Can you be Hawaiian, but not be of the Hawaiian race???

[mrs stevens]

Originally Posted by Afishwithabike

Hmmm...by that logic I guess all of us can call ourselves African-Americans since humans originated in Africa. Somehow I don't think me calling myself an African American would go over too well with the Black community in the USA.

ey, We ain't no African, not even by far....don't even try to add some crap like dat on here...we are Aborigines from Australia. Maybe Fijians might be mixed with some black, thats about it!

[Afishwithabike]

Huh?

I think you misunderstood my post, mrs stevens. I'm not disagreeing with you. I was responding to what Boxcar wrote. You didn't understand my post.

[Boxcar Overkill]

Originally Posted by Afishwithabike

Hmmm...by that logic I guess all of us can call ourselves African-Americans since humans originated in Africa. Somehow I don't think me calling myself an African American would go over too well with the Black community in the USA.

Sure, but White people have been in North America over 500 years now. Can white people suddenly claim to be native Americans? I don't think so. Similarly, just because some polynesians changed islands ~1000 years ago, they didn't suddenly become a new race.

Race is a somewhat artifical construct anyway. But the polynesians that arrived in Hawaii haven't been there long enough to develop distinctive racial characeteristics to seperate them from other polynesians. (execept of course breeding with non-polynesians.

Beyond that, if you talk to many Micronesians, they believe they settled Hawaii first, and are the REAL native Hawaiians. According to them, the group that invaded and took over Hawaii from the natives were the people calling themselves Hawaiians today. I have not researched the accuracy of that claim, but understand that there is some merit to it.

[Boxcar Overkill]

Originally Posted by mrs stevens

Well, what you trying to say? So the other polynesians Samoans and the Tongans don't really come from their islands? What are you trying to say that we don't count? The tourist come to see Hawaiians not haole wannabe's, not Japanese's...they want to see the real Hawaiians and we are the real deal pal and that's what everyone want to see! Who do you think you are? What do you mean were not more or less polynesians. The mother land is not of Europe it is of Australia and New Zealand, So educate your self. The government need's to pay Hawaiians to marry other Hawaiians to keep the hawaiians strong, to keep the tourist coming here to see what they really want! A good looking built Hawaiian guy/girl educated of the race. Hawaiian people need to start sticking to other Hawaiians no matter what.

You have some very.... interesting ideas.

I assume you are elderly, so out of respect I won't respond to your post.

[nwcountrygal]

Intersting in the pride and label of each area. I found it interesting going from WA to British Columbia Canada. Here in WA it is Native American with tribal name. In BC it became First Nation with tribal name. Big offense to call Native American. Then when in Alaska back to Native drop the American and tribal name with Indian or Eskimo. In all cases do not make a mistake without offense taking.

I see Hawaiian in my opinion is of race and culture. As a blond hair blued eyed no matter how long I was on Hawaii I couldn't be Hawaiian.. just live with Aloha.

[persephone1]

Good point and there are many different types of Hawaiians....Chinese Hawaiians, Japanese Hawaiians, Philippine Hawaiians make up 25% of the population....there are many types of Hawaiians...And, yes just like every place around the world there is bigotry here too.

[vinty]

I have many friends whom are Hawaiian. To be eligible for Hawaiian programs a person must have 50% bloodline or better. This dismays my less then 50% bloodline friends. You cannot be Hawaiian unless you have the required amount of blood which means people with less than 50% need not apply and cannot sign up for Hawaiian Homes etc... I am 1/4 cherokee (my father was 1/2). The Cherokee Nation accepts bloodlines of 1/16th and above for Native Americans to join the tribe. Our blood is strong. Yet, with all the bull**** about Hawaiian bloodlines, both groups of Hawaiians are dedicated to their culture and each other. The blood is strong -the bond unbreakable. I know that a leader will appear and change the Hawaiian Bloodlines so all Hawaiians may benefit from what is theirs.

[vinty]

I have lived in Hawaii for over 30 years. Of course you can tell a Tongon from a Samoen from a Tahition from a Fijin. Now for Hawaiians, they are far too handsome and distinct to come close to the others (I'm picky). Somewhat like your people, a group of caucasions - you can tell the german from the irish from the italian from the oops! from your comments I am sure that no one can recognize you, including yourself. It's sad when a person can't see what's right in front of them.
Hope you are able to resolve that inner conflict.

[Boxcar Overkill]

Originally Posted by vinty

I have lived in Hawaii for over 30 years. Of course you can tell a Tongon from a Samoen from a Tahition from a Fijin. Now for Hawaiians, they are far too handsome and distinct to come close to the others (I'm picky). Somewhat like your people, a group of caucasions - you can tell the german from the irish from the italian from the oops! from your comments I am sure that no one can recognize you, including yourself. It's sad when a person can't see what's right in front of them.
Hope you are able to resolve that inner conflict.

This may come as a surprise to you, but not many people consider Tahitians, Fijians, or Samoans to be separate races. Nor do they consider Irish to be a separate race from Germans and Italians. The former are all racially "Pacific Islanders," the later are all racially "Caucasian."You are confusing nationality with race. So your examples are really poor, in as much as they stand for exactly the opposite proposition of what you intended.