Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

[craigwatanabe]

I joked to my Kanaka Maoli once removed friend (Hawaiian born in California) as a Katonka Mahaole. Katonk as in not from Hawaii and Haole also as in not from Hawaii, but Kanaka Maoli none the less.

I believe Hawaiian as ethnicity is totally different from Hawaiian as in nationalism. Look at Akebono, he's a better candidate of what it is to have Nippon nationalism better than I. I'm 100% Japanese but I'm also three generations removed from the motherland of Japan. I have no pride in nationalism for Japan and never will.

There are a few Kanaka Maoli who will never understand Hawaiiana as a culture or have any pride as a nation because they were born and raised several generations removed from the homeland of Hawaii. Does that make them any less of a Hawaiian?

Maybe culturally speaking but not ethnically. Just like me I'll always be 100% Japanese, but my cultural background is local to Hawaii like many of us here.

So can one learn what it is like to be Kanaka Maoli? I think so. Radio DJ, Robert Zix aka Kamasami Kong has lived in Japan for such a long time assimilating into it's culture and language, that Ultra Blonde-haired "Vanilla Gorilla" (as he calls himself) has a better understanding of it than I.

It is safe to assume that there are a few Kanaka Maoli that just don't get it when we talk of respecting the Aina. They're so far removed from the cultural aspect of what it is to be Hawaiian that they no longer possess the characteristics of being Hawaiian. In other words, they're just as haole as haole can get. Because they have no vested interest in the Hawaiian culture, if the day comes when the monarchy of Hawaii is reinstated, should they be treated like the Haole with no claims? Culturally they haven't a clue as to Hawaiian nationalism or it's culture...as haole as haole gets.

And what of the non-Kanaka Maoli who understands fluently the language and culture of Hawaii and more importantly was born and raised in Hawaii plus has a sense of nationalism to the monarchy of Hawaii? Who is more Hawaiian? One who was born and raised here with a fluent understanding of the language and culture? Or one who has never set foot on Hawaiian soil yet has roots to the Kanaka Maoli?

If you had to put the fate of the Hawaiian Monarchy into the hands of a person or persons, who would you rather choose? One who understand and respects the Aina? Or one who doesn't? In an extreme case: A haole who understands and respects the Aina? Or a Kanaka Maoli who doesn't?

With that arguement in place, is it wiser to be Kanaka Maoli by virtue of nationalism or by ethnicity? If by nationalism, then anyone can assume the values and the rights of being Kanaka Maoli, if by ethnicity, then only one of Hawaiian ancestry can be called Kanaka Maoli.

If you choose nationalism at least you have a person who is more dedicated to and understands more profoundly the idealisms of how the monarchy should be run.

If you choose ethnicity, then you have a person who may or may not fully understand the idealisms of how the monarchy should be run.

How would you choose if you couldn't combine the best of both: A Kanaka Maoli who understands the idealisms of how the monarchy should be run.

Should ethnicity be the only characteristic value of what a Kanaka Maoli should be? It would be scary to believe so, since there are many non-Hawaiians who have demonstrated a better understanding of the plight of the Kanaka Maoli from a nationalism and cultural perspective than some Kanaka Maoli who never took the opportunity to understand their own plight.

Does a full-blooded Hawaiian have any more cultural and national pride than a a part-Hawaiian? When does the dilution of the Hawaiian blood into different ethnicities make you any less of a Hawaiian than a full-blooded one? If the answer is that there is no distinction then, being Hawaiian is more of a cultural awareness than it is ethnical.

If blood quantum plays an important role in determining the reparations to all Hawaiians upon the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Monarchy, then there are gonna be a lot of disappointed part-Hawaiians out there.

If blood quantum doesn't play any role in reparations, then does nationalism? If so then you don't have to be Hawaiian to receive reparations. You simply have to claim your citizenship to the reinstated Hawaiian monarchy. And that's gonna piss off ALL Hawaiians.

How do you choose?

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

Indeed. Thanks for the thoughtful post Craig.

