Hawaiian Culture
By Damian
Sofsian
It is said that Hawaii is the place where the East
meets with the West. However, there is much more to that with a combination
of ethnically diverse immigrants being an integral part of the social fabric
that merges with the traditional customs of the place to bring out the
best of both worlds. The land is full of mythological stories and characters
and hosts a number of colorful events.
Hawaiian culture revolves around the words "Aloha"
and "Aina." The former refers to the respect towards the land and the efforts
taken to protect it. "Aina" means that the land sustains its inhabitants
and thus any harm done to the land can revert back to its people.
Hawaiian artists and artisans have always formed
an essential part of the Hawaiian culture. Traditional crafts such as Hawaiian
tapa weaving and quilt making have been revived over the past few years.
The predominant language of Hawaii has been English infused with typical
Hawaiian words, phrases, and expressions in Pidgin slang. According to
researches, only nine thousand people speak Hawaiian although 85% of the
local places are named in Hawaiian. It is also said that the early immigrants
of Hawaii spoke in Pidgin, which has taken the shape of an ever-changing,
lively slang, and is considered a stripped and simplified form of English.
No culture can exist without its music and Hawaiian
culture has been no exception to this rule. In the early days, the most
important way to remember mythological Gods and the deeds of powerful men
in Hawaii was "mele" or chant. The continuation of using music to celebrate
their "aloha aina" have been one of the defining aspects of the Hawaiians.
The modern Hawaiian musical forms derived their ingredients from the Christian
hymns or "hymni" and Western string instruments that were introduced in
Hawaii in the nineteenth century. It is also believed that the popular
steel guitar originated and was made popular in Hawaii.
The island is full of fresh fish forming an essential
part of the Hawaiian diet and an abundance of fruits including avocados,
coconuts, guavas, mangoes and papayas delight the taste buds.
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