Hawaii simmering in USA Today

USA Today has a must read front-page article about Hawaii and its "simmering" racial and political tensions. Overall it is a pretty fair summary of the situation which shows a lot of the different attitudes people have, though it just touches on the very complex issues of Hawaiian nationalism. Here's a few reactions I had in reading it.

The lead focuses around one recent incident in which "a Hawaiian father and son were arrested and charged with beating a soldier and his wife unconscious" after the latter's SUV struck the parked car of the former. "The teenager allegedly shouted an obscenity along with the Hawaiian term for a white person, haole (pronounced "howl-ee"), while attacking the soldier."

Yes, maybe it's an indication of sentiments lurking under the surface. But I also think we can read too much into one incident. Who knows? Maybe they would have snapped the same way no matter who had run into their car. Who knows? Garans there's as much violence between Hawaiians, even within families, as there is toward haoles. How much attention does that get? We need to look at the deeper causes.

To compensate for the U.S. role in the royal overthrow, Congress in 1920 authorized free houses for 99 years to people who can prove they have at least 50% Hawaiian blood.

Fact check: Last I checked DHHL houses weren't free. The land lease is (or close to it), which make at least takes it out of the speculative market and makes it more affordable, but Hawaiians still have to pay for the house and qualify for the mortgage.

Some Hawaiians say independence is desirable but impracticable. "Secede? Oh, God, we would love to," says Haunani-Kay Trask, 57, a Hawaiian studies professor at the University of Hawaii. "As a nationalist, I hate the United States of America."

Setting aside the misnomer of wanting to "secede" what was never ceded (pdf), she's speaking for herself, not all nationalists. I know lots of nationalists who don't hate the U.S. Some have died fighting for the U.S. Many don't consider themselves U.S. citizens as a matter of law, and they certainly can cite the wrongs the U.S. has done against their country Hawaii, but from my observation, being a Hawaiian nationalist means loving Hawaii, not hating America. Some may feel the way Haunani-Kay does, but like in other parts of the world, most distinguish between America's people and the good things it stands for from its government, its policies and its failure to live up to its own ideals.

Haunani-Kay continues:

"But (independence) doesn't live in the political-military world we live in, with 26 military bases in Hawaii and 7 million tourists a year."

True, for the present. But things do change, sometimes faster than we may imagine. Independence didn't live in the political-military world of Soviet-occupied Baltic states. Unification didn't live in the political-military world of Cold War Berlin. President Nelson Mandela didn't live in the Apartheid world of South Africa. Yet when time came, all happened faster than anyone predicted (and much more peacefully). Other independent countries host military bases through treaty arrangements, and have thriving tourist industries. For those who can imagine an independent Hawaii, it is about education, preparation, exposure, organization, diplomacy, building the foundation. Or as Skippy says, "Free your mind and your ass is sure to follow." Some want federal recognition in the meantime and see it as a step or the best they can get; some see it as a set up, a sell out, a trap and an obstacle to independence; others see it as an internal U.S. law that does not legally affect the political status of the country of Hawaii and the ultimate right to restore the effectiveness of an independent government.

Karen Knudsen, chairwoman of the state Board of Education, says, "You will hear people say 'dumb haole,' and it's not a big deal. But you would never say 'dumb' any other group. That's considered offensive."

Really? But earlier they mention Frank DeLima speaking in schools to help educate the kids about racial sensitivity. Which is great. When we can laugh at it, it disarms it. The genius of DeLima and many other Hawaii comedians is how they make fun of all races. (Wikipedia: "With a Portuguese heritage, he is known for light-hearted "Portagee" (Hawaiian Pidgin English for "Portuguese") slurs in his routine." I hear people tease about race all the time. Portagee, Pake, Pilipino, etc. All have their stereotypes. Whether it is offensive or good-natured all depends on the context, and how it is said. Try listen "Mr. San Cho Lee". Here's the last two verses:

Mr Kamakawiwo'ole (Mr Kamakawiwo'ole),
got plenty not too much of nothing
Got plenty nothing, and he takes it out on me
And he's just one mean old Hawaiian man

There is one thing I can say about this place
All us guys we tease the other race
It's amazing we can live in the same place

This is a well-known song in Hawaii that gets played on the radio. This isn't a big mystery.

Us poor haoles, everyone picks on us. Bullshit. Only how we act.

And by the way, the stereotype for haoles isn't usually "dumb." I would say more like arrogant and greedy. Hmm, wonder where they got that idea? Stereotypes often do have a basis in reality. But despite the tensions, which are there, like the song says, we can live together despite, or perhaps indeed because of, how we tease each other.

Military personnel say they can feel like outsiders. "At our first-day briefing, we are told to avoid certain places after dark," says Army Pfc. Jennifer Olsen, 29, of Redding, Calif., based at Oahu's Schofield Barracks.

"Sometimes, being white, we go to a store and some people are first more willing to help their own. They're very much against the military people being here. I don't understand it."

Okay, this has as much to do with being military as being white. Where has the U.S. military had a strong presence for an extended period where they haven't engendered local resentment? You don't understand that? Try reading some history. Start with Stephen Kinzer's Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change From Hawaii to Iraq. (Review and excerpt.) Maybe this should be part of their arrival briefings. (No time to read? No money? You can get the audio book from the library.)

This is front page in USA Today. Hawaii's situation is getting exposure. Independence is being openly discussed, even if dismissively. The way to deal with the racial tensions is to deal with the underlying cause, which in this case stems from the unlawful nature of the very presence of the U.S. and its imposed military and legal system in Hawaii.

Update 3/9: Kaulapi World blog shares this perspective and Ian Lind also takes note of the article.

Posted: Thu - March 8, 2007 at 07:24 AM

getBlogName(); > getCategoryName("C1126750129"); >

Hawaii simmering in USA Today

> >