[alohabear]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

Good point my Japanese brother. I like you, am 100% Japanese, but I am also a 4th generation Hawaii-born Japanese. My great-grandfather on my dad's side was the first. He as well as his son were born in the Kingdom of Hawaii and was a "Hawaiian" citizen under the monachcy. I feel if the were to restore the "monachcy" ALL of the people who have ties to the "KINGDOM" should have thier rights too. My son who his kanaka maoli on his birthmother's side, is also a 5th generation Hawaii Japanese.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

I want to answer this post when I have the time to do so, but let me put a few personal observations here:

Of the Hawaiians I know who want the sovereignty question addressed:

1)All issues should be voted upon by referendum, including:
-negotiating dual citizenship opportunities (Hawaiian citizenship, US citizenship)
-proactive absorption of "Hawaiianness" into "Hawaiian citizenship" because if we are dying out (or, to look at it triginometrically, we are increasing on the x-axis as the slope of koko approaches y=0), then lets do it on our terms. <enter all germane comments of nationalism/ethnicity here>

2)move to a commonwealth-type government, because our primary concern needs to be creating and sustaining a healthy island economy. In fact, across the globe, a healthy island economy, whether independent or under the auspices of other nations, finds a successful cycle that is threefold:
-protects its tourism industry, because they provide the best dollars: they come, they spend and then they leave. They don't suppress resources like schools, hospitals, etc
-protects its environment, because the water table could be too easily depleted (which is just one example) and those tourists won't come
-hybridizes socialist and capitalist policies, so that the island economy can sustain the government necessary to protect its environment, restrict foreign land ownership and keep those tourists happy.

Being a U.S. state is not necessarily a protective factor against the needs of a healthy island economy. And "panaceaz" like the Akaka Bill just creates an 800-gripe line that's fed-funded, w/o any real long term protections to current programs nursing on Uncle Sam's waiubags. If that were the case, fed-recognized NA tribes wouldn't be watching fed-funded Indian Head Start monies get cut, like they did last year...but that's the grant game, ya know?

I'll come back later....Thanks again, Craig for bringing this up.

aloha, Pua'i

[glossyp]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

This is a fascinating topic and I'm looking forward to learning more through the discussion. Here is my question which references the first of the points Pau'i Mano'a outlined above: Who should/would qualify to vote in a future referendum regarding these matters?

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

This is a fascinating topic and I'm looking forward to learning more through the discussion. Here is my question which references the first of the points Pau'i Mano'a outlined above: Who should/would qualify to vote in a future referendum regarding these matters?

For me, it would be two groups:
-ethnic Hawaiians
-Hawaii State residents

As for the original post's concern about "monarchy", imo the focus should not be upon "monarchy", but the continuity of Hawai'i's previous government, which was a constitutional monarchy--and I prefer the focus to be upon "constitution" because it seems the most logical and accessible considering where Hawai'i is now, and where it can possibly go. Nations who have successfully developed independent models in the Pacific are most interesting to study, and Australia, New Zealand, and the Samoas come to mind. They are free countries, imperfect democracies and contain mouthy constituencies.

Sounds like a healthy society to me

[Jonah K]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

For me, it would be two groups:
-ethnic Hawaiians
-Hawaii State residents

As for the original post's concern about "monarchy", imo the focus should not be upon "monarchy", but the continuity of Hawai'i's previous government, which was a constitutional monarchy--and I prefer the focus to be upon "constitution" because it seems the most logical and accessible considering where Hawai'i is now, and where it can possibly go. Nations who have successfully developed independent models in the Pacific are most interesting to study, and Australia, New Zealand, and the Samoas come to mind. They are free countries, imperfect democracies and contain mouthy constituencies.

Sounds like a healthy society to me

Considering that Hawai'i State residency is rather easily established, "ethnic Hawaiians" would probably be outnumbered when it comes to voting in any future referendum. I'll refrain from saying anything at the present moment about the reinstatement of a Hawaiian monarchy (constitutional or otherwise) and the conditions of the Aborigines in Australia, the Maori in Aotearoa, and the Samoans in Samoa (formerly "Western Samoa").

