Hawaiians are individuals in thought, like any people

If there was one step we could take, one shift in perception, that would move every discussion about Native Hawaiian issues forward, it would be this:

Not every Native Hawaiian thinks or feels the same way.

It sounds stupid to say it — I mean, of course! Why would any one group of people, especially a group as diverse and heterogeneous as people of Native Hawaiian ancestry living in the new millennium, be in total agreement on everything all the time?

Yet that ridiculous expectation colors so much of what is said about Native Hawaiians, including discussions of Native Hawaiian issues by Native Hawaiians.

One hallmark of White Privilege is the allowance for and the celebration of independent thought. People of color, though, are expected to think and act as a group. Hawaiians are lumped together in one category, particularly in political circles, media coverage and academic papers.

When some Native Hawaiians hold a press conference one day and a dissenting group holds a protest on the same issue the next, the reaction is largely, “Oh, those Hawaiians can just never get it together! They’re always fighting among themselves!”

This from Americans who are so proud of their rugged individuality, spirited debates and inclusion of opposing views.

Case in point:

Last week, when Disney pulled the Halloween costume of Maui from stores and online shops, I had an idea for a story and reached out to various strong, intelligent, tattooed Polynesian men to ask what they thought about the controversial costume.

Guess what? Every man I asked had a different answer, ranging from “Who cares?” to “What the hell were they thinking?” to “If a little boy wants to look like me, go for it.”

Who’s right? They all are.

But that’s just a costume.

Then there’s the TMT telescope on Mauna Kea. Some Native Hawaiians say the ancients would have never allowed such desecration of a sacred place. Other Native Hawaiians say the ancients loved science, were avid explorers and would have embraced such a tool of knowledge.

And last week came word that the U.S. government had established a pathway for Native Hawaiian sovereignty through the Department of the Interior, which was met both with celebration and scorn by Native Hawaiians.

Who is right when the issue is much larger than a kid’s costume?

The idea that there is one correct way to do things is something imposed on the culture.

There may never be agreement, but that does not mean progress in Native Hawaiian issues and concerns cannot be made. On the contrary. Disagreement is a fail-safe, a check to make sure that all voices are being heard and the best proposals are moved forward.

Dissension isn’t a sign of weakness in a group. Only infantries and totalitarian states do well with total consensus. If Native Hawaiians don’t fall lockstep on an issue — any issue — it is because smart people think for themselves and strong people can stand on their own principles, even if that means standing alone.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.