Genealogy workshop; Edgy Lee documentary

Last night I was talking story with some local Hawaiians and one of them said something I thought was interesting to remember: For Hawaiians, your genealogy is your ID. He was talking about currently, whether it be in burial protection, the exercise of gathering rights under the PASH decision, or resettlement of hui lands, the genealogy is what proves your connection to the land, and not just to Hawaii in general, but to a particular moku or ahupua‘a. Traditionally, of course, genealogy was protocol that was part of daily life, and one chanted one's mookuauhau literally as the way to identify oneself when entering the space of another or introducing oneself on first meeting, and this practice is being revived (and takes a more casual form of talking about one's family when you meet someone). But in addition to the spiritual aspect of just knowing where you come from and being able to say "this is who I am," it also confers legal rights, both under the occupier's system and under international and kingdom law.

Of course, the most direct connection of genealogy is na iwi, the bones of the ancestors whose genealogy we're talking about, and this is what ties Hawaiians directly to the land. Every culture in the world honors burials as sacred. Of course there are more recent burials from other cultures that have come in the last two hundred years, and no one would dispute respecting and protecting their graveyards. But of course those who have been here for many centuries are the ones buried all around, and their descendants today are the ones who have that connection to the land which sets them apart. It is not about the "race" of a person literally, especially since the whole concept of race is a socially constructed illusion anyway, but it is about family and a historical connection to the land, and about having your ancestors, your ohana, buried here.

I will argue vehemently that Hawaiian nationality is not based on race and includes non-aboriginal Hawaiians, because I think that this is an accurate and stronger legal position for Hawaiians and more consistent with the legacy of their ancestors, as well as more likely to win the popular support needed for success. But at the same time, I believe strongly that the country of Hawaii is and will be special and unique, and that Hawaii is what it is, because of the ancient connection of Hawaiians to the land, and all the culture and values that come with that that have been passed down from the ancestors who are buried here. They must be respected as the core and the foundation and the host.

Anyway, just a little reflection on the subject, so those who read my mana'o emphasizing inclusive nationality understand that I also immensely respect and value the distinct connection of Hawaiians to their homeland and believe the best way to protect that is in the context of the nationality of the country of Hawaii, not the ethnically defined domestic dependent nation under the plenary power of congress that the feds are trying to create from scratch today.

So, on the subject of genealogy and culture, an email announcement from Marilyn Khan:

A series of two-day workshops on Hawaiian genealogical literacy is being conducted at the Hawa'i State Archives. The workshops are titled, "Teaching Information Literacy on Access and Retrieval of Land and Genealogy from the Hawai'i State Archives." The workshops are funded by an OHA grant.

The workshops are free, but advanced registration is required. To register, contact the Rev Joel Hulu Mahoe Research Center by calling 677-5513, or email reverendjoelhulumahoe@yahoo.com.

The two day workshops will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Hawaii State Archives, March 15 and 17 and March 29 and 31.

You may also find the following website interesting as it contains pictures and genealogy of our ali'i.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~royalty/files/pix_oceania.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~royalty/hawaii/i30.html

Lastly, tune into KHON,Channel 2 on March 15, 9:00 p.m.for a special program titled,"The Hawaiians, Reflecting Spirit". It is adocumentary by noted Hawai'i filmmaker Edgy Lee. It offers important cultural insights into who the Hawaiians are as a a people their origins, historical challenges and current social conditions. Most importantly, the film points to the revival of the spirit of a native people whose identity is intrinsically tied to their Hawaiian homeland.

Posted: Fri - March 11, 2005 at 10:27 AM

getBlogName(); > getCategoryName("C259362623"); >

Genealogy workshop; Edgy Lee documentary

> >