Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 11, 1 November 2004 — Respect host culture [ARTICLE]

Respect host culture

Hawai'i gives wonderful lip-ser-vice to appreciating, respecting and supporting Hawaiian culture and traditions. In reality, the Pro Bowl football game receives millions of dollars a year plus the profits from the stadium parking and concessions. But the State of Hawai'i and the powers that be give nothing to honor the Hawaiian ali'i (Kamehameha Day Parade, Prince Kūhiō Day Parade, Aloha Festivals) nor to the World Invitational Hula Festival. The World Invitational Hula Festival, Nov. 11-13, 2004, at the Waikīkī Shell, is in its 13th year and brings in over a million dollars in business. However, the World Invitational Hula Festival has been so ignored by financial backers that it is scrambling to survive. Hula dancers are coming from Africa, France, Japan, Iran, North America and the South Pacific as they love Hawaiians and our culture. Although this festival publicizes Hawai'i globally, there is still no respect for Hawaiians. Pat them on their heads occasionally but give them no money to continue worthwhile events. Eventually the host people, the Hawaiians, will just fade away. Auē. Where else ean you enjoy a relaxing lomilomi and sip on kava while watching handsome kāne in malo and scintillating wahine performing on stage? Lela M. Hubbard 'Aiea, O'ahu