The Colonization of Hawaii and Tourism
Since 1840 the Hawaiian Islands have been an escape to a tropical paradise for millions of tourists. People all over the world encounter alluring, romanticized pictures of Hawai'i's lush, tropical vegetation, exotic animals, beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, and fantastical women. This is the Hawai'i tourists know. This is the Hawai’i they visit. However, this Hawai'i is a state of mind, a corporate-produced image existing on the surface. More precisely, it is an aftermath of relentless colonization of the islands' native inhabitants by the United States. These native Hawaiians experience a completely different Hawai'i from the paradise tourists enjoy. No one makes this as clear as Haunani-Kay Trask, a native Hawaiian author. In her book, From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai'i and through her poetry in Light in the Crevice Never Seen, Trask provides an intimate account of the tourist industry's impact on native Hawaiian culture. She presents a negative perspective of the violence, pollution, commercial development, and cultural exploitation produced by the tourist industry. Trask unveils the cruel reality of suffering and struggling through a native Hawaiian discourse. Most of the world is unaware of this.
To examine various discourses, it is crucial that the idea of discourse and the way in which discourses operate is clear. A discourse is a language, or more precisely, a way of representation and expression. These "ways of talking, thinking, or representing a particular subject or topic produce meaningful knowledge about the subject" (Hall 205). Therefore, the importance of discourses lies in this "meaningful knowledge," which reflects a group’s ideolo...
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...e" (Trask xix). This incident beautifully illustrates and signifies tourism's impact in American society. Like most Americans, this woman uses a discourse that has been shaped by tourist advertisements and souvenirs. The woman's statement implies that Trask resembles what the tourist industry projects, as if this image created Hawaiian culture. As Trask asserts, Hawaiian culture existed long before tourism and has been exploited by tourism in the form of advertisements and items such as postcards. Along with the violence, endangered environment, and poverty, this exploitation is what the tourist industry does not want to show. However, this is the Hawai'i Haunani-Kay Trask lives in everyday. "This is Hawai'i, once the most fragile and precious of sacred places, now transformed by the American behemoth into a dying land. Only a whispering spirit remains" (Trask 19).
Often times, the history that is being told is one of Hawaiian weakness, and defeat. The Bayonet Constitution of 1887, the Overthrow of 1893, and the Annexation of 1898, are all often used as examples of moments of powerlessness in the Hawaiian Kingdom. What about all history prior to, in between, and after, these major dates? Surely, it did not just disappear. In the last few decades, Hawaiian history has changed dramatically due to the works of many Hawaiian historians. The history that was lost has been found, and new discoveries are still being made. Hawaiʻi’s history is a story of resistance, pride, and unity. Included within this history is a man named Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox. Wilcox was a revolutionist, and a leader, but he enjoyed being a politician the most. Wilcox was the beacon of hope that helped guide the people of Hawaiʻi through darkness. Wilcox was and still is today a symbolic figure in Hawaiʻi’s political history.
Ii, John Papa., Mary Kawena Pukui, and Dorothy B. Barrère. Fragments of Hawaiian History. Honolulu: Bishop Museum, 1983. Print.
The Hawaiian culture is known throughout the western world for their extravagant luaus, beautiful islands, and a language that comes nowhere near being pronounceable to anyone but a Hawaiian. Whenever someone wants to “get away” their first thought is to sit on the beach in Hawai’i with a Mai tai in their hand and watch the sun go down. Haunani-Kay Trask is a native Hawaiian educated on the mainland because it was believed to provide a better education. She questioned the stories of her heritage she heard as a child when she began learning of her ancestors in books at school. Confused by which story was correct, she returned to Hawai’i and discovered that the books of the mainland schools had been all wrong and her heritage was correctly told through the language and teachings of her own people. With her use of pathos and connotative language, Trask does a fine job of defending her argument that the western world destroyed her vibrant Hawaiian culture.
The article written by Alexis Celeste Bunten called “Sharing culture or selling out?” talks about the theory of “commodified persona” or the “self commodification” of a tourism worker in Sitka and how capitalism has influenced the way a tour guide is presented. Chapter eleven in Charles C. Mann’s book called “1491, New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus” is a slight summary of the second half of the book which talks about how similar Indians were more advanced than the colonists and that we should accept the fact that indigenous people and their societies have influenced American culture.
