Hawaii fused like no other place
Thank you, Ann Medve for your explanation on pake, I would like to help those of you who don’t get it.
Hawaii, as most of you know, is very different then the rest of the U.S. Our families came from all over the world and were forced to live on an island with different languages, cultures, foods and instead of living separate lives they fused it all together and created a new culture, new foods and, yes, a new recognized language — all the while still keeping their old ways.
We are still receiving new people and cultures. These newcomers have to except the ways of our fused culture and still keep and share your own ways, but you cannot come here and try to turn it into the place you left. My favorite example of fusion is my wife, who 50 years ago came to Hawaii from Denmark and adopted our way way of life while contributing her Danish culture and great food, thus expanding our local culture in our family and with all our friends.
Our proudest proof that this works well is our first great-grandchild, a true keiki o Hawaii with 16 different bloods from Hawaiian to Danish. When you move to Hawaii and love it and it becomes part of you, you become our hanai ohana, but when you come here and try to turn our home into what you left, bra, no can so no try become akamai. Love Hawaii as it is if no can, betta you go back where you can be happy.
Paul Santos
Ka’u
Keep da Pidgin’ columns comin’
I’ve been reading several response letters to Mr. Camp’s article on being manini, pake, etc. I find it quite interesting that several individuals took offense to his article, because I totally can relate. This is our island culture. So, if the offended reader cannot embrace it, then they, more than likely, did not grow up here. I loved Camp’s article on cultural diversity. Being Asian, European and Polynesian (polyeuroasian), I grew up being color blind, so I had a rainbow of childhood friends.
Long story short; go listen to the song, “Mr. San Cho Lee,” by Keola and Kapono Beamer. You naysayers will get it. If you cannot laugh about your culture, then you may need some serious psychotherapy. Wally Camp, keep the rib-tickling articles coming. This tita gets it.
Claire Robinson
Kealakekua
Wake up Billy!
Maybe it’s time for our mayor (and council members) to wake up and learn something about economics! Our 4.1666 percent GET equals a 16 percent sales tax. (Already the highest in the nation.) An increase of 0.5 percent actually is an equivalent of an additional 2 percent sales tax!
“I think it’s one good idea” and “The county has nowhere else to find the money,” said Billy.
Maybe it’s time to have a meeting to take a look at how some of our elected officials, beginning with the mayor, and county employees waste money.
I am sure the mayor would suggest a hostess bar for such a meeting, and would arrive on skateboard or a bicycle.
John Rabi
Kailua-Kona