Posted by Damon Senaha on May 28, 1999 at 10:57:54:
In Reply to: Re: PURE HAWNS posted by Kalani on May 28, 1999 at 09:27:04:
(Preface: my use of "Hawaiian" in the context of this post is limited to those with aboriginal blood)
You guys are missing the point. THe apology resolution was issued by the American government via the President of the United States. The apology was extended to Hawaiians for the illegal overthrow of their Kingdom as well as extinguishment of Hawaiian citizenship and self-determination.
The apology extends only to those of aboriginal blood.
It does not matter what we Hawaiians think of ourselves. (Hawaiian, Native-Hawaiian, etc) IT MATTERS because there are those who are not Hawaiian but are proclaiming or masqurading themselves as such. These people, those identifying themselves as Hawaiians, are not aborigial people of America and cannot claim a special duty owed to them by the United States for the injustices heaped upon native peoples and their lands.
The apology doesn't extend to them. The Executive Office made sure of that by defining what a Hawaiian is.
Once again, its not what we Hawaiians consider ourselves. When others claim to be Hawaiian, this obscures and obliterates our claim as aboriginal people.
Today, in the eyes of many, what is Hawaiian? Kodak hula show? Hawaiian tropic suntan lotion? a Domino's Ham and pineapple pizza? People want to be "Hawaiian" because it sounds "cool" or "exotic". Our culture has been the victim of economic exploitation.
The right to call ourself Hawaiians is our freedom of choice. The right for others to call themselves Hawaiian contributes to an exploitaiton of my very essence.
Damon Senaha
: : Besides, we might know what's written up in the law, but doesn't mean we all have to use those terms. I can't see my father telling all his friends, "Yeah, my son's muddah is native Hawaiian so get native Hawaiian too". No, that would never happen with my dad. :-)
: : Kalani
: SORRY, I meant to say that my dad would probably say: "Yeah, my son's muddah is native Hawaiian so HE native Hawaiian too".