The article by Jennifer Lui on “Literature in Hawaii: Who Gets to Write it?” keys in on the idea that you don’t have to be “Hawaiian” in order to contribute to literature in Hawaii. In contrast comparison one voice is that you have to be of Hawaiian ethnicity to write Hawaiian literature.
Jennifer Lui suggest that sufficient culture understanding, community input, and adapting to modern times gives enough weight for one in Hawaii to be a voice in the Hawaiian islands and history from their perspective.
She does understand that there is a need to protect the definition of “Hawaiian”, but she does also see the fine line between discriminating against other ethnicities.
There are many “definable” words here left to the readers interpretation. Words such as “Hawaiian”, “local”, “ethnicity”, “literature”, just to name a few, which makes being non biased and non opinionated very difficult.
Throughout the unfolding of history here in Hawaii, there have been many changes, adaptations, and transformations that all have been being built upon the Hawaiian culture. I find that in one interpretation the idea that only ethnic Hawaiians can write Hawaiian literature can be a little problematic.
How much Hawaiian do you have to be, and what defines what a Hawaiian is? On the other hand, How authentic can Hawaiian literature be without any foundations or cultural understanding in the Hawaii worldview? Many tough and sometimes emotionally charged questions indeed.
Here the worldviewʻs collide which makes for many misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and judgements.
This article really sparked my thinking on how to be more culturally aware and honoring to those around me. So who can write Hawaiian literature? I think only those who have that calling will know.
On one side we need to be able to keep the foundations strong and hold to the cultural authenticity that we have to preserve and understand better the patterns of living those in ancient times had.
And on the other side, in our every day practical living we need to adapt to the complex world around us that we now have.
Therefore there is an even deeper need for more modern thinkers like Jennifer, and authentic deep writers like Haunani to come together in dialogue to blend the past with the present to bring the community into the future.
