Comments on: What books are essential for understanding Hawaiian culture?

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:25:24 +0000

Page Turner, I'm about 3/4ths through Hawaiian Son. The two special treats for me were the pictures of my hero, Mary Kawena Pukui, and the stories about my mentor Moe Keale. I did not know Moe played on that album but now I am going to get it. Moe mentored me at the Lomi Shop for 6 months (at the time he "died" for the first time) and of course Kawena has been a guiding light in all my research. I also loved that Myrna, a haole from the US like me, helped Eddie in his journey to understand his culture - much as I am helping my husband, the artist Mark Chai. I just wish this book had much much more about his grandmother and small kid time. But mahalo for telling us about it. A real joy!

I see that Bill will be on O'ahu for his book - see events here http://www.wfernandez.com/wf/events.php

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:24:12 +0000

Mahalo Page Turner and Judith. I've been trying to track down both of these books! Borders at Windward Mall is disorganized and sorely lacking. I was at the annual lomilomi conference this weekend and Nana Veary's granddaughter, Noelani Bennett, spoke about Nana and the book. Yes, I think whether it's Hawaiians within multi-cultural environments, or within different spiritual traditions, or living on the mainland, there is always a light that shines through that is the light of aloha.

Judith, I was an attorney in Santa Clara County though rarely went to court, but I'm sure I saw Bill around the courthouse! Never made the connection until I went to your web site.

Anyway, I do intend to read both of these books as soon as possible.

By: Page Turner

Page Turner — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:41:39 +0000

I’m glad you mentioned Change We Must, a very special book. Almost included it in my list but remembered it as ending with Zen Buddhism. After looking at it again, Nana Veary retains her Hawaiian essence even as she connects with various other belief systems (Christianity, Pentacostals, metaphysics) in her spiritual journey. Throughout she recognizes truth in, and has a reverence for, nature. Other cultures, esp. island peoples, can track back to that same view of valuing the natural world...which now loops us back to Judith’s initial comment...!

BTW, Hawaiian Son is a much longer book but is very readable like Change We Must. Perhaps “amazing” is too strong. Its stories are quietly amazing.

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:20:01 +0000

You are speaking to my heart! I love Ku Kanaka and haven't met many who have actually read it. That is one to re-read every few years. I've read all the rest except Eddie's. I wasn't aware of that aspect of his book so now will have to read that! For integrating the old culture to today, I also would put in Ho'opono by Pali Jae Lee. She talks about aloha and mana. We could add Change We Must by Nana Veary also. These two books are not scholarly works such as those you mention but perhaps that is best for people who want an easy introduction.

By: Page Turner

Page Turner — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:17:02 +0000

What is Hawaiian culture without language/`olelo and hula? There is no one Hawaiian experience but without those elements it'd reflect Hawaiian culture stripped of its essence. Again, that isn't to put down Bill Fernandez's memoir (which sounds like a good read) and I don't think we need to separate discussion topics. To go back to the original question, I suggest books that reflect how traditional Hawaiian ways are/can be preserved and lived today: the beautiful Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei, which shows the role of lei in hula; Rosa Say's Managing with Aloha and George Kanahele's Ku Kanaka, for integrating Hawaiian concepts in business and modern life....The CRDG Ka Wana series falls into that too. Davianna McGregor's Na Kua`aina: Living Hawaiian Culture traces history but also shows how people today are living "old" ways (though perhaps best read after other books)...Eddie Kamae's Hawaiian Son for not only music but his amazing stories of how he received inspiration via a Hawaiian way of knowledge--mysterious yet real. Makana, your lomilomi book can be included on this list, as it shows traditional practices are alive today. (Your mention of Sally Bowman's Heart of Being Hawaiian brings to mind the first half of Lost Generations by J. Arthur Rath, also a good read.)

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:51:00 +0000

A book that speaks to that is "The Heart of Being Hawaiian: An Exploration of Modern Hawaiian Culture" by Sally-Jo Keala-o-Ānuenue Bowman. She also attended KS in the days when the purpose of the school was to turn Hawaiians into Americans. She speaks movingly about her journey to understand ancient Hawaiian culture, and connects it to her modern day life. Highly recommended!

