Mike Meyer
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

The unresolved problems must be dealt with very carefully here hence my hesitation in suggesting this as part of your project. That sensitivity is illustrated by the fact that residents of Hawaii are not Hawaiian. Only ethnic Hawaiians may be called by that name.That was not true before the overthrow of the monarchy. Visitors here get corrected very quickly and politely if they make that mistake.

While we tend to be proud of our success as a society that success came at the cost of Hawaiian culture. The language and culture were very nearly destroyed by the 1960s. It took a tremendous amount of work and commitment in the sate to assist the Hawaiian communities to restore traditions, language, and pride. Because of the unique historical situation the Hawaiian people are not recognized as an indigenous national unit as are all major North American Tribes.There are groups that are divided on that issue. These are things that I cannot address with any legitimacy and therefore won’t. Perhaps that is the only thing that can be learned from the Hawaiian part of the culture of these islands, we are very careful to stay out of issues that must be determined by the Hawaiian people out of respect. And aloha includes that respect, which is more than what we teach tourists, but we all know where that came from.

So, I’ll be happy to write about elements of crossing lines, as you put it, and to suggest things that I have learned that might be useful with a few stories about this and that. But, honestly, a blended culture is built on respect and people tend not to learn that until they have to. And if they can’t they leave. So you will see that in the hard line I take on people demanding respect but refusing to give it.

TheOtherLeft

Exploring change past, present, and future . . .

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Mike Meyer

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Educator, CIO, retired entrepreneur, grandfather with occasional fits of humor in the midst of disaster. . .

TheOtherLeft

Exploring change past, present, and future . . .

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