The eventual overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarch in 1893 led to the significant loss of Native Hawaiian rituals, beliefs and morals. It all started when the British explorer, Captain James Cook and his crew arrived to the Island as explicated by Andrade, Naleen, and Cathy (3). “It was a history marked by the irreplaceable loss of life from a native war club to the retaliatory destruction of Hawaiians from weaponry on Cook’s ships” (Andrade, Naleen, and Cathy 3). This is a clear indication that the islands of Hawaii were not up for grabs by the Westerners. However, the colonizers ended up invading the islands and, in the process, the people were left without homes, lands, and deities to instruct and guide them through difficult times. In essence, the people were left without an identity which influences their notion of the self and reality. Therefore, in this cultural analysis, Kealoha aim was to provide a clear picture through compelling language and visual coherence of how the colonization impacted the Hawaiian culture by disrupting their original identity.
Dichotomy, for the purpose of this discussion, can be defined as separating two contradictory entities. The term can also be used as a literary device to provide a clear distinction between two contradictory parts. Kealoha’s poem, Dichotomy,reflects this distinction through its structure and form. For example, the author split the poemacross the page with paragraphs on the right and left side. The paragraphs on the right act as a call while those on the left as the response. In other words, the author demonstrates, through these paragraphs, the Hawaiian and Western sides which are very unique. The poem’s title, Dichotomyinforms the audience of the impending issue that requires immediate solution. In fact, the author’s own identity is slip into two which helps the audience spot the difference between the Native Hawaiian people and the foreigners that disrupted his ancestral lineage.
Moreover, the author’s ancestral lineage has been broughtout clearly right from the start of the poem. While Kealoha admits that he is a descendant of Kakuhihewa and born of Kekuku and Ka’opua blood, his way of living does not reflect the ancestral link. The words“inhale and exhale”are used symbolically to show the author’s general transformation with respect to western civilization (Kealoha 148). It is important to note that individuals are sometimes forced to abandon some aspects of their culture in search of knowledge and understanding – the need to fit into a new culture such as the knowledge of Western philosophy. While some people, especially the youth get consumed by the new culture, Kealoha, through his poem, emphasized the need to remain true to one’s identity. In stanza three, Kealoha writes, “And yet my thought patterns wander in circular paths of Kanaka Maoli tradition From the Kumulipo to the ‘OleloNo’eau I heed the wisdom from my ancestors” (Kealoha 148). It is clear that time and space cannot in away change one’s identity.
In line with the above, the people’s identity was defined way before coming into contact with Westerners. According to Andrade, Naleen, and Cathy the Hawaiian society was orderly and lived devoid of any external influence. The members of each class knew their place in the society, “they conformed to their place, role and purpose”(4). In addition to this, the residents of Hawaiiwere completely attached to the land they lived upon. In fact, no individual was allowed to possess any piece of land – they were only allowed to preserve it. Evidently, the land meant a lot to the people as it acted as a means of creating strong and sustainable relationships throughout the culture.However, when the foreigners invaded the Islands, they introduced a new way of owning property through private ownership. This, in the end, impacted negatively the existing bond between nature and man.
Furthermore, the land issue was brought out clearly through the author’s ability to use visual coherence to distinguish his perception of American role in the lives of Hawaiians. For instance, the author, reflecting on the 21st century aspect of his life, stated that“You don’t understand what America has done for us” (Kealoha 2). However, the typical Hawaiian in him responded by saying that“You don’t understand what America has done to us. They’ve imposed their notions of land ownership /… The land belonged to itself with all of us as its caretakers” (Kealoha 2). The relationship between the traditional and urban aspects of his life, as demonstrated in the quote, shows the identity tension that is currently being witnessed in Hawaii. The author blatantly expresses his hatred towards the foreigners who invaded and occupied their lands many years ago. More specifically, Kealoha’s aim is to inform his audience about the many traumas that his people experienced at the hands of the colonizers which ultimately corrupted their identity. The natives were proud of their origin and cherished their lands before it was taken by the foreigners.
Above all, Hawaiian’s identity was completely embedded in their form of worship. The Hawaiian religion, which revolved around Kumulipo, the creation chant, represented a true picture of the people’s own and untainted identity. To the foreigners, specifically the missionaries’polytheism inferior to Christian God which explains why shifted their attention to converting the people. However, Andrade, Naleen, and Cathy maintained that the missionaries possessed the class attitudes of the 19th century Americans despite their Christian ethics. In fact, Kealoha describe them and their Christian church as “the greatest cultural thief of our time” (148). Once converted, Hawaiians were prohibited from worshiping their own gods and, at the same time, separated from their kupuna which defined their identity and heritage. Additionally, the foreigners were never invited to the Islands of Hawaii – they imposed their culture to the people and, in the process imposing to them their long-established expressions.
In conclusion, Kealoha’s poem, Dichotomy, gives an overview of how colonization impactedthe Hawaiian culture by disrupting their original identity. As discussed above, the title of the poem, informs the audience of impending issue that require immediate solution. More specifically, the issue of identity has been discussed extensively by the poet through compelling language and visual coherence. In fact, Kealoha’s own identity is slip into two which helps the audience spot the difference between the Native Hawaiian people and the foreigners that disrupted his ancestral lineage. Before colonization, the Hawaiian society was orderly and lived devoid of any external influence. However, when the foreigners invaded the Islands, they introduced a new way of owning property through private ownership. The foreigners also corrupted the people’s way of worship – to them, polytheism was inferior to the Christian God. Overall, the issue of identity has been discussed extensively in the poem through compelling language and visual coherence.
Works Cited
Andrade, Naleen Naupaka, and Cathy Kaheau’ilani Bell. “The Hawaiians.” People and Cultures of Hawai’i: The Evolution of Culture and Ethnicity. Ed. John F. McDermott and Naleen Naupaka Andrade. University of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2011, pp. 1–30.
Kealoha. “Dichotomy.” Growing up Local. 91. Ed. Eric Chock and Darrell H.Y. Lum. 2007. Honolulu: Bamboo Ridge Press. 148-151.