09-21-2008, 09:29 AM
I know that, Lin. I kind of hesitated saying indigenous, but we use the word for Native Americans even though they came from elsewhere too.
Nevertheless, the Native Hawaiians were here, and owned the land at the time all European and Asian peoples showed up, and all land ownership here derives from the King's initial land grants.
Nitpicking aside, if you call anyone who simply lives here a Hawaiian, you are making a mistake and could offend someone. Most times when I do listen to political broadcast and election night summaries, the announcers say "Hawai'i voters." They do not say "Hawaiian voters" to refer to the overall voting in the state. There is a difference and the newscasters are well aware of it.
Nevertheless, the Native Hawaiians were here, and owned the land at the time all European and Asian peoples showed up, and all land ownership here derives from the King's initial land grants.
Nitpicking aside, if you call anyone who simply lives here a Hawaiian, you are making a mistake and could offend someone. Most times when I do listen to political broadcast and election night summaries, the announcers say "Hawai'i voters." They do not say "Hawaiian voters" to refer to the overall voting in the state. There is a difference and the newscasters are well aware of it.