Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 8, 1 August 1992 — Changing perceptions of what a Hawaiian is [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Changing perceptions of what a Hawaiian is

by Rowena Akana Trustee-at-large

As always, time passes and events fade into memory in the minds of the puhlie. But, somehow, the event that occurred at 'Iolani Palaee on June 11 with a handful of Native Hawaiians and a slew of law enforcement officials is destined to stand out as something significant in

the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. The arrest of 32 Hawaiians and demonstrators caused the public to take a closer look at the powers that be and the unbalanced treatment Hawaiians eonhnue to receive on our own land, on our own palaee grounds.

What started out a negative event has turned into a positive, empowering and uniting event for the people in the Hawaiian movement. As a result of the 'Iolani Palaee incident there was a service called at the Kawaiaha'o Church. People from all walks attended the service for many different reasons but all hoping to find an answer to right the wrongs the Hawaiian people have suffered. The service brought about an air of togetherness. The binding thread became a rallying cry around a eommon cause — Hawaiians deserve

rights and the time is now. There was a discussion workshop following the services and a followup meeting on July 3 at Likeke Hall. All the discussion generated from these workshops has been helpful and good. Some of the major ideas that eame forward were:

1. Hawaiians do not need separate policies regarding the use of state lands. They should be afforded the same rights as any other citizen. It was an insult for them to be arrested for practicing their religious rights, on sacred grounds. on a state-recognized Hawaiian holiday. 2. DLNR and the Friends of 'Iolani Palaee should be big enough to admit their inappropriate behavior in dealing with the situation, and help in receiving a pardon for the people arrested on that day. In addition, DLNR and the Friends should take great care not to insult Hawaiians or

single them out for unfair treatment. 3. Perhaps a commission could better serve the needs of the people than a state policy requiring permits for access to the palaee grounds. 4. Finally, it was discussed that there might be a possibility of removing the palaee from the jurisdiction of the state and putting it in the hands of an independent entity. The meetings were not held to make monumental decisions, but rather to

identify the major problems and to begin to work toward peaceful and

positive resolution. It is my feeling after leaving these productive workshops, that in order for any of these good ideas for change to take effect, we must first change the perception of what and who a Hawaiian is. It is evident that treat-

ment of Hawaiians on June 11 was lopsided at best. There is no fear when thousands of Japanese nationals descend upon the palaee steps day after day. There is no law enforcement present when the grounds are used for filming movies. Yet when Hawaiians gather for peaceful purposes, there is a one-to-one ratio of law enforcement to Hawaiians.

What does this say of the perception? Does the state fear that the Hawaiian is angry? Doesn't the Hawaiian indeed have a right to harbor anger at the unfair treatment eontinually received at the hands of the state? To start to answer these questions. we need to go back as far as the overthrow and farther still. Hawaiians were an independent, viable, thriving

culture. At the time of the overthrow we were effectively stripped of our culture, discouraged from speaking or singing our language, dancing the hula, or following the teachings of our kupuna. Virtually five Caucasian leaders were responsible for trying to blow out the candle of the Hawaiian culture. Since that time, it has not been "in" to be Hawaiian unless it was at the limited wishes of the elite leadership that ruled the state.

We were taught in growing up that we needed to assimilate to the "white man's ways" if we were to survive and be successful in the changed Hawai'i, the beloved land of our ancestors. But that candle never went out. And that is why now, decades later, we find a strong surge of the beauty of Hawaiians, fighting to break out of the constraining forces that have held down the culture for mueh too long.

Hawaiians were perceived mueh too long as complacent, uneducated and uncaring. There was no respect for the notion that ours is a culture of true respect for our elders. Our silence is taugf)t from an early age so that we ean learn the lessons of our kupuna. In not speaking, we learn to see with our ears and hear with our hearts. Our silence was mistaken for inability to

act on our own behalf. We were really learning to listen to the voice within that was and is guiding us back to our beautiful and unique culture.

We are not asking all around us to be like us; we are just saying, respect that we are unique unto ourselves. TTie beauty that brought so many to our land is evident, but the spirit of aloha that is born into everv Hawaiian

is what made people stay. In order to change the misconceptions built over time. we must move diligently toward being who we are as a people, neh in culture and tradition. Along that path, we must educate the people who now share our land to our special ways. In doing so, we will regain the respect we deserve. For mueh too long, others have been able to capitalize on our natural hospitality, blue water and sunshine. What they can't capture or bottle for market is the beautiful aloha spirit, alive and burning in our souls.

We are on the right path. Our journey back to ourselves has just begun. The teachings of our kupuna will carry us through the maze we see before us, and our culture will be viable again. The candle burns within eaeh and every one of us, and that, my friends, ean never be put out.