The Many Facets Of Being Hawaiian by Kalani Mondoy
President Obama’s mixed heritage has helped bring mixed people into the topic of discussion a
lot more lately. Coming from the Hawaiian islands, being mixed is nothing out of the ordinary. It is no different than having an arm. We know it exists, we acknowledge it if we have to, like if it hurts, and we know it makes us who we are. It is a part of us.
However, not all societies have a large number of mixed people like Hawaii has. Although my upbringing mirrors others who grew up in Hawaii, mine in particular is unique. That is because I fall into a category commonly known as “part-Hawaiian” and it is one group in particular that stands out.
In this article I look into the different aspects and perceptions of being a mixed Hawaiian and how the law has had a major influence in shaping people’s perception on mixed Hawaiians, something that you normally would not see with other mixed people.
The Part-Hawaiian And Other Labels
The distinction between ‘a part-Hawaiian’ from ‘a Hawaiian’ was created over a century ago. Other mixed people may refer to themselves as “part” in conjunction with a particular ethnicity, such as a part-Japanese, part-German or part-Filipino. But for Hawaiians the difference has been officiated by the State of Hawaii and the Federal Government.
Growing up, my paternal grandmother who was from the Philippines, would constantly remind me that I was a product of my Kanaka mother. Back then, the term kanaka, especially the way my grandmother used it, could have negative connotations. The meaning of the word just means “person”, “human” or “mankind” and was the term that all aboriginal Hawaiians called themselves even before European contact in 1778.
The specific terms to identify an aboriginal Hawaiian are Kanaka, Kanaka ‘Oiwi, Kanaka Maoli or the term I use ‘Oiwi. During the 19th century the term Kanaka Maoli would also refer to a person of pure aboriginal descent, unlike today when Kanaka Maoli has a political connotation.
Blood Quantum And Other Mixed People
On July 9, 1921 the United States Congress passed the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, in which the purpose:
…[i]s to enable native Hawaiians to return to their lands in order to fully support self sufficiency for native Hawaiians and the self-determination of native Hawaiians in the administration of this Act, and the preservation of the values, traditions, and culture of native Hawaiians.¹
The purpose of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was to rehabilitate native Hawaiians on lands given the status of Hawaiian home lands.² They also define what a native Hawaiian is.
The term “native Hawaiian” means any descendant of not less than one-half part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778.³
For more than eight decades Hawaiians have been quantified. It began with the classification of part-Hawaiians from Hawaiians, and then the definition of a native Hawaiian by the Federal Government. Because the legal definition designates Hawaiians of a particular blood quantum certain benefits, everyone begins to believe that this is the true definition to be used for classification. The concept of “divide and conquer” began and today the division among these two groups continues.
Although the one drop rule has been applied to Blacks where any amount of African ancestry no matter how little would make that person Black, it has had the opposite effect for Hawaiians. Those with fewer Kanaka ancestors are defined as not being Hawaiian since there are benefits to that concept.
You will not hear people say “a quarter Chinese” or “half Mexican” the way it occurs with Hawaiians. That is due to the fact that there is no land, education or some other type of monetary benefit that is attached to those labels. A “part-Hawaiian” already signifies a quantifiable amount.
Aside from Congress’ definition of a native Hawaiian, the State of Hawaii created their own term and defined a Native Hawaiian as anyone having an ancestor that lived in the Hawaiian islands prior to 1778 when the first Europeans arrived. The distinction between the adjectives native with the lower case n, and Native with an upper case n is that a native Hawaiian refers to an aboriginal Hawaiian of a specific blood quantum while Native Hawaiian does not.
But even those terms can easily cause confusion since the word “native” itself implies that one belongs to a specific area, such as a native Texan or a native Californian. Those not familiar with Hawaii’s definitions would assume that a native Hawaiian means anyone of the Hawaiian Islands. It is this same concept that makes people believe that the term “Hawaiian” have the same meaning. This would include people such as Bette Midler or President Barack Obama who both grew up in Hawaii and may erroneously be referred to as a Hawaiian.
I recently met an attorney who saw on my sweatshirt “Native Hawaiian Gear,” the name of a particular clothing line. He asked if I was Native Hawaiian and after I confirmed that I was, he mentioned how President Obama was also Native Hawaiian. Why the need for the adjective “native” all of a sudden? You don’t hear that for other candidates and the states that they come from.
Although some in Hawaii may use the terms Hawaiian and Native Hawaiian interchangeably, we all define those terms today as anyone of aboriginal Hawaiian descent. Now that more people are becoming aware of Hawaii’s political history, the national term “Hawaiian” is being used among those who champion the United States’ de-occupation. Which means there may be some
who see the term “Hawaiian” as a national term of which it always have been, rather than an ethnic term.
Hawaiian Indigeneity
Today there are many Hawaiian sovereignty groups pushing for some type of governance and
independence. Many are becoming aware of Hawaii’s political and national past that was obscured in history books written by outsiders who understood little of Hawaiian culture. Since around 1827†, the term “Hawaiian” referred to those of the nation of Hawaii. This included various ethnic groups who became subjects of the Hawaiian crown by naturalization or birth•. Since the occupation of the United States, the term Hawaiian has morphed into its current form, describing an ethnicity or race.
