What Does a Hawaiian Look Like?
ʻAʻohe like ka ʻili.
The skin is not alike.After the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and the forged annexation to the United States of America in 1898, the term Hawaiian changed from being an inclusive nationality to an exclusive race and form of ethnicity. As a result of being subjugated to the United States, Hawaiʻi also inherits the racist ideology that is present in the culture of a country who is still recovering from a war which emancipated the enslaved population of African people living in America. Many Hawaiians have suffered from institutional racism which continues on into the present. Some have been ridiculed for not being Hawaiian enough while others have been called out by others for appearing to be too Hawaiian. Being caught in this conflict has resulted in emotional pain as well as physical pain as expressed by members of the Hawaiian community.
This site aims to serve as a platform to reach those who have been caught in the racial and cultural conflicts of discrimination amongst members of their own community with the intent to unify and bring people together to bridge common ground and understanding with one another as Hawaiians. |
Every Hawaiian has a story to share.
Find out about some of the people interviewed in the documentary.