First, it looks like we might have to clarify that the terms "kanaka maoli" and "Hawaiian" are not necessarily interchangeable.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

Considering that Hawai'i State residency is rather easily established, "ethnic Hawaiians" would probably be outnumbered when it comes to voting in any future referendum. I'll refrain from saying anything at the present moment about the reinstatement of a Hawaiian monarchy (constitutional or otherwise) and the conditions of the Aborigines in Australia, the Maori in Aotearoa, and the Samoans in Samoa (formerly "Western Samoa").

First, it looks like we might have to clarify that the terms "kanaka maoli" and "Hawaiian" are not necessarily interchangeable.

The Taino Indians are a native population considered lost...the people there no longer are called Taino, but go by the term Puerto Rican, even though 60% of PRs have Taino blood.

As a micro-people, if this is our fate, how do we go into it proactively? How do we wrap our brain around the options that we do have? And who says that the only way to learn from another country's model is to mimic their screw-ups as well?

Let's look at our options:
-the Native route. Remain a Micro-people. Get a special I.D. card. Deal with blood quantum issues (inevitable, since if everyone who is 1/4096 Hawaiian is a Hawaiian, then the global population is gonna be Hawaiian one day...)

-the Micro-Native in our Native Country route. Be like the Maori and avoid quantum issues, but replace it with tribal affiliation concerns. And still run the risk of being out-voted in court decisions, Parliment, etc.

-the 19th century Hawai'i route. Monarchy aside, decisions were passed in the 'Aha 'Olelo (Legislature), comprised of an elected body. That government decided for Kanaka and haole. Malihini and mahiko. It was one country, after all.

No answer is going to be perfect or baggage-free. But neither is the status quo. I can only answer for this kanaka typing on this keyboard, but I would gladly trade my political status as a native™ if I were empowered and burdened to help steer my beloved Hawai'i forward. To have the freedom to avoid situations like Nantucket, where teachers can't afford housing on the isle to work there (mahalo to the downside of a free market society; in New Zealand, Bermuda and other isles, land ownership is restricted to the local citizenry, with a % approved for foreign investment, and even that ain't easy to come by).

And you are right, Kanaka is not a synonym for Hawaiian. But, I would rather share "being Hawaiian" with others who are born here/raised here/will die here who don't have the blood than fight to define myself as a Kanaka™ by some mathmatical standard.

me ke aloha, (and by the way, this conversation is a lot of fun for me; I hope I am not offending anyone, but just enjoying the sharing of ideas....)
Pua'i

[1stwahine]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

I'm truly enjoying. Please more!

Mahalo,

Auntie Lynn

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

I'm truly enjoying. Please more!

Mahalo,

Auntie Lynn

The upside of learning olelo and reading the old materials is the remarkable data itself, to see how government worked. Put it into proper historic place, we really were headed into a nifty future, imo, and we sure had some smart, progressive people as mo'i, as kenekoa (senators) in the 'Aha 'Olelo...

and yet 21st century Puerto Rico is worth taking a look at, because their issues aren't about Taino/PR lahui issues, but the {{{NOOOWWW WHAT}}} stuff. What does it take to create--and sustain a successful island economy? Does it matter which hemisphere? Whether under the auspices of another nation, or in free association as a commonwealth? How do they do it in Ireland, Iceland, Sardinia, Crete, the Canaries, Maldives, the Bahamas, Okinawa, etc?

-if the land mass is extremely finite, are the policies in place to protect a sustainable environment?
-or what about if the land mass is too small to sustain a textile industry? Whatcha gonna do if you can't make your own toilet paper?
-what if we want to negotiate our own international financial reporting (like the Caymans), import tarrifs (Honda, anyone?) and land ownership (loaded issue, this one) but cannot because our current federal umbrella has laws designed for the larger economies of scale that we simply cannot enjoy because of our proximity and land size?

gyah...I can go off on this some more...time to put a cork in it

[helen]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

No answer is going to be perfect or baggage-free. But neither is the status quo.