Hawaii is rated as one of the top tour destinations in the world. According to “Why Is Hawaii Such a Popular Vacation Spot?”, nearly 8 million travelers
Morford, Mark P.O., Robert J. Lenardon and Michael Sham. Classical Mythology 9th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Grant, Michael, and John Hazel. "Athena." Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology. Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam, 1973. Print.
20 (1994): 252-271. Kualapai, Lydia. "The Queen Writes Back: Lili'uokalani's Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen. " Studies in American Indian Literature. 17.2 (2005): 32-62.
...Hawai`i’s economy is very dependent on tourism, however many locals are possessive of their land, and as they stereotype tourists, many do not accept others as they have a unity for their own. Numerous individuals feel the desideratum to fit the local stereotype because they prefer not to be labeled as a “haole”. It becomes tough and rather intense for an individual, because becoming haole betokens that you forgot and disregarded the local or Hawaiian quality values and ways of routes, as well as the flowing stream of life in the islands. We need to remind ourselves that regardless of where we emanate from, our skin tone, race, physical characteristics, and so forth, everybody ought to acknowledge just for who we/they are and treat one another like 'ohana and show "aloha", and subsequently, we can determinately verbally express "This is it. This is Paradise" (33).
Jovik, Sonia P. and James O. Jovik. (1997). “History.” Atlas of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, p.408.
Tobias Fischer-Hansen and Birte Poulse. From Artemis to Diana: The Goddess of Man and Beast. Denmark. Collegium Hyperborem and Museum Tusculanum Press. 2009.
Gun control in Canada has been a controversial issue since it was imposed in 1892 by the Criminal Code. Many parties such as anti-gun-control lobbyists challenge stricter gun control while others believe in more strict laws for firearms. Historically, Canada has always had more rigid gun laws and regulation of weapons over the United States. Canadian firearm law is regulated by the federal government. In 1991, Bill C-17 promoted stricter guns laws and required individuals to obtain a criminal record check to acquire firearm However, in 1995 the Liberal government called for the registration for all firearms. Prior to 1892, any individual carrying a firearm without reasonable cause was imposed to six-month sentence. Since 2001, federal gun control legislation passed Bill C-68 which requires all gun owners to obtain a license to possess and acquire firearms. In 2005, roughly 16% of households in Canada possess some form of firearm. Due to the fact that homicide rates are dropping, gun laws disproportionately affect law-abiding citizens and gun control does not address the root causes of gun crimes, increased gun control in Canada not justifiable.
Drawing on his experience as a past Bali tourist, Tom Hyland examines the way that Bali, also known as the ‘Island of the Gods’, has changed since his last visit. “Doing dumb things to an island we claim to love”, shows that home grown citizens along with tourist don’t respect the island, we so call “love”. Directing his piece towards native members of Bali, along with anyone around the globe looking to visit the island, Tom, tells the damaging effects and ways of life that Bali has come to, since the 1980s. Hyland corroborates that visitors are wiping out the goodness and morality out of Bali, thus resulting into making the island ‘a paradise lost, a sweet place gone sour’. Through his piece he aims to inform people that are in or around Bali,
By looking at my drawing you could see how much the park has developed. Since the park is pretty much a rain forest filled with plants, trees, flowers I couldn't really draw it all in. The parks beauty is what brings a lot of people to the park both locals and visitors. Also, in my drawing you can see a trail that goes through the valley, a waterfall and a swimming area where a lot of locals go to swim and even jump off the rocks and the trail bridge. This shows how we engage in the creative spirit. On the left side of my drawing of the now, you can see a botanical garden area, and little ponds and statue houses that displays the Hawaiian culture well. Then, to the right side of my drawing you can see the area where people would gather for celebrations, where local events are held, and just even a place to sit and have a picnic. With this one could see how the creative spirit links us
1997, our journey began as two complete strangers who happened to cross paths in the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. Just like every other adventure enthusiast, I rushed towards the beautiful beach to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the warm waters. The beach smells fresh, almost like a new ocean breeze air freshener. The sand is hot and looks like gold blended in with little white specks; it sparkles like the water running off the swimmers back and feels like walking on coals from a burning grill. The palm trees sway in the air from the gentle wind. From a far distance the ocean is a deep navy blue; waves come in like a bulldozer from all the wind. All you can hear is the waves of the ocean and the light breeze coming