrified tourism officials, Gov. Lingle in deep denial, and a UH professor trying to whitewash the ugliness with academic gibberish.
A few more articles like that, and tourism could fall off badly. Who would be hurt most by a tanking tourism industry? Native Hawaiians who work in hotels and resorts and are already struggling to get by, that's who. And you have people on this forum who think it would be a good idea to greet tourists at the airport and tell them how awful things are for Native Hawaiians! Who is this going to help?
Unfortunately, recent trends in Native Hawaiian leadership have brought the most radical to the forefront. And yes, this is probably because of frustration with slow progress. More moderate leadership would accomplish more. Most of us who might otherwise be sympathetic feel justified in turning away when people preach hatred and secession.
I don't have any plans to leave, and I know a lot more people on the mainland like me who have already made commitments to come. Despite the sometimes hostile atmosphere, I am encouraging them to come. There will be more. It is time for a serious reality check here before something valuable gets swept away in the shuffle.
I knew there was racial resentment against white people long before I moved here, and I chose to anyway. I knew that I could never refer to myself as Hawaiian or "local" because those terms were reserved for other races. No worry, I don't have to call myself those things. I have taken lessons in Hawaiian language and love many things about the culture, so I am not without sympathy for the wrongs of local history. I strongly believe that more needs to be done to get Native Hawaiians in homes and farms on DHHL lands. I seek the wisdom of Kipuna in my area because they know more than I do about a lot of useful and important things.
There are some things that are just too much, though. This is the United States of America. Hawaii voted by a huge margin for statehood in 1959. Anyone with US citizenship is not a foreigner here and has the right to live here. Period. Secession is illegal and has dire consequences. Setting up a system of privileges based on blood quantum and race is almost certainly unconstitutional and won't really solve anything anyway.
The cover of USA Today a few days ago had a feature article on racial tensions in Hawaii with details of a recent parking lot beating on Oahu along with some more general stuff. Personally I think the article focused on the negative, but there was a lot of truth in it. That night the lead story on KITV's 5 pm news was that story. They showed horrified tourism officials, Gov. Lingle in deep denial, and a UH professor trying to whitewash the ugliness with academic gibberish.
A few more articles like that, and tourism could fall off badly. Who would be hurt most by a tanking tourism industry? Native Hawaiians who work in hotels and resorts and are already struggling to get by, that's who. And you have people on this forum who think it would be a good idea to greet tourists at the airport and tell them how awful things are for Native Hawaiians! Who is this going to help?
Unfortunately, recent trends in Native Hawaiian leadership have brought the most radical to the forefront. And yes, this is probably because of frustration with slow progress. More moderate leadership would accomplish more. Most of us who might otherwise be sympathetic feel justified in turning away when people preach hatred and secession.
I don't have any plans to leave, and I know a lot more people on the mainland like me who have already made commitments to come. Despite the sometimes hostile atmosphere, I am encouraging them to come. There will be more. It is time for a serious reality check here before something valuable gets swept away in the shuffle.