Entering a New World: Leaving Hawai’i
Hawai’i vs. The Mainland ~ A comparison of the Hawaiian Islands to the east coast of the U.S. mainlandArchive for Hawaiian vs. Mainland Culture
Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas in Hawaiian)
As I said in an earlier post, I didn’t get to spend Christmas at home with my family in Hawai’i. Every year we celebrate with a huge family and friends Christmas Eve party—a tradition we’ve been holding at my home in Hawai’i for longer than I’ve been alive.
In Hawai’i the Hawaiian language is emphasized pretty heavily. If you’re in the public school system, a Hawaiian language teacher (also known as a Kupuna) teaches the language until sixth grade.
If you are in Hawai’i for Christmas, you’ll hear Mele Kalikimaka (meh lay kah lee kee ma kah) which means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian. Since it never gets cold in Hawai’i (to you mainlanders, at least) we celebrate by surfing and enjoying the sun as if that were our Christmas present. The Christmas songs are different (along with the traditional) but we have many Hawaiian bands that sing traditional music with a Hawaiian spin. Like the twleve days of Christmas. I’ve heard the mainland parody of this and I have to say, it’s not as good!
For a sample of the twelve HAWAIIAN days of Christmas here is the first line (tutu means grandma in Hawaiian)
On da first day of Christmas my tutu gave to me, one minah bird in one papaya tree…) then it goes on the numbah two day of Christmas… and so on and so forth with our local spin.
I missed home a lot this year, especially the nice weather and my dog. But there is always next year and I can’t complain since I had a pretty good mainland Chirstmas too.
The Hawaiian Race
There is no easy way to explain the culture of the Hawaiian Islands without accidentally forgetting something important. So, I will try my best.
First of all and this is a popular question, is Hawaiian an ethnicity?
The answer is YES! Hawaiians lived in the islands before they were discovered by the white man (haha) otherwise known as Captain Cook. Much like Native Americans, they inhabited all eight islands and lived a semi-civilized lifestyle (according to the invaders/discoverers.) Their time dates back hundreds of years before their “discovery” by mainland travelers.
They had their own language and customs. They lived in a well-oiled society, working among eachother. They are polynesian descendants. Their exact origin is only in theory because for a very long time their history was spoken, not written down.
People often confuse Hawaiians with people are from there-meaning they live there- and people who are actually Hawaiian. If you were born and raised in Hawai’i, you are not Hawaiian unless you are of Hawaiian ancestry. You could be born and raised in the mainland, but still be Hawaiian.
To deny that there is such a thing as a Hawaiian race would be completely incorrect. They exist, they were put to the test when discovered… and survived.
