"Shame or Denial of Cultural Ways"
by Kealoha Kahunaaina Iona on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 10:19am
Taken from Nana i ke Kumu (vol.2, ch. 8 ʻKa ʻIke ʻAna Iā ʻOe Iho: Self-image'
Often a part of the somber view of the Hawaiian self is an apparent shame or denial of cultural beliefs, It is often hard to tell whether embarrassment or merely reticence [reluctance] is expressed. The Hawaiian who says, "I don't know anything about the old ways," or "We don't talk about that" may only be protecting traditional beliefs from scorn or skepticism; he may actually be quietly proud of his cultural heritage.
It is the Hawaiian who talks of "silly superstitions" and "awful heathen beliefs" who is obviously trying to separate himself from an ethnic past that embarrasses him. Why this sense of shame?
It stems in part from handed-down attitudes that began with initial encounters with Westerners, both missionaries and laymen.
It stems also from fragmented and distorted knowledge of the culture, so that the most wise and beneficial beliefs and institutions are thought to have been destructive and shocking.
For example: kahuna is often associated with sorcery, but not healing. That wise and wonderful family therapy, hoʻoponopono, is confused with hoʻomanamana, false worship or attributing strange power to something that has no power.
It stems as well from failure to view Hawaiʻi's ancient beliefs in the perspective of world history.
Example: Hawaiians believed in "heathen gods." Without perspective, many Hawaiians think such belief was "shameful."
In perspective: Hawaiʻi prayed to Kāne, Kū, Lono and Kanaloa; Greece to Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Artemis; Rome to Jupiter, Venus, Diana and Mars. From all these beliefs came inspiration [not to mention the birth of Christianity itself] for great literature and art.
Example: Hawaiians used animal - even human - sacrifices. Terrible!
In perspective: "Abraham . . . bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son." Genesis 22:10, 11. And: "Say to the people of Israel, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb . . . for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings." Leviticus:9:2, 3.
[In short I found that ignorance is the reason. Hope lies in the fact that ignorance can be remedied because our ancestors have left prolific works of literature, from newspapers to manuscripts, for us to know the truth from their own words. I am told that less than 1% of all pre-20th century Hawaiian Language literature has been translated. Many of these documents refute what we know, or think of, as our history and culture. I will leave this blog entry with a thought: Complacency does nothing and is nothing. Activists make noise, get arrested, divide us. An advocate effects substantial, educated, and beneficial- lasting, change.]