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People with good intent and also sometimes just forget that Hawaii is American, and I would say most Hawaiians are quite proud of being American. People are proud of their heritage, and might complain about the government, but no more so than in other areas of the country.
There are groups that advocate the return of Hawaii to a separate nation. I won't digress into that discussion, because I don't think it appropriate to this forum. Just leave it said that most native Hawaiians are as proud Americans as any other state.
A far as hula dancers, I think it's a wee bit romantic thinking that they are all doing it for culture and heritage. YES there is a lot of pride, and that is a part of learning the dance. But as far as the luau you attended, that's work. Work is work. You go to work to earn money, and in the case of the luaus, that means dressing up in costume and doing a performance. The pride is in doing it well, in getting a good reaction from the audience, and the fact that it isn't entirely 'authentic' is removed from the equation.
If you go to a more local gathering, where people perform the hula for the love of the dance, you will see the difference. The people aren't so matchingly attractive in the commercial way, and there is a lot more audience participation in laughter, cheering, and clapping.
By the way, not every Hawaiian with native blood knows how to hula. Nor do they all play the ukulele, although many many do, and again differently than the commercial singers. Picture your Uncle Charlie sitting at a piano at a family gathering, with everyone singing along. Now substitute an ukulele, which might be passed around to others. People know a few songs, the performance isn't perfect, and everyone is having a good family (ohana) time.
Now if you are really asking what the dancers think of the audience... well it's probably what any performer thinks of any audience. Often at luaus people are drinking a lot with the open bar. They come in groups and families, and are usually talking to each other during the dances. Some luaus are buffet, so people get up and walk around and yell at each other to bring back more shrimp to the table. So it's not like the situation is the most ideal for the performer or the truly interested audience member. It's just what it is - a somewhat commercialized version, for entertainment, with some educational value, but only if you are really interested.
Last edited by Calico Salsa; 11-28-2009 at 09:12 PM..
Others posted while I was writing and then distracted...by Thanksgiving leftovers! Yum.
I don't think most people think the luaus are that genuine. I would say people expect luaus have as much reality as a western side show in Texas, or gator wrestling in Florida, or any gift shop in a national park. People go to be entertained, and I would say if asked, they probably would be aware that deeper cultural representation isn't the intent.
It's true that people come here on vacation, and they don't think about what it's like to live here. That's been well-discussed on the forum. But does anyone think that the residents of Las Vegas spend their time in casinos, gambling and going to shows and buffets? Some might, sometimes, but I'm sure anyone who thought about it would say that LV residents go to work, shop, etc. Same thing here.
People probably romanticize their experience of Hawaii for the same reason we do that about anything - it's a form of escape, and fantasy, and wish that such an ideal exists.
Also, in general the people dancing hula at the shows are younger. There are the more experienced, older dancers, but in the 'chorus line' is a younger crowd because they are attractive and the ideal image the show wants to portray. They aren't looking out at the people with deep rooted hostility. They are thinking what most young people think about - the guy/girl they like, or what's on TV, or what they need to do tomorrow. They might shake their heads at some individual drunken or disrespectful behavior, but they are not, as a whole, spending each work night thinking that the evil American government stole their forefathers land.
Imagine you live in the Southwest and have worked on a ranch your whole life. Someone comes along and hires you and some of your friends to put on a demonstration of horsemanship, roping, etc. for Eastern tourists. You're asked to wear a big 10 gallon hat and fringed chaps and perform while they're dining on cowboy stew and listening to Home on the Range. Would you feel diminished or insulted? I don't think so. If you paid me to do that every night, I'd have no problem.
Ya I agree I did expect these events to be commercialized, so I didnt feel "ripped off" per se. I guess its just a question of HOW commercialized it will be.
One of the ones we went to was seriously god awful. The annoying game show host type announcer that was cracking laugh track type jokes got on my nerves big time. When it was all over, I felt like running up to the dancers and apologizing that they had to participate in that nonsense.
I still left with an appreciation of what real Hawaiian culture was SUPPOSED to be. If the dancers didn't like what they were doing you could never tell by their genuine looking eternal smiles... but I did find the touristy spin downright embarrassing.
In the future if I ever make it out there again, I will use the forum to get some better recommendation so I can hopefully avoid some of the worst ones.
I know the kane hula dancers at Paradise Cove luau are some of the best hula dancers in the world. Their kumu hula has taken them to Merrie Monarch which they won I think this year-look up OBrien Eselu and halua Ke Kai of Kahiki. They are fabulous and I let them know when was at the luau this year. They have changed their choreography so it's less kitchy and more traditional. More about Hi`iaka and Pele and less about "Hollywoods" vision of the islands. Totally recommend that luau which is in Ko`olina on O`ahu.
Location: Big Island- Hawaii, AK, WA where the whales are!
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Calico Salsa as usually good job!! can't rep you
Alohikea Mahalo for bring up good performers and merrie Monarch to the OP if you are interested in true dancing check out Merrie Monarch. It is the super bowl of Hawaii and islands. It is amazing. Come over in April and check it out but you need to buy tickets by the end of the year, I understand unless you have someone to help with tickets. Friends of mine gave me some last year. It is on the BI.There is nothing like it!! Amazing.
Others posted while I was writing and then distracted...by Thanksgiving leftovers! Yum.
I don't think most people think the luaus are that genuine. I would say people expect luaus have as much reality as a western side show in Texas, or gator wrestling in Florida, or any gift shop in a national park. People go to be entertained, and I would say if asked, they probably would be aware that deeper cultural representation isn't the intent.
It's true that people come here on vacation, and they don't think about what it's like to live here. That's been well-discussed on the forum. But does anyone think that the residents of Las Vegas spend their time in casinos, gambling and going to shows and buffets? Some might, sometimes, but I'm sure anyone who thought about it would say that LV residents go to work, shop, etc. Same thing here.
