Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

[adrian]

Lately, I've been seeing a lot of shows that are based in Hawaii, or are depicting Hawaii.

How does this affect your viewing? Does it make you excited that we're getting TV coverage? Or do you "correct it" and make a mental note on what they're doing wrong to portray us local people?

Some shows I watch (cartoons and "kid shows" especially) has us wearing grass skirts, carring around fire torches and chanting tahitan or some other pacific island language. That just makes me mad, because we don't do that. We are normal people like the mainlanders, but we live on an island with tropical fruit and have most of our food shipped here.

We don't send local shows to the mainland showing them that they just hang out at the beaches, shopping, etc.

[pzarquon]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

That just makes me mad, because we don't do that. We are normal people like the mainlanders...

To be fair, some of us do that. Some of us wouldn't be here if it were not for the beaches, the mix of cultures and languages, and the like. Further, you'd have to speak for yourself if you're saying "we" are just like people on the Mainland... or, for that matter, asserting that Mainland people define normal.

You're definitely not alone in being disappointed in how Hawaii is depicted in popular American culture. From "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" to "50 First Dates," there's something wrong -- and often something downright offensive -- in almost every attempt by the mainstream media to use Hawaii as a setting or theme. I'm sure we could all cite examples... Camile Velasco on "American Idol" tagged as "the girl in the bikini" rather than a performer, the assumption that Don Ho is the end all and be all of local entertainment, any use of hula as a comedy bit, and on and on and on.

On the other hand, a lot of The Machine right here in Hawaii goes out of its way to propogate and reinforce some of the stereotypes about the islands. And, in a strictly business sense, the chicken-and-egg debate is secondary to the simple fact that Hawaii tourism (broadly speaking) has to sell what people want to buy. And if that's firedancers and carved tiki dolls (which are not distinctly Hawaiian), Don Ho and neon pink "Hawaiian shirts," then... step up to the registers, folks!

I think it's a mistake to protest this tendency by asserting that Hawaii is no different from Tuscon or Minneapolis, however. That's just as ridiculous in the other direction as thinking anything with pineapple on it constitutes Hawaiian cuisine.

Fact of the matter is, both sidesof island life are poorly depicted. Whether it's the work-a-day, rush-hour-on-H1, Starbucks-loving, Honda-driving "Western" aspect of Hawaii life (which both Hollywood and the HVCB seem to wish no one ever saw), or the genuine, incredible richness of Native Hawaiian culture as well as the mish-mash of Asian, Pacific and global cultures in general (which producers distill down to a grass skirt and coconut with a straw in it).

A fair question would be, though, if anylocality, culture or community is accurately portrayed. "CSI" gives us only strip clubs and casinos in Las Vegas, "The O.C." only mansions and pretty people in California, "Law & Order" only crime and conflict in New York. Then there's the movie "Fargo," or the movie "Paris, Texas," and a multitude of other examples. Against those exhibits, instead of saying that Hawaii gets treated badly, it might be better to say that Hollywood treats everyone badly.

[Linkmeister]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

I know Tucson. Tucson was a home of mine. Honolulu, you're no Tucson.

Seriously, I'd agree with this part of the last post.

A fair question would be, though, if any locality, culture or community is accurately portrayed. "CSI" gives us only strip clubs and casinos in Las Vegas, "The O.C." only mansions and pretty people in California, "Law & Order" only crime and conflict in New York. Then there's the movie "Fargo," or the movie "Paris, Texas," and a multitude of other examples. Against those exhibits, instead of saying that Hawaii gets treated badly, it might be better to say that Hollywood treats everyone badly.

The producers have an image they want to present, and to hell with the facts about the location. New York might be the only exception to the rule, and that's probably because there are so many directors/producers who live there (Woody Allen, anyone?).

[helen]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

I don't remember during it's run neither Cheers or St. Elsewhere which happens to be set in Boston had anyone talking with a Boston accent.

In the movies Spider-Man 2 and The Day After Tomorrow which were set in New York City did not accurately depicted the width of their streets such that a freighter or a pair of heliocopters could actually move within that width.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

adri1456, if you think Hawai'i is just like the mainland, then you haven't lived on the mainland.

When I first left the islands to attend college in California, I had a big Hawai'i chip on my shoulder, and made it a point to correct people who said things like "going back to the States" when they meant "the mainland", or those annoying mail order policies that categorized Hawaiian shipments as "international" deliveries.

