Yeah, I didn't have anything to say, and now I do....
So my mom's friend wrote to me asking my mana'o (thoughts) about Lili'uokalani and her story and I didn't get the email until too late for his purposes because of computer issues, but it stirred me up and I'd meant to post about this long before. So here it is. The following is taken from this website with corrections to names and spelling by me
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I don't have such a connection, being white, middle-class etc. etc... but growing up on the East Coast, I've been familiar with the treatment of Native Americans. It's much the same for all indigenous peoples, isn't it? Vastly unjust, humiliating, and to my knowledge, every instance like this that you look back upon finds that the people who were "less civilized" were the only ones acting with any kind of dignity and honor. I didn't know the story of Lili'uokalani, but not for the first time I find myself ashamed of the actions of my ancestors.
I can't imagine what all of this means to you; I've spent the morning trying. I can't quite fathom the allegiance and love that people feel for a monarchy, because all I've ever known is a string of political faces, all ugly and few loved. I can't imagine my culture- what there is of it, I suppose- being obliterated, banned... I just can't wrap my brain around it.
I can't tell you how many sentences that I've typed out, then deleted, because they're just insufficient to the task of communicating. I wish I could give you a hug. (I might need one too, after reading this.)
I want to learn more now. Are there any references you would recommend?
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That phrase really sticks with me, Beth -- it's exactly what I've always felt particularly when studying the history of my people. I went to school and got my bachelors in Hawaiian Studies, with an emphasis on history and culture. It's where I learned to speak Hawaiian, where I really came to learn the history from an academic's standpoint rather than merely that of a native child interested in those who came before. Honestly, it's a dead end degree and for a time there I regretted getting it, but I've come to appreciate the fact that I learned everything that I did.
I needed to think this through on what to recommend, and then it was just crazy at work the last two days so I'm only getting to this now. Before I go any further though, thank you. Thank you for caring. I didn't really mean to make it one of those thinky posts but it really turned into one.
In regards to references you might want to look at, I'm not sure if some of these are available in your area. I scoured my own shelves but a number of my old books are still in boxes since we simply don't have the room for them all to come out of storage. At any rate, try some of these below. Keep in mind that they get more and more politcally charged the further down you go.
Shoal of Time, a History of the Hawaiian Islands - Gavan Daws
Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen - Lili'uokalani
Dismembering Lahui: A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887 - Jon Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio
Native Land and Foreign Desires: Pehea La E Pono Ai? How Shall We Live in Harmony? - Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa
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Princess Kaiulani: The last hope of Hawaii's monarchy - Kristin Zambucka
Kalakaua: Hawaii's Last King - Kristin Zambucka
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