Diaspora in Hawaii

What is a Diasporic Kanaka Maoli?  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  The term diaspora refers to those who are returning to their roots after having been a descendant of one who was exiled.  In every colonized nation, there are those who are returning after their ancestors were forced to leave for a reason, usually political.

Let's take a look at the definition of  Diaspora

Diaspora in American

(daɪˈæspərə  ; dīasˈpərə)

noun

1. 

a. 

the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian Exile

b. 

the Jews thus dispersed

c. 

the places where they settled

2. 

[d-]  any scattering of people with a common origin, background, beliefs, etc.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Aside from the fact that westernized societies only recognize Jewish Diaspora, it has happened in every single "Indigenous" or Original culture via contact with colonizers.  They won't recognize it because they have successfully brainwashed enough of each indigenous people that as long as they perpetuate the lies, people everywhere will believe it, much like the lie about Hawaii being a state. 

Recently in Hawaii, the number of diasporic Kanaka Maoli has more than doubled with families that are returning to assure that their children grow up where they are naturally supposed to be.  After a few generations living somewhere else in the world, they no longer feel like they are connected and wish to maintain that connection.  They wish for their children to grow up with the culture that they were deprived of knowing.  It is almost impossible to share in one's cultural practices when there is nobody to share with.  It's hard to malama ka 'aina when everything is concrete.  

One common theme that we see in many diasporic communities is that after struggling to find their way back to their roots, diasporic families often struggle for acceptance among their own people, on top of sharing the same struggles that everybody else has. They are often misjudged and therefore begin to get discouraged by the overwhelming sensation that they don't belong anywhere.

It happens in every country where people are returning.  The combination of calling for people to come home along with the reaction that people get when they arrive home, are very confusing and can spark some really low energy.  Many times, they have saved their entire life to make it happen and when the diaspora returns, the challenges might be worth it, but they are very unnecessary steps that prolong any progress that we may make as a people.  If we all had prejudices and envy against one another, then we could not possibly unite without stabbing one another in the back.

There is no need to shame ourselves, no matter how and where we grew up.  Know why?  Because we all learn and grow.  Success never was a straight road, but biting off more than you can chew is a horrible thing to do to yourself.  Using pride and shame to gauge your behavior isn't too healthy either.  Let's just meet each other where we are with things and continue from there.  

In common unity - 

Whether we ultimately move forward as a people or if we move forward as a kingdom nation, one thing is for sure and that it that we need to have some kind of established common unity.  What points are safe to say that we all agree on?

In terms of education, I think we can all agree that all locals of most backgrounds would absolutely love to have their children learn how to mo'olelo Hawai'i and have the same education that can be found in all immersion schools, taught in all schools.

Another term of agreement is those who see what's going on with the water.  This issue directly involves every single resident who has interactions with water, whether it may be in the ocean, in somebody's pool or for life necessities.  

In terms of corporate expansion, even many of the millionaires who only have a partial residence in Hawai'i now,  still don't care to see more corporate expansionism and by all righteous means, it shouldn't have any place here.  Imagine how well the economy would be if every business was locally owned.  Imagine a Hawai'i that is protected by its politicians, that perpetuated righteousness, that truly embraced its ways of old... 

When we face issues that affect us all, then it is imperative that we find ways to stick together so that we can face those issues in solidarity with one another.  We have to remember that no matter where we come from, what color we look like we are, what we believe in for religion, or any other personal identification matters.  There is simply no way around unity.  It is one of the single most important elements of our struggles as one people.

Let us as one extended ohana, whether local or diaspora, whether maoli or kanaka'e, whether here for five years or five thousand,  simply stand together for just one cause.