But as time went on, I realized that Hawai'i really is very different from "the mainland". In fact I rarely say "the mainland" any more when referring to the USA's North American states; instead I just say "America". Because America isn't Hawaii's main land. And because Hawai'i is not America the way the rest of the USA is America. Without getting too much into sovereignty issues, we really are like a different country in almost every way.

But to steer back to the topic at hand...

In yesterday's Star-Bulletin, "Hawaii" executive producer Jeff Eastin talked about how easy it has been to insert Hawaiian elements into the TV show:

"And I thought, 'Man, it's going to be kind of tough ... putting this (cultural) stuff in.' [But it's been easy] partly because it's a really, really rich culture." he said.

I predict that Eastin's "cultural stuff" is going to be just more cheesy grass skirts, maybe with some bits about kahuna and family 'aumakua thrown in. Call me cynical, but I can't imagine that a Hollywood producer would get this right.

[Mocha]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

Since I've been visiting in northern CA for the past two weeks, I've seen very misleading commercials here on TV. Guess it's for the excitment value but all they show are people on the beaches and in restaurants. I am reminded of the time I was visiting Detroit and was asked for a passport when I gave my charge card! (I've mentioned this before). Some places up here in CA. hesitate when you give a charge card...and most ask for ID. When the sales people say..."Oh you're from Hawaii" I always smile and say..."Yes...please visit...or if they have already...I tell them...come again".

[adrian]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

adri1456, if you think Hawai'i is just like the mainland, then you haven't lived on the mainland.

When I first left the islands to attend college in California, I had a big Hawai'i chip on my shoulder, and made it a point to correct people who said things like "going back to the States" when they meant "the mainland", or those annoying mail order policies that categorized Hawaiian shipments as "international" deliveries.

But as time went on, I realized that Hawai'i really is very different from "the mainland". In fact I rarely say "the mainland" any more when referring to the USA's North American states; instead I just say "America". Because America isn't Hawaii's main land. And because Hawai'i is not America the way the rest of the USA is America. Without getting too much into sovereignty issues, we really are like a different country in almost every way.

But to steer back to the topic at hand...

In yesterday's Star-Bulletin, "Hawaii" executive producer Jeff Eastin talked about how easy it has been to insert Hawaiian elements into the TV show:



I predict that Eastin's "cultural stuff" is going to be just more cheesy grass skirts, maybe with some bits about kahuna and family 'aumakua thrown in. Call me cynical, but I can't imagine that a Hollywood producer would get this right.

I'm just saying that the way we're shown on TV, they don't show the "real" Hawaii. If they want surfing, aloha shirts, and drinking from a coconut, then go to California.

Hawaii is very different than the mainland (and I know, because when I went to Austin, Texas for a tech summit, they had a Hawaii themed event for dinner, and they only had fresh fruit, and punch. Yeah, we eat and drink sweet food everyday. There was atleast 6 of us from Hawaii attending that even (me and 2 other people from Waipahu, and 3 other people from one of the neighbor islands). When we heard about this, we all went to that together (wearing our aloha shirts, shorts, and slippers) and they were playing country music. We just laughed, as the other people asked us how was this rendition of our home. I connected my MP3 player to the stereo system, and played my Makaha sons, IZ and other Hawaiian music for the rest of the event. Even though it was too late to order some Kailua Pig, lau lau, poi, and other local favorites, we still made the best out of it.)

[makepagirl]

Re: Depictions of Hawaii in shows/commercials

as usual i always start my posts..here in south georgia!!! well, since all the shows & commercials..i've met more people..mostly children.who come from families who frown on "other nationalities"..after lilo & stitch came out,so many lil ones came to me..i know where you're from,can you "hula?"& so on..when i grow up thats where i want to go because ohana means family &so on...i have a friend who owns a music store..he is selling ukeleles left & right now because young teens have seen the shows,commercials,travel channel,etc..and have never heard anything so beautiful,there's no one in this area to teach them so have gone online for instructions.so if all this makes little ones wonder &ask questions about our heritage then i'm all for it.because most people dislike what they don't understand..as for lilo?? it made me teary eyed.it was the 1st time in over 20 yrs that i'd heard hawaiian singing..plus my dad called after he saw it..said it reminded him of when i was little in palolo valley,he got calls every single day..kimmi's late again for hula,kimmi dragged her grass skirt in the dirt again,etc..so for some places in the mainland,its their very 1st glimpse into anything hawaiian.so now the "new publicity" has them searching the web for what,who &where we come from...sorry for ramblin..............