This begs the question, what is wrong with the status quo?

or what about if the land mass is too small to sustain a textile industry? Whatcha gonna do if you can't make your own toilet paper?

We don't make our own toilet paper now, but if one of the goals is to have Hawaii truely independent, then this would be a pretty high priority, that or make another way to use the bathroom without using toilet paper, dare I say it maybe if someone makes a drug such that it converts the solid waste to blue farted smoke.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

When I started this thread I interchanged the term Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiian for the sake of simplicity. However it is my understanding that the term Kanaka Maoli refers only to those of 100% ethnicity native to Hawaii.

The term Hawaiian was a term brought upon the Kanaka Maoli at the insertion of the missionaries who described those indigineous to the islands of Hawaii as "Hawaiians".

The word Hawaiian has no place in the language of Hawaii as it is a foreign description of those people.

But in recent threads on HT I've seen the term Kanaka Maoli used interchangebly with the term Hawaiian. It was late at night when wrote started this thread but none the less I should have made that distinction from the beginning.

Regarding who should vote brings this question back to my original question? Nationalism or Ethnicity? Especially when it comes to determining the fate of a Hawaiian constitution.

Right now if there isn't a general concensus of who is Hawaiian then how in the world can one take the next step towards self-determination? If they cannot determine what "Hawaiian" really is?

As I said before, if blood quantum has ANY significance in determining who is eligible to receive reparations, there are going to be a lot of upset part Hawaiians out there.

If blood quantum has no determining factor in reparations, then the Kanaka Maoli has lost.

Either way it doesn't look good unless all native hawaiians unite and form a greater force...an economic force to literally buy the government back into power. I've alway's suggested that Hawaiians form a chamber of commerce and unite economically to control the one engine that powers this state...OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

Put native Hawaiian business leaders in political seats and then you control both the business and economic engines that power these islands. Like I said before: Beat the white man at his own game...with his own rules.

[Rickyrab]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

When I started this thread I interchanged the term Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiian for the sake of simplicity. However it is my understanding that the term Kanaka Maoli refers only to those of 100% ethnicity native to Hawaii.

The term Hawaiian was a term brought upon the Kanaka Maoli at the insertion of the missionaries who described those indigineous to the islands of Hawaii as "Hawaiians".

The word Hawaiian has no place in the language of Hawaii as it is a foreign description of those people.

But in recent threads on HT I've seen the term Kanaka Maoli used interchangebly with the term Hawaiian. It was late at night when wrote started this thread but none the less I should have made that distinction from the beginning.

Regarding who should vote brings this question back to my original question? Nationalism or Ethnicity? Especially when it comes to determining the fate of a Hawaiian constitution.

Right now if there isn't a general concensus of who is Hawaiian then how in the world can one take the next step towards self-determination? If they cannot determine what "Hawaiian" really is?

As I said before, if blood quantum has ANY significance in determining who is eligible to receive reparations, there are going to be a lot of upset part Hawaiians out there.

If blood quantum has no determining factor in reparations, then the Kanaka Maoli has lost.

Either way it doesn't look good unless all native hawaiians unite and form a greater force...an economic force to literally buy the government back into power. I've alway's suggested that Hawaiians form a chamber of commerce and unite economically to control the one engine that powers this state...OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

Put native Hawaiian business leaders in political seats and then you control both the business and economic engines that power these islands. Like I said before: Beat the white man at his own game...with his own rules.

The question of "who is a Jew" has been a question faced by the Jewish people before. The traditional definition of a Jew is "someone who has a Jewish mom or has converted to Judaism". In other words, one might be a half-blooded "ethnic" Jew (or sixteenth, etc.) on the maternal line and still be Jewish without being "nationalized". However, the liberal wing of Judaism decided that one with Jewish parents, or identified with Judaism, could be considered Jewish, something that other wings of the religion refuse to accept. Israel - the country belonging to Jews - has a "Law of Return", essentially saying that anyone who was Jewish - at least under the traditional definition - could become a citizen of Israel (although I think this is also true of people with Jewish grandparents, which was pretty much the Nazis' definition of "Jew").

