In my 18 years growing up in Hawaii, I heard a single conversation spoken in fluent Hawaiian btwn a father and his daughter. @SarahNEmerson
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I learned Hawaiian history and a few words (numbers, colors) in school, but not much beyond
This is part of why getting asked "aren't you Hawaiian if you grew up in Hawaii?" is a little bit painful. A sign of cultural decimation.
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This is also part of why it's slightly painful when US corporates adopt "Aloha" and "Hana" etc. for their brands.
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Not only is the concept of aloha eg, very socially interdependent in contrast to most capitalist practice, it's the term of a crushed people
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as a note: Hawaii has still only been a US State for 57 years, since 1959. Shorter than many residents' lifetimes.
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my high school Latin teacher had been teaching since before statehood, which my school was founded 10 years prior to.
End of conversation
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I spoke German and English at home and my parents had both moved to Hawaii as adults, so, no.
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in several senses, I am as Hawaiian as Obama.
End of conversation
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I always get the inverse. "You're Hawaiian? What was it like to grow up in hawaii?" I dont know. I'm from Florida.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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