Ryan Ozawa reviews Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” episode on Hawaii that airs on Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m. Hawaii time (9 p.m. ET/PT).
Thompson talks of the dark days of native Hawaiian culture, and its resurgence, and Bourdain gives a decent 30-second history lesson running from the arrival of Westerners through the overthrow and World War II, from the plantation era to modern times. Today’s Hawaii is both very “Main Street USA,” and yet “has the nicest elements of the third world.”
And more than once, the shocking possibility that Hawaii may not always be dripping with aloha for its visitors is explored.
“It’s not a particularly welcoming or friendly part of the world, contrary to the aloha myth,” Bourdain tells Theroux. Theroux replies: “But no island is… did anyone ever come to an island with a good intention?”
Bourdain and his crew even goes as far as to test whether Molokai is as unfriendly as he’s been told. There he is welcomed, fed, and educated by Hanohano Naehu, keeper of the Keawanui fish pond, Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte, and friends. Over squid luau and fresh poi, they discuss Hawaiian history and sustainability.
These Foreigners have no idea what they are talking about. Even the history Thimpson speaks about is all speculation.
Aloha,
Mahalo for the heads up on this show!
I thought the show displayed an excellent snap shot into
the concept as to who are considered to be Hawaiians.
Common thinking would lead one to believe that the location
you’re from would dictate the area that you represent, but
we saw the innocent struggle the two men at the restaurant
in Kalihi had concerning the issue as to who would be
considered a Hawaiian. Out of respect, one of the men stated
he was Japanese born in Hawaii but he was not a Hawaiian and
said that a Hawaiian is a kanaka maoli, a race of people as
opposed to a nationality of a people.
The U.S. occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom have created such
confusion that we are witnessing unto this very day.
Hawaiian is a nationality not a race, but because of the U.S.
occupation and the changing of its definition it is inclusive
of a certain race of people. The U.S. however is without any
treaty of cession with the Hawaiian Kingdom to show that the
sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom was ever extinguished and
therefore a Hawaiian would include any descendent of a Hawaiian
national up to 12P.M. on August 12,1898.
As stated in the past, you can no more tell the race of an
American than you can that of a Hawaiian.
I think Hanohano gave an eloquent explanation of how anyone
could be Hawaiian by the acceptance of things pono to the
Hawaiian culture. Again, Aloha being inclusive.
All good!