As for seizing the reins of Hawaii's economy, my advice would be to learn from the Asians (Japanese, Chinese) and how they handled the haoles in the middle of last century. First of all, get a good education; second of all, don't be afraid to stand your ground on what you want - this may mean such things as strikes, nonviolent protests, hard bargaining in the marketplace, and other political manuevering, as well as a lot of patience. Try to get someone or other to get a good education in law school; a few lawyers go a big way in helping with or against lawsuits (or bailing out folks who get in trouble). Also, business school is important; if that's not affordable, go to the business magazines, Wall St. Journal, etc. Best of luck to ya.

Cheers! - Ricky

[Jonah K]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

When I started this thread I interchanged the term Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiian for the sake of simplicity. However it is my understanding that the term Kanaka Maoli refers only to those of 100% ethnicity native to Hawaii.

The term Hawaiian was a term brought upon the Kanaka Maoli at the insertion of the missionaries who described those indigineous to the islands of Hawaii as "Hawaiians".

The word Hawaiian has no place in the language of Hawaii as it is a foreign description of those people.

But in recent threads on HT I've seen the term Kanaka Maoli used interchangebly with the term Hawaiian. It was late at night when wrote started this thread but none the less I should have made that distinction from the beginning.

Actually, the term "kānaka maoli" (as well as "kānaka 'ōiwi") is used to describe the aboriginal inhabitants of the islands of Hawai'i and their modern-day descendants. Note that "kanaka maoli" is singular, while "kānaka maoli" is plural. While the English language is efficient as a "colonial tool" to suppress native peoples world-wide, it is often imprecise when used to describe the colonized. When it comes to kānaka maoli, there are politically-loaded terms like "native Hawaiian", "Native Hawaiian", "part-Hawaiian", "hapa Hawaiian", "Hawaiian American" and several others.

Regarding who should vote brings this question back to my original question? Nationalism or Ethnicity? Especially when it comes to determining the fate of a Hawaiian constitution.

Right now if there isn't a general concensus of who is Hawaiian then how in the world can one take the next step towards self-determination? If they cannot determine what "Hawaiian" really is?

As I said before, if blood quantum has ANY significance in determining who is eligible to receive reparations, there are going to be a lot of upset part Hawaiians out there.

If blood quantum has no determining factor in reparations, then the Kanaka Maoli has lost.

Before kānaka maoli can even begin to truly think about self-determination, a process of "mental decolonization" needs to occur. As Pua'i hinted, part of the decolonization process involves learning the 'ōlelo and the mo'olelo. Unfortunately, for many kānaka maoli that's probably going to occur via the medium of the English language (which is not necessarily the most efficient for decolonizing oneself). Oftentimes, an additional colonial language (or two) like Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, etc. must be learned before someone is able to jettison the shackles that the English language has imposed on ones' thinking. When a kānaka maoli asks what a word from the 'ōlelo means in English, they have a long way to go in the decolonization process.

Blood quantum and reparations arguments are products of a "colonized mind" and a "victim mentality." When kānaka maoli know their geneaology, blood quantum becomes somewhat irrelevant. As for reparations, no government on Earth can return to kānaka maoli what was taken away. To ask a thief to return stolen goods is somewhat foolish at best and oftentimes, you won't like what you get.

Either way it doesn't look good unless all native hawaiians unite and form a greater force...an economic force to literally buy the government back into power. I've alway's suggested that Hawaiians form a chamber of commerce and unite economically to control the one engine that powers this state...OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

Put native Hawaiian business leaders in political seats and then you control both the business and economic engines that power these islands. Like I said before: Beat the white man at his own game...with his own rules.

As for leaders, there is probably no one who's pono enough and possesses enough mana to be an effective leader for the kānaka maoli. For many kānaka maoli, collaborating with the political and economic powers-that-be offers too great of a reward.

[Rickyrab]

Re: Kanaka Maoli: Nationalism vs Ethnicity?

I wonder if there are any good books out there teaching the Hawaiian language...