A Point of View: Hawai’i Nei
In a recent interview, I was told I am “still American” even though I’m from Hawaii. This happens to me a lot. Hawaii has long been seen as a mystical tropical paradise, which has led to a harmful dynamic wherein people go to Hawaii to exploit the land and dehumanize its people. One of the clearest memories from my childhood is the “Clean Up the Beaches” campaign led by Governor Linda Lingle’s administration that led to several of my family members and friends being forced from their homes. Policies enacted to create a more “palatable and tourist-friendly” Hawai’i Nei leave Native Hawaiians with no choice but to leave their sacred land. Only 10.06% of Hawaii’s population is Native Hawaiian – what is wrong with this picture?
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