As Hawaiian History Month comes to a close, it’s important that we stop and recognize that September is a time to celebrate Hawaiian culture and history and recognize the birthday of Queen Liliʻuokalani, who was born on September 2nd.
The Hawaiian Kingdom was founded in 1795 by King Kamehameha The Great. Prior to the arrival of the first Europeans, the Native Hawaiian people lived in a highly organized and self-sufficient society with their own language, culture, and faith, governed by High Chiefs on different islands.
Here’s what some of our Native Hawaiian Moanalua High School students have to say about Hawaiian Heritage Month and what it means to them…
Nakoa Orlando (12)
Why are you proud to be Hawaiian?
“It’s all I grew up on and I love being Hawaiian and I like to express our Hawaiian culture too.”
How can Non-Hawaiians show respect and support for Hawaiian Culture?
“They can learn the cultural values from other Hawaiians, the do’s and don’ts of what to do”
Janaia Ford (11)
What do you wish people outside of Hawaii knew about Hawaiian culture?
“That we’re not just grass skirts, coconut bras, and plastic leis. We have power and there’s meaning in our history that’s rooted, like deeply rooted.”
Why are you proud to be Hawaiian?
“Back then you really couldn’t be Hawaiian..when the foreigners came, you couldn’t speak the Hawaiian language, you couldn’t dance hula. They banned it all. I’m proud to be Hawaiian because I get to express that, I get to speak [Hawaiian]… and I get to dance hula.”
Cherish Matthews (10)
How do traditional practices, like hula and lei making reflect Hawaiian history and identity?
“It spreads aloha… like it teaches other people new things, like foreigners. It’ll teach them new things about our traditions and how, how sacred we like our traditions.”
How can non-Hawaiians show respect and support for Hawaiian culture?
“When being here, take care of the ‘āina.”
Josie “Alohi” Johns-Hanks (9)
How can Non-Hawaiians show respect and support for Hawaiian Culture?
“Give aloha.”
Why are you proud to be Hawaiian?
“Maybe because there’s not a lot of us, and everyone is mostly–especially on our island–mainland people… Our Hawaiian people usually move to Vegas.”