By: Judith Fernandez

Judith Fernandez — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:24:52 +0000

Ahhh..this is exactly the discussion I thought was needed: the meaning of "Hawaiian" culture. My husband is half Hawaiian, KS grad (there back in the days when the language and hula were forbidden) and settled on the mainland. Retired now, we spend about half our time on Kaua'i where he is exploring the native Hawaiian experience with Western contact in the 18-19th centuries by writing novels and a memoir. In his experience, "native Hawaiian" included living in families with Western and Asian blood, food and cultures which amalgamized into today's multi-cultural, racial society based on native Hawaiian values to a large extent.
I understood the question to be focused on native Hawaiian, just wanted to include the concept that it becomes hard to sort it out of the cultural/racial mix that is Hawaii. I am pure haole but feel VERY native Hawaiian and immerse myself in the culture and history. I am so lucky to be married to a man whose character and soul are native Hawaiian.
But it is important to keep the true native Haw. culture alive and thriving, not just part of the mix. A difficult task in modern days with car radios booming rap instead of slack key, gangsta talk instead of kindness and humbleness, etc. But there are good signs: the use of the Haw. language on Haw.Airlines at the start of their safety anncmt and then English, hearing many people speaking the language, adopting Haw. names, all good signs.

Your question about contemporary kanak maoli experience is an important one. We hear it on the mainland/continent where people who move there for economic reasons bewail the loss of the children's "Hawaiianness". Does it require a physical contact with the mana in the islands? I am beginning to believe it does. When you grow up in subdivisions and drive miles of concrete, how can the keiki understand the subtleness of the breezes, the murmur of the ocean breaking on the distant reef, the feel of soft mist and rainbows darting above? I wonder if those subconscious sensual experiences are essential to feel deeply native Hawaiian?

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:28 +0000

I agree Page Turner. I actually started this discussion group and was thinking N/native Hawaiian at the time. After reading Judith's post, I thought she made a good point which is that the local multi-cultural experience of a native Hawaiian today IS Hawaiian culture. So I started another discussion - Essential mo'olelo Hawai'i - for discussing traditions of kanaka maoli. But now I'm realizing that one is focused on history. What about contemporary kanaka maoli experience? Should that be another discussion?

By: Page Turner

Page Turner — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:09:14 +0000

This touches on the debate between Hawaiian vs. local. The term "Hawaiian" has been recommended by the Associated Press to refer to native Hawaiian. The multiculturalism described in the previous comment is a wonderful Hawaii experience but I'm not sure it is true (native) Hawaiian culture.

Then that brings up the question of whether to use Native Hawaiian or native Hawaiian...

By: Judith Fernandez

Judith Fernandez — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:42:57 +0000

To understand the islands, you should read about the mix of cultures and races that settled in Hawai'i. The native Hawaiian tradition of aloha plus the acceptance and cooperation of so many races and religions has produced an amalgamation unique to the islands. Since no one race dominates and the psychology of living on an island (escape from others isn't so easy), there is a spirit of cooperation and acceptance.

I guess the phrase "Hawaiian culture" in itself has different aspects: native, vs. general? I doubt that a particular book can answer the question. Instead, the reader should turn to many different books, particularly those describing actual upbringings on the islands. Together, they form a mosaic that reveals the complexity of the question.

A good depiction of daily life can be read in Rainbows Over Kapa'a by Bill Fernandez. It is a fascinating memoir/history of his life growing up in this small town on Kaua'i where he lived in a multi-cultural, multi-racial society of hard working former plantation workers struggling to be successful. The town was not dominated/controlled by plantations. Buddhist temples sit near Christian churches. Everyone shares the ono food.

Bill's parents, both half-Hawaiian, were poorly educated but managed to succeed and eventually built the largest movie theater in the islands in 1939.

President Obama's wife says that you cannot understand her husband until you understand Hawai'i. Bill's memoir explains what life was (and is) like living where everyone works together and shares, all with the spirit of aloha.

His descriptions of playing war with his friends while soldiers guarded the beaches from Japanese invasion are unforgettable. While American Japanese on the mainland were herded into camps, Hawai'i's American Japanese were not. Why? I think it has much to do with the general acceptance and friendships of all peoples who understood they were not a threat. This is the aloha way.

A graduate of Kamehameha Schools (he is half Hawaiian) and Stanford University, he practiced law and served as a city councilman and mayor before becoming a judge. Retired, he and his wife split their time between barefoot days on his Kaua'i porch and California.

Bill's generosity, friendliness and kindness are all a reflection of native Hawaiian character; a desire to be kind, share and work together as a community. He has been active in native Hawaiian organizations.

His book can be found at Borders on the islands.

Judith Fernandez