How Come Kanaka

leroy dumont

44 • Pencil Pusher

article, history, biography

1st

Draft

Published on:

March 20, 11:33pm

Word Count:

400

Work Description

What it means to be a native Hawaiian by blood or in spirit.

This work is archived and isn't accepting critiques or comments. Why?

Page: 1

Loosely translated, kanaka means person or human being and originally referred to one of Polynesian/Hawaiian descent. However, kanaka is a frame of mind. Keike-hanau-o-ka-aina. A child who springs from the land.

Now for some straight-up facts. Queen Liliuokalani (Lydia Kamekeha) who died in 1917 was the last kanaka who stood her ground. She was deposed by Sanford Dole and his haoles backed up by the United States marines and, overwhelmed, reluctantly gave up. Aloha Oe (Farewell) was her swan song to the remaining kanakas. After that, the hawaiians (small h) gave up and became Christians, afraid to offend the haoles. They became "good natives" like the "good indians" on the Mainland and the Islands were never the same. Some kama-aina (native born) play the role, catering to the tourist dollar. However, kanaka as an attitude lived on. It was adopted by some who migrated to the Islands and retained by the real Hawaiians (capital H) adopted them. My father's family belonged to these.

Kanaka is a point of view that sets you apart from the haoles. There is no middle ground. No real hapa-haoles (half haole, half kanaka). In Hawaii, you're either a kanaka or not.

Haoles come in all ethnic varieties. Haole Caucasian, Haole Japanese, Haole Chinese, and down the minor ethnic breeds. These include the pseudo-kanakas - politically correct locals who wimped out and sucked up to the haoles who ran the Islands. Real kanakas stood apart. Even my personal family was divided. In my home, my father was Kanaka Portuguese and my mother was Portuguese Haole. Guess which side I chose.

True kanaka-ism is an in-your-face attitude. We are who we are and, if you don't like it, leave and go live somewhere else. We really didn't give a damn. If you were a cousin-braddah or cousin-sistah, we took you into our hearts and homes. If not, you were a haole like the rest. This the real kanakas will understand.

True kanakas live by a unique ethic. They are who they are - no more, no less. Being kanaka is reality-based point of view that can be summed up simply by the local admonition: No hu-hu. Don't bother yourself with it. Let it pass and go with the flow. That was why the haoles ripped us off.

Hang loose, braddah (referring to one's testicles). That is the kanaka way. I took it literally and never wore underwear.

Page: 1

Rate This Work

Your honest rating will help the author improve.

Please log in to rate.

Discussion

Print Discussion

Amber Lynn

747 • Ink Slinger

However, kanaka as an attitude lived on.

Starting here, I think this line could use it's own paragraph because you are making a point. A new line is like pounding your fist on the table, saying, "However, kanaka...."

Hang loose, braddah (referring to one's testicles). That is the kanaka way. I took it literally and never wore underwear.

I love this line but what if one doesn't have testicles? Can they still be kanaka? Just kidding.

I like the piece, as a general rule. But...Sorry, gotta go there. You talk about kanaka attitude, but this piece seems to be missing some. It's more of a tell all, which is simply about word choice. Is there a better word for "gave up", "deposed", etc. I like to imagine this piece, although non-fiction, like a man doing an Adam Sandler attitude dialogue. Even non-fiction needs voice and tone.

Other than that, great job. Hope to read more, perhaps chapter 2 from Scorpion Soup? Just wondering...

--Amber

pynguin

14 • Scribbler

First off, I can relate quite a bit to this article being an Alaskan Native and having lived in Hawaii for a year during college. The message is quite clear and it was easy to read, with a few exceptions dealing with commas (though that might just be your writing style). One sentence in particular was a bit bumpy in regard to general flow:

She was deposed by Sanford Dole and his haoles backed up by the United States marines and, overwhelmed, reluctantly gave up.

She was forcibly deposed by a joint effort between Sanford Dole, his haoles and the United States Marines. Given the overwhelming influence of her opposition she reluctantly succumbed.

The other paragraph that was a bit tricky was the one beginning with:

True kanakas live by a unique ethic.

I think you make a VERY strong point in this section, but it was kind of lost with the number of breaks the overall structure. The fact that due to the nature of the kanaka's ethic they were ripped of by the less-moral haole kind.

Great work, hope to read more from you!

-pynguin

leroy dumont

44 • Pencil Pusher

I initially wrote this as a mini-blog to my six sons who are scattered about the country and keep in touch by email. It was written in response to their queries and sort of in "pidgin-ese". The critiques thus far are very valid and appreciated. I will revise my original computer file accordingly. Thank you, Pyngyn and Amber Lynn (Incidentally, Amber Lynn also is the name of my grand-daughter).

Ariadne President

1342 • Writer

Hello, Leroy Dumont. I have to say, this Aloha! And also, I would like to say that this had really related to me because I went to Hawaii and I watched a show that focused on Hawaiian cultures called Lilo and Stitch, which actaully was a cartoon show. When I watch the show, sometimes it will make me think about going back to Hawaii and hearing the song that Elvis Presley (I think he may have sang this before, I do not know exactly) called Aloha Oe. This was a great work that you shared with us, Leroy. I look forward to reading more of your works! Take care!

Remove these ads