ADJECTIVAL OBJECTIONISM

ADJECTIVAL OBJECTIONISM: One of the most unintentionally hilarious things we’ve seen in a long time was a press release- picked up by the local newspaper yesterday- announcing that:

Kaua`i Nonviolent Communication will soon host its first ever “conscious community dialogue” to answer the often controversial question: “What does it mean to be ‘haole’ in Hawai`i?”

But the funny part was that:

The event aims to attract white, or “haole,” residents of Kaua`i in particular, but welcomes the participation of Kauians (sic) of all ethnic backgrounds

So let’s see- apparently a bunch of haoles want to talk to other haoles because they’ve got their panties in a bunch over being haoles.

First off let’s get something straight here- there’s the word “haole” and then there’s the term “stupid f—ing haole” and there’s a world of difference between the two.

The former- a moniker we proudly wear- is simply descriptive and used in the local culture in describing. originally anything foreign or introduced but nowadays, a white/Caucasian person. It has no inherent derogatory connotations any more than any of the other term used locally like Kepani, Pake, Portagee, Popolo and other terms used locally to describe culture and ethnicity.

Because so many people from so many places have congregated here local culture has less of a taboo against identifying one’s self and others by ethnicity. We think nothing of walking up to a person and asking “what are you” with no mal intent whereas on the mainland that question might get you punched in the nose.

It might be useful to look at the real definition of haole in the Pukui-Elbert English Hawaiian Dictionary:

White person, American, Englishman, Caucasian; American, English; formerly, any foreigner; foreign, introduced, of foreign origin, as plants, pigs, chickens; entirely white, of pigs.

And that bring us to the term “stupid f’ing haole which is usually well earned when mainlanders come over and don’t just refuse to adapt to local culture but try to force their cultural on those they meet.

And as if to emphasize this the some of the “comments” on the article in the paper could only come from stupid f’ing haoles.

Try this one from “Pohaku” who said.

"Ha'ole" is insulting. People who use it are racists. The translation means without Ha, in this case breath or Life. It was used to describe the officers on the first contact vessels, who wore powdered wigs and powdered their faces as part of dressing in their finery to meet the chiefs of the islands that they visited. These pale, powdered officers looked to be without breath or life to the Hawaiians.
We don't dress that way now. Many whites have "Ha" in a way now that many Hawaiians have lost.

This “ha ole” nonsense is the epitome of S-F’ing haole behavior. There is no truth whatsoever for this theory of the derivation of the word yet it’s used by people who have taken offense at the term because of their mainland cultural bias and made up some kind of explanation that now permeates haole S-F’ing cultural rumor mill.

On the other hand “ricanvegan” said something that rings true

Being ha'ole means putting together seminars like this.

Although (s)he uses the wrong spelling (using the `okina) and fails to say it’s the S-F haole that organizes seminars to figure out what only interaction can inform, it does bring up the right way-wrong way to avoid “makin’ A” and being tagged with the S-F label.

So how can you avoid being a S-F haoles? Essentially the same way you avoid being a "damn Yankee" in the south or one of those "damn California people" in Montana with the knowledge that local Kaua`i culture has grown from a multi-cultural rather than a uni-cultural base.

The methodology is no different here than it is in coming into any place where a different culture is present.

S-F haoles have an attitude of the superiority of their culture often times unconscious because well, that’s the way Americans are. They’d do better to approach individuals as they would anyone else who they seek to befriend.

If you approach people with a genuine interest in the way they do things they will reciprocate in kind. If instead if you tell the person of your culture with an attitude of “this how it’s done the ‘right’ way” you will quickly be seen for what you are- a S-F haole

Don’t assume everyone here has it in for you because you are a haole and don’t assume it is an insult when the term is used or you will quickly become a S-F haole.

Be a member of the community that’s here- don’t build one of your own in isolation. Local people have a tradition of sharing and being friendly. Get to know your neighbor and don’t be critical of what they do just because you don’t do it.

Don’t put up a no trespassing sign and a locked gate. Don’t honk at people in traffic. Smile at people and make eye contact. maybe with a little head nod, in the supermarket- even say “hi” sometimes.

And don’t forget that taking pride in your culture and ethnicity doesn’t mean foisting it on others. Try to become aware of when you’re doing it. People like sharing their culture as much as you do and will be happy to respect yours if you respect theirs. Eventually you both will come to celebrate both without pushing one on the other.

Then, when you’re sitting around and people start talking about S-F haoles they will turn to you and say “oh, not you”.

Then you will know you are simply haole and once you embrace that you will start calling people stupid f’ing haoles yourself.