Comments on: The Gospel in Paradise

By: moana

moana — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 19:24:37 +0000

i only came here because i saw kapua’s post and then i read the whole blog entry and comments.
my only preface is that i also live in the islands–though not in kona.

first, i don’t think the wearing of lava lava and singing of “aloha oe” is “accommodation”–after all, these are not doctrinal issues. the church isn’t changing doctrine to accommodate a cultural population.

the other thing that i want to address is the idea that this is “paradise”–this is a very real place where people have families, jobs, lives. and i resent it when people remark on how this aspect of life here in hawai’i interferes with the touristic fantasy–as if “real life” and tourism cannot accommodate each other. if you come here with the idea that this place is “paradise,” a fantasy, then yes you will be surprised at what you see when you dare to enter the “real life” realm of church services, etc.

By: Kapua

Kapua — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 18:50:38 +0000

So typical for certain haoles to come back from Hawaii and make critical comments degrading and demeaning Polynesians and their cultures in attempts to make them feel belittled and stupid. We are, yes, a “SIMPLE” people, Brada Russell, but unlike your connotation towards a negative, we see ourselves as simple…..in the most positive sense. We’re not UPTIGHT or INTENSE …..that’s for sure! Funny that certain visitors come to Hawaii and scoff at our traditions, the way we raise our children, the way meetings are run, the way people are in the temple. It’s not like you don’t feel the condescending undertones of “A FEW SELECT” people who visit the islands….watching, judging, critisizing (sp?).

Compare many LDS youth in Hawaii vs.many Mainland youth? Do you see the same disrespect, talking back, snide remarks towards family members, complete fascination with electronic gadgets and money, status…. in Hawaiian youth? Obvious, NO!!! Must say, few slaps early on, let us local kids know what was acceptable and what wouldn’t be tolerated. Aside from the truly abusive Polynesian parent, it is my personal opinion that true discipline (however you want to call it, analyze it, change the real meaning of the scriptures….) is what’s lacking in too many families these days.

Trippin’ here, that you felt so suffocated by being encountered by so many members on the Big Island…..ya better be glad it was them you were surrounded by and not the Anti-Haole ones who entertain,tour and feed Haoles….. but only cuz they have to….just to support themselves and feed their families, all the while feeling the inner hostilities of knowing that the Haoles (The word Haole acutally means, “new-comer”, so could relate to any race that’s new to Hawaii) coming in to Hawaii are the ones causing the real estate prices to sky-rocket, preventing even locals from ever owning their own homes.

Why scoff at the leis, the extra music in the hymnal, the genuine loving aloha for someone who is leaving the fold for a mission or to move to a more “affordable” place (because Hawaii’s been made too expensive by new-comer’s who are driving prices up??) You need to learn to celebrate the differences in other people’s cultures…..that…….or stay home (whereever you’re from) so you can be truly happy and content in your controlled environment? That…..or wait about 20 years….by that time, all the locals will have been squished out of their own islands by foreigners who will then have exercised all their powers to change meetings and life to be….JUST LIKE……..everyone elses….then people can vacation from Hawaii to “OTHER” Polynesian islands to “experience the truly authentic Polynesian way of life……”

By: Stephen M (ethesis)

Stephen M (ethesis) — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 01:12:44 +0000

I really enjoyed this post. Thank you.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 20:57:01 +0000

I wonder if I can talk my bishop into letting me paste “Texas, Our Texas” in the hymnals.

Scott

By: Shawn Bailey

Shawn Bailey — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 19:40:22 +0000

It was my impression that some western canadians considered themselves more virtuous than eastern canadians in just about every way (which would include patriotism of course). I have no opinion on the issue.

Your point about the depth of church experience there also seems plausible. The fact that Brother Brigham dispached many of my wife’s ancestors to the Cardston area is part of what draws her family (and luckily me too) back again and again. The hiking doesn’t hurt either.

By: Russell Arben Fox

Russell Arben Fox — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 18:45:09 +0000

Interesting, Shawn and Hanna–and good for Canada! Though I have to say that I’ve never noticed such practices among members in Toronto, where I’ve attended church most often in the Great White North. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Western Canadian Mormonism, if there is such a thing, is pretty old and well established? (My father’s mother was an old Alberta Saint, her family going back to the original settlers in Cardston.) Or maybe Albertans are just more patriotic than their eastern brothers and sisters.

By: Shawn Bailey

Shawn Bailey — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:17:02 +0000

I had the good fortune to be vacationing in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta over a Canada Day a few years ago. I truly enjoyed singing O Canada—and hearing patriotic sacrament meeting talks from an entirely different perspective. What an education for me.

By: Kaimi

Kaimi — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:03:10 +0000

Well put, Maliaana.

By: Maliaana

Maliaana — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 16:55:20 +0000

I am new at this, so here goes. I grew up in Hawaii, daughter of a Hawaiian, English, French, Portugese Christian mother and a Russian Jewish father. Talk about the best of all worlds!! My Mom looks Hawaiian and my Dad looks haole for sure. We did live in California for some years and when the holidays came, we had the smallest Christmas tree we could find which was placed on top the old console tv, and the words “Happy Hanukkah” in the window!! Moving back to Hawaii, it was back to the friendly, casual living of the islands. I joined the Church as a young adult and was baptized in Waikiki Ward in the outdoor baptismal font of the Honolulu Tabernacle building. The friendliness of the local people combined with the friendliness of members of the Church certainly made me feel welcomed in the Church. Interestingly a few years later when I moved to the mainland, I remember sitting in Church and thinking something was very different in the meeting. It was. All the blond hair and fair skin!!! I was used to dark haired, dark skinned locals. But the Church is the same, no matter where you go. I used to say that the people in Utah say they are Zion, well, Hawaii is the Celestial Kingdom!!!
The chapels in Hawaii may be of different design and the meetings may run on casual local style time, but you know, the Gospel is true and the principles and teachings of the Savior are the same in the meetings. A few variations of protocol are ok as long as they don’t conflict with the doctrines of the Lord. The Spirit is strong with the Polynesians and you can truly feel the Aloha of the people who live in the lovely islands of Hawai’i.

As far as shave ice goes, Matsumoto’s is da’ bes’ one fo’ get.

By: Bryce I

Bryce I — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 16:34:46 +0000

The omission of “O Canada” from the hymnal was an oversight on the part of the Church, I believe, and not a message about the appropriateness of the song.

A really bad oversight, I might add. I love that anthem.