In January of 2007 a bill was re-introduced to the U.S. Senate to grant tribal sovereignty to Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawaii, similar to that of Native Americans•. The bill’s purpose is for the organization of a native Hawaiian governing entity in order to negotiate with the State of Hawaii and the Federal government on behalf of the native people of the Hawaiian islands‡. This bill is a way to assure that the national term “Hawaiian” is recognized by the United States Federal Government as an indigenous group of people.
Hawaiians Today
Throughout the entire history of the Hawaiian islands, Hawaiians have learned to adapt to drastic cultural changes and upheaval and society’s labeling and scrutiny. Hawaiians have welcomed outsiders, embraced them and have married them producing a broader gene pool giving different features of a Hawaiian. Because of that they have been quantified, been taught to be ashamed of themselves, their culture and their language. But through education and awareness, that has changed and now we see a surge of pride and preservation in the culture and language.
Everybody Wants You . . . For all The Wrong Reasons by Frank Agostinelli
As the Pittsburgh Steelers embark onto another possible Super Bowl championship, it wasn’t too long ago when they won Super Bowl XL. Hines Ward, one of the most notable Mixed Asians to step on a football field was voted Super Bowl MVP. It dominoed nicely with the debut of AsiansOfMixedRace.com. While many who follow the NFL know who and how good Hines Ward is, South Korea the place he was born did not. Or did they?
Hines Ward has had an illustrious 10 year career amassing almost 10,000 yards receiving and 72 touchdowns. I have had been a Hines Ward fan before I found out he was part-Korean. Nothing changed when I found out he was. I don’t know. I’m just funny like that. Hines Ward is not your prototypical wide receiver. He’s small for a wideout (6’0) but he is arguably the toughest player at his position. A funny thing happened to Hines for which I had mixed feelings about. No pun intended. South Korea embracing the Super Bowl champ and MVP. I wonder where the love for number 86 was the previous seasons?
Hines Ward’s story is well documented and I have no intention to rehash it for everyone. My focus is on South Korea’s then-sudden interest in Hines Ward. It has always been a xenophobic country steeped in Confucian ways. In addition, keeping the bloodline pure has always been very important and in most sever cases when bloodlines were polluted, honor killings are the end result for the child and the mother. It has gotten better over the years but South Korea’s ethnic homogeneity still remains. Those who wear rose-colored glasses and drink too much soju will disagree, but it was only in 2005 a ban was lifted from allowing part-Koreans from serving in the military. In a phrase, honhyol were and in some cases now, still ostracized. Along with many accounts as well as my own experience in South Korea, it adds validity to this. While having a honhyol is bad, it was much worse for a Korean mother to give birth to a child who is half-Black. It is not necessary for me to go into the history of the ill treatment of Blacks worldwide throughout history. America isn’t the only place (but is the most documented) where Blacks were treated less than human. Most traditional Koreans don’t care for Blacks. This is a fact. Period.
Without me going in depth, I am sure you can see what my mixed feelings pertain to. And if you don’t, well prepare to be spoon-fed. If Hines Ward isn’t an MVP, South Korea would not be interested in hosting him and his mother. There would be no heaping numerous compliments and accolades upon him. No honorary citizenships. No limousines. No 5-star treatment. No meet and greets. No handshakes. No visiting other Mixed Asians. No bulgogi. Nothing. Nada. In fairness to South Korea, football isn’t popular there and Hines Ward was allegedly unknown there until he became a Super Bowl champion. In fairness to Ward, this moment was very important to him. To touch base with a part of him he hasn’t really known culturally. Credit his mother with teaching him (as my mother did with me and as all mothers should) race was not important. What was important was understanding all people. Credit his mother for going back to the place that had shunned her. Credit to Hines Ward to going back to the place that had shunned the motivating force in his life as well as others who are just like him.
As much as this is a feel good story the point I want to make is Hines Ward was an upstanding person before he was a champion and Super Bowl MVP. I can confidently state becoming a champion and Super Bowl MVP did not make Hines Ward the man he is. South Korea was guilty of a pub grab just as any other country that would do the same. But I didn’t hear about any big parades in Japan for American Olympic gold medal decathlete Bryan Clay (Half-Japanese, Half-Black). I am unaware if the Philippines honored San Francisco Giant pitcher Tim Linceum (Half-Filipino, Half-White) for winning the Cy Young. Such publicity can appear disingenuous and may be after looking over all of the facts. Does Will Demps have to become a Super Bowl champion in order to receive an honorary citizenship from South Korea? How about if Terrmel Sledge who currently plays in Japan, came back to America and ended up playing for a World Series champion? Does he get an invite and tour of the Samsung World Headquarters? If Pittsburgh wins this year’s Super Bowl, does Hines Ward receive a hero’s welcome again?
Honoring someone (who hasn’t been in South Korea since he was born) because he is a champion of a sport is wrong. Now you will say, “this happens all the time.” Yes it does but it does not place a spotlight on the country doing the honoring. If South Korea did it right, they should of said this: “We want to honor Hines Ward not only for his excellence on the football field but his excellence in life. We hope his mother will accept our sincerest apologies. We are trying are best to understand and embrace all people. This is something South Korea is striving for. Hines Ward and Kim Young-hee have persevered through adversity and have proven the strength a mother’s love can bring. Although he displays the best attributes of Korean people, Hines Ward displays the best attributes of a human being. He is a role model for all people.” One can learn much from humility. One can learn much from admitting and learning from their mistakes. Nations are not exempt.
As much as many would like to look euphorically at this planet as a world community, we collectively have a long journey ahead.
