Why can't the Hawaiians just get together?

Why can't the Hawaiians just get together?

In her Advertiser column today, Lee Cataluna addresses the notion that Hawaiians somehow have to come together, unite and agree on various issues, "from federal recognition and self-governance to matters of land rights and housing, ali'i trust beneficiaries to issues of protocol and tradition" which she says is "both a wish and an excuse." She points out that "Americans pride themselves on their different opinions," and that the message we get in fifth grade history class is that this is what makes us strong. She says, for Hawaiians, "There needs to be a healthy acknowledgment of diverse views, a realistic attempt to address as many sides as practical, and a unshakable resolve to move forward in a way that benefits the majority."

I have heard so many times things like, "Why can't the Hawaiians just get together?" But there's such a double standard to this kind of imposed expectation of unity. Why can't the Democrats and Republicans get together? While there is value to unity, and most Hawaiians do agree on many things (more so than the extremes within American culture), it can't be a false unity based on outside expectations, and there is indeed strength in diversity of opinions and viewpoints in the Hawaiian community as much as anywhere. Hawaiians ("Native" or nationals) will never "just get together," and we shouldn't expect them to, and they shouldn't expect it of themselves. But that also shouldn't stop them from getting their country back. It will be a strength they bring to the political process within that country, just like anywhere.

Posted: Fri - January 27, 2006 at 05:18 PM

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is about Hawaii's status as an independent country under prolonged illegal occupation by the United States, and the history, culture, law & politics of the islands.

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Published On: Jan 27, 2006 05:21 PM

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