Narrative Essay On Hawai I

Hawai’i is known by the rest of the world primarily for its tropical weather, exquisite scenery, and luxurious resorts. Millions of tourists visit Hawai’i annually with the intention to forget their worries within this perceived paradise (http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org
/default/assets/File/research/monthly-visitors/December%202014%20Visitor%20Stats%20Press%20Release%20(final).pdf). For the indigenous people of Hawai’i, whose ancestors have cultivated this land for generations, the idea of paradise only conceals the enduring oppression that dictates their reality. Every aspect of my entire life has been surrounded by this oppression. Throughout my years in the public school system, I have been constantly told by others that we native Hawaiians are responsible for our own dissolution because we are inherently lazy and the lifestyle of our ancestors were uncivilized. One of the most common statements used to describe the situation of native Hawaiians by residents of Hawai’i of other races is that, “Hawaiians are lucky to have been conquered by the United States, if not then they would remain uncivilized, and if the United
As a student under the Hawaiian Language Immersion program, a program that focuses its curriculum on Hawaiian language, I have been exposed to this cycle. Classmates of mine who were a part of the program eventually left it because of we were told by others that there is no value in learning our language, and that doing so would only hinder our academic performance. When my parents told others about my education under the program, they often received harsh ridicule and were advised to withdraw me from it. I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have been born to a native Hawaiian family that is educated because they were able to overlook this ignorance and remind me that it is my responsibility to learn the traditions of my