People probably romanticize their experience of Hawaii for the same reason we do that about anything - it's a form of escape, and fantasy, and wish that such an ideal exists.
Also, in general the people dancing hula at the shows are younger. There are the more experienced, older dancers, but in the 'chorus line' is a younger crowd because they are attractive and the ideal image the show wants to portray. They aren't looking out at the people with deep rooted hostility. They are thinking what most young people think about - the guy/girl they like, or what's on TV, or what they need to do tomorrow. They might shake their heads at some individual drunken or disrespectful behavior, but they are not, as a whole, spending each work night thinking that the evil American government stole their forefathers land.
I was at a craft fair in Hanalei on Kauai yesterday and the fair had a couple of local slack key musicians. As they were playing a few Hawaiian songs a few of the locals (men & women) got up front and started doing the hula to the music. It was pretty cool and unscripted.
It will be up to me, when my family and friends start showing up for vacations from the mainland and want to 'go to a luau', just how 'ripped off' I will allow myself to be. Hopefully, I will be able to persuade these visits to occur during Holidays when my local friends will have invited me and my Ohana to a family luau of some sort. I, personally, am very much aware of all the commercialism. I've tasted real poi and poke'. Had some good 'shave ice'...NOT 'shaved ice' and been given a true lei made w/loving hands as opposed to one picked from a Safeway cooler. Thank goodness my family on the mainland knows me and will expect absolutely nothing less than an authentic experience when they visit. Your 'local' friends are your best source for everything Hawaiian.
Koale
Ya I agree I did expect these events to be commercialized, so I didnt feel "ripped off" per se. I guess its just a question of HOW commercialized it will be.
One of the ones we went to was seriously god awful. The annoying game show host type announcer that was cracking laugh track type jokes got on my nerves big time. When it was all over, I felt like running up to the dancers and apologizing that they had to participate in that nonsense.
I still left with an appreciation of what real Hawaiian culture was SUPPOSED to be. If the dancers didn't like what they were doing you could never tell by their genuine looking eternal smiles... but I did find the touristy spin downright embarrassing.
In the future if I ever make it out there again, I will use the forum to get some better recommendation so I can hopefully avoid some of the worst ones.
Thanks guys!!
I think your heart is in the right place, but just a word of caution - We should all be careful about assuming that people are embarrassed by the same things. I mean no disrespect, nor do I mean to pick on you. But I think someone would think it a bit strange if a person came up to them and apologized for them having to dance in a hula show.
Would you apologize to a waiter for having to serve you? Or for a busboy for having to clear your table? Do you apologize to the housekeeping people who clean your hotel room? Or the fast food clerk? (By the way, MOST of the jobs here are service related, so you would spend your whole day apologizing instead of enjoying.)
No, of course not. The people you feel embarrased for are doing their jobs, and hopefully taking pride in doing it well. An apology would show more about the apologist's own bias, as to what is demeaning, rather than something the worker thought of themselves or their work.
Do you know what I mean? Apologizing says that you think their job is crappy and demeaning. But chances are they don't think it is. And now you've shown your thoughts not only about their job, but maybe they interpret that as what you think of them for doing that job. That can hurt someone, or wipe the smiles off their faces, or even make them angry.
I think the very best thing anyone can do is to tell someone they are doing a great job. Point out something specific that you noticed and appreciated. Tell them what it meant to you. You don't have to agree that the job itself is something you would do, or think worthwhile to even exist. But at least acknowledge that the person is doing that work in a fantastic way.
And by the way, people here smile A LOT. The smiles are sometimes plastered on (it's a show), but often they are smiling because the audience is looking at them with admiration and smiles and it just feels good to do a job well.
Plus they are young and beautiful and employed and they live in Hawaii. They SHOULD be smiling!
If anyone is looking for a more authentic hula, check the papers for smaller, more local events. Blessings, craft fairs, church bazaars, even at the mall they sometimes have performances.
I think your heart is in the right place, but just a word of caution - We should all be careful about assuming that people are embarrassed by the same things. I mean no disrespect, nor do I mean to pick on you. But I think someone would think it a bit strange if a person came up to them and apologized for them having to dance in a hula show.
Would you apologize to a waiter for having to serve you? Or for a busboy for having to clear your table? Do you apologize to the housekeeping people who clean your hotel room? Or the fast food clerk? (By the way, MOST of the jobs here are service related, so you would spend your whole day apologizing instead of enjoying.)
No, of course not. The people you feel embarrased for are doing their jobs, and hopefully taking pride in doing it well. An apology would show more about the apologist's own bias, as to what is demeaning, rather than something the worker thought of themselves or their work.
Do you know what I mean? Apologizing says that you think their job is crappy and demeaning. But chances are they don't think it is. And now you've shown your thoughts not only about their job, but maybe they interpret that as what you think of them for doing that job. That can hurt someone, or wipe the smiles off their faces, or even make them angry.
I think the very best thing anyone can do is to tell someone they are doing a great job. Point out something specific that you noticed and appreciated. Tell them what it meant to you. You don't have to agree that the job itself is something you would do, or think worthwhile to even exist. But at least acknowledge that the person is doing that work in a fantastic way.
And by the way, people here smile A LOT. The smiles are sometimes plastered on (it's a show), but often they are smiling because the audience is looking at them with admiration and smiles and it just feels good to do a job well.
Plus they are young and beautiful and employed and they live in Hawaii. They SHOULD be smiling!
If anyone is looking for a more authentic hula, check the papers for smaller, more local events. Blessings, craft fairs, church bazaars, even at the mall they sometimes have performances.
Excellent post.
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