Sunday, March 2, 2008

#6 How much Hawaiian are you?

Believe it or not, Hawaiians top out at "100% Hawaiian" or "Full Hawaiian," just like every one else on the earth and their respective ethnicities. After that, well, it seems there are no limits to how little Hawaiian you can be. The usual progression of declining ancestry is like this: Hawaiians come in half, quarter, one-eighth, one-16th, and one-32nd. But if your mom is Full Hawaiian and dad is half, then you get 3/4 Hawaiian kids. And if mommy is 3/4 Hawaiian and daddy is not Hawaiian you get kids that are 3/8 Hawaiian. Now make no mistake...being 3/8 Hawaiian is a big deal. Figure that's almost Half Hawaiian, Right!?! Well, to some people it's more important to "be" more Hawaiian than to "live" more Hawaiian. stay Hawaiian...Hawaiians.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I grew up in the middle of Honolulu with friends that attended Kamehameha Schools, "The Hawaiian School." They were so proud that they were 1/16th Hawaiian. I thought that was a lot until I married a guy that was half Hawaiian and have a Father-in-law that is FULL Hawaiian! How come they couldn't go to the "Hawaiian School?"

Mom D said...

If you're from California you're a Californian, from Texas, a Texan. But if you're from Hawaii and you aren't a blood Hawaiian and call yourself Hawaiian, you could be in deep kim chee. Can I be a Hawaiian, once in a while?

Keimalia said...

We get to say "I stay one Keiki oka'aina"
[Child of the Land]