hawaiian culture analysis

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Analyzing the Hawaiian Culture Connor Milliken Professor Geoffroy Cross-Cultural Psychology May 2, 2012

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During a psychology class we were asked to present a project on a culture of our choice. My choice of Hawaii was mostly because of the seperated culture between the U.S. and the last state of Hawaii.

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Page 1: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Analyzing theHawaiian Culture

Connor MillikenProfessor Geoffroy

Cross-Cultural PsychologyMay 2, 2012

Page 2: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Overview

• Brief History• Hawaiian Culture Defined• The “Aloha Spirit”• Speaking Hawaiian• Traditions• Biases & Stereotypes• Human Development• Thinking Approach

Page 3: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Brief History• 1,500 Years Ago,

– Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands first set foot on Hawaii's Big Island. With only the stars to guide them, they sailed over 2000 miles in canoes to migrate to the islands.

• 500 Years Later– Settlers from Tahiti arrived, bringing their beliefs in gods.

• 1778– Captain James Cook (British Explorer) landed on Kauai. Cook opened up western travel to the islands.

• 1810– King Kamehameha unified all of the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom.

• 1820– First Protestant missionaries arrived on Hawaii’s Big Island, western culture expanded on the islands.

• 1893– American Colonists who controlled much of Hawaii's economy, overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom.

• 1898– Hawaii became a territory of the United States.

• 1941– Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Oahu. Four years later, Japan surrendered.

• 1959– Hawaii became the 50th State of the United States.

Page 4: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Hawaiian Culture Defined

• Behavior– Laid Back “Aloha Spirit” and very down to Earth

• Clothes– Flip-flops, shorts, and Tees (includes tacky Hawaiian Shirts)

– Traditional Hawaii; Grass Skirt, Coconut Bra, and Flower Lei• Food

– Mostly Seafood (Rare Fish) and Meat (Famous Pig Roast)

• Language– Hawaiian and English

• Housing– Typical Housing in America– Traditional Hawaii; Polynesian

(The Skin)

Page 5: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

The “Aloha Spirit”

• Cultural Attitude & Emotion– Aloha is said to be the coordination of mind and heart

within each person; it brings each person to the self; each person must think and emote good feelings toward others

– The Aloha Spirit is a large component of Native Hawaiian culture

– Removing your shoes when entering a home is common– Islanders pride themselves on their laid-back manner– People slow down and enjoy life– Car horns are used to greet friends in Hawaii– Problems are let go and forgotten

(Cultural Norms – The Pulp)

Page 6: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Speaking Hawaiian

• Hello/Goodbye– “Aloha”

• Thank You– “Mahalo”

• Sorry/Excuse Me– “E kala mai iaʻu!”

• Please– “Hōʻolu”

• How Are You?– “Pehea ʻoe?”

• Take Care– “Malama Pono”

• Turtle– “Honu”

• I Love You– “Aloha Au Ia ʻOe”

• Till We Meet Again– “A hui hou”

• Your Welcome– “ ’A ‘ole pilikia”

• Yes– “ ’Ae”

• No– “a'ole”

Page 7: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Traditions• Flower Lei

– A lei should be offered graciously with a kiss and removed only in private

– It's considered rude to remove a lei once it's accepted

• Hula– Hula represents the spirit of Hawaii

through graceful movements and captivating music

– Hawaiians actually believe that the first hula was performed by a god or goddess

– The dance is considered more as a sacred ritual than as a form of entertainment

– Two types of Hula: (1) Hula Kahiko, and (2) Hula Auana

• Legends and Beliefs– Ancient Hawaiians were known to be

storytellers. Legends were a way of documenting history, knowledge, facts and beliefs from generation to generation

– Some Legends:• Maui: Demi God/Pulled Island from Sea• Pele: Goddess of Fire/Volcanoes• Kumulipo: Creator of Hawaiian Islands

– Rain and Rainbows are considered blessings from the Gods

– Causes of Bad Luck or Bad Omens• Wearing a lei while pregnant • Taking rocks from the islands

• Festivals– Merrie Monarch Hula Festival– Aloha Festival– Lei Day

Page 8: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Human Development

• Collectivist vs. Individualistic– Hawaiian culture is based on the assumptions of a

collectivist society where the groups goals hold more importance than those of the individual. Relationships are the core to Hawaiian values. In particular, the relationship of the individual to the family, the community, the land, and the spiritual world is emphasized. The ʻOhanaʼ (family) is the fundamental unit in Hawaiian culture.

(The Core)

Page 9: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Human Development (cont.)

• Life Milestones– All milestones are celebrated with a Luau to

respect the elder Hawaiian culture. Most milestones that we celebrate are also celebrated by Hawaiians.• Birthdays• Graduations• Weddings

(The Core)

Page 10: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Thinking Approach

• Illness Treatments– A person with a disability can substantially

influence the amount of support or the acceptance that a person receives from family and friends; and how much that person matches the common social identity.

• Western vs. Eastern– Todays Culture: Western– Culture Before Migration: Eastern

(The Core)

Page 11: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Summary

• Brief History• Hawaiian Culture Defined• The “Aloha Spirit”• Speaking Hawaiian• Traditions• Biases & Stereotypes• Human Development• Thinking Approach

Page 12: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Questions

Page 14: Hawaiian Culture Analysis

Side-Note for Professor

• Hey Professor,I just wanted to write this little note to thank you for a

wonderful class experience. I have taken several online classes and have truly felt that this class has given me a different outlook on life and will benefit me in my life journey. Your lessons showed me that there is more to life than what people may think and that we must accept each other culturally because even though we may come from separate cultures, we all have many ideals in common that bring us all together. I feel touched to have been able to learn from you as a student. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience, I hope to take another class with you before I graduate (hopefully in class too), and will hopefully meet you too! Thank You!!