Author - Amelia Rakszawska, Cultural Affairs Assistant
Hawaii at the Games
The lives of the indigenous inhabitants of the paradise archipelago encounter many obstacles. Their reality is often very different from the image presented to us by many Hollywood films. When people are asked what Hawaii brings to mind, the average person will usually mention three things: Pearl Harbor, surfing, and floral shirts. However, most people are not aware of what the indigenous people face on a daily basis. Namely, they struggle with the disappearance of their identity, culture, and tradition.
An example of this is the phenomenon of the disappearance of the Hawaiian language, which has been included on the UNESCO list as critically endangered. Currently, the number of Hawaiians who speak it as their native language does not exceed 1,000, and most of them are over 70 years old.
English is rapidly taking its place. Scientists say that if intensive actions are not taken to save it, by 2100 we will no longer hear fluent Hawaiian in Hawaii. Year by year, tourism in the archipelago is growing more and more. Many migrants arrive, some of them decide to stay and marry with native Hawaiians.
This leads to the mixing of traditions and customs of the minority, influencing on the issue of cultivating the language.
Loss of sovereignty
In 1795, one of the chiefs of the island of Hawai'i, Kamehameha, subordinated all the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, which resulted in the creation of a new, sovereign state in 1810 - the United Kingdom of Hawaii. However, despite international recognition, the sovereignty of the kingdom began to erode with the influx of foreigners, mainly Americans, to the islands. The contemporary king agreed to let them stay and give the residents writing lessons, which were conducted in English, which had a huge impact on the disappearance of the Hawaiian language.
Foreigners began to interfere with local traditions, thus influencing the Hawaiians to lose their identity. Hawaiian rituals were banned and churches and missionary centers were built in which the use of the Hawaiian language was not allowed. Over time, numerous plantations began to be established on the archipelago, which only increased the influence of the Americans in the region.
The ever-increasing influx of migrants forever changed the demographics of Hawaii, and the legal acts demanded by the Americans led to their taking over real power.
Finally, in 1893, an armed coup took place, as a result of which the Americans overthrew the rule of the last queen - Lili'uokalani. As a result, the United Kingdom of Hawaii lost its sovereignty, obtaining the status of a dependent territory of the United States until 1959, when it became the 50th state.
Surfing as a traditional Hawaiian sport
Each ethnic group has its own traditions characteristic of the region. This is also the case among the indigenous inhabitants of Hawaii. Surfing is a kind of rite of passage from generation to generation. Parents teach it to their children, and they in turn teach it to their children.
Thanks to this, its tradition is cultivated. It is from this region that the greatest legends of this discipline come. Buffalo Keaulana comes to mind - a legend of surfing in Hawaii. Buffalo grew up at a time when Hawaiian culture was effectively being replaced by American culture. In one interview, he mentioned that he couldn't even use Hawaiian on a daily basis. His only connection to the heritage of the archipelago was surfing.
Today, this sport is represented in the US national team by Hawaiians such as John Florence and Carissa Moore. They are taking part in this year's XXXIII Summer Olympics in Paris.
An Attempt to Save Hawaiian Identity - Paris 2024
The Olympic Games are an international event held every 4 years, attracting athletes from all over the world. They include a wide range of disciplines that are updated. Surfing only debuted in 2021 at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The organizer of this event is the International Olympic Committee, which is responsible for the entire organizational structure.
This year's Summer Olympics are taking place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. It is important for all athletes to present themselves and their region in the best possible way. However, some may not have such a chance - the chance to represent their own region.
Hawaiian surfers would like to represent Hawaii under their own flag, not the United States. Achieving success in many surfing competitions, they wrap themselves in symbols of their community. However, during the Olympic Games, they are obliged to present themselves under one flag - the United States.
Currently, the desire of athletes to compete at the Games under the Hawaiian flag is not taken into account by the International Olympic Committee.
Hawaiian surfer, Carissa Moore, became the first gold medalist in this field at the 2021 Games. Standing on the podium, she wrapped herself in the US flag. Later in an interview, she admitted that it was not comfortable for her and she felt as if she was betraying her Hawaiian origins.
When surfing was qualified as an Olympic discipline, Hawaiians were given a chance to save their identity and continue their surfing heritage. It was in Hawaii that this discipline was born, and the natives were the ones who taught it to the Americans and the British.
There is no conflict between Hawaiian and American athletes. However, there is a difference in identity and history. John Florence, a surfer born in Hawaii, takes a Hawaiian flag with him to every competition in case he wins.
Both Florence and Moore avoid the political sphere, do not speak out about the fight for Hawaiian independence. Their goal is to show their distinctiveness by competing at the Games under their own, Hawaiian flag.
The actions of the Hawaiians are not just a simple matter of a conflict over the flag. They have a huge significance, deeply rooted in their identity. For native Hawaiians, such as Moore, it is an opportunity to preserve their distinctiveness and draