[NFBO-Linn-benton] Hawaiian cultural appropriation

[kjocums at icloud.com]

Hello All,

 

I appreciate the contacts after our meeting last night about the question of
whether our luau plans will be culturally offensive to Hawaiians.  From my
short research this morning, the question seems to be whether we are going
to disrespect sacred elements in our activities.  Here’s a synopsis from one
article I read:

 

Authentic Hawaiian culture is rooted in respect for the land, nature, and
the belief in the interconnectedness of all living things.

 

 

For example, the misappropriation of the hula dance, which is a sacred and
storied tradition, can be seen as disrespectful and offensive.

When hula is performed without proper understanding or without honoring its
cultural context, it diminishes its significance and reduces it to a mere
form of entertainment.

As consumers and participants in popular culture, it is our responsibility
to educate ourselves about the cultures we engage with and to support
initiatives

 

It is important to note that these arguments are not universally agreed
upon, and there are differing viewpoints on whether Hawaiian themed parties
are appropriative or not. The intention behind these parties can also play a
role in the perception of their appropriateness.

Some argue that if done with respect, understanding, and collaboration with
the Hawaiian community, these parties can be a way to appreciate and share
the beauty of Hawaiian culture.

Ultimately, it is essential to engage in open and respectful dialogue to
better understand the impact of cultural appropriation and work towards
cultural appreciation and understanding.

 

So, Arona knows someone who might be able to give us some perspective on
this.  She will be reaching out to them and we can continue the discussion
about how we can make our event as respectful as possible.

 

Many thanks to everyone who is doing their utmost to make our next Dark Café
an awesome event from everyone’s perspective!

 

 

 

Kristen Jocums

(706) 718-8055

 

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