Monday, March 10, 2008

#27 Hawaiian clubs

Hawaiians, no matter where in the world will start one of these. It doesn’t matter if the place they’re in is 30 below 8months out of the year, or the place doesn’t have a single water mass within a 300mile radius, or if the 90% of the club members aren’t Hawaiian at all, there are hardcore Hawaiian club starters everywhere in the world. The purposes of the club might differ because there are different aspects of the Hawaiian culture people are more interested in than others, whether it be just surfing, or dancing the hula; learning about Native Hawaiian rights or playing slack-key guitar; or simply being the local headquarters for Hawaiians away from home. These Hawaiian clubs are good for Hawaiians and the people they expose the culture to.

Specifically the clubs at colleges, serve very good purposes for Hawaiians and Non-Hawaiians. Club members perform service together, teach each other about what Hawaii is like, as well as, provide a support group for Hawaii locals outside of the islands. C’mon who wouldn’t want to share a care package of kalua pig and poi with some friend? Or kick back with a ukulele and sing some island style music?

Because of these clubs some Hawaiians are forced to represent their culture and home for the first time. For example, learning the hula for a school variety show, being asked to give a report on Hawaiian economics or tourism management, or describing to a group of Utah folks what shooting through a barreling wave is like. If you been in a Hawaiian club or witnessed the workings of a Hawaiian club out of Hawaii, near you…drop a comment and tells us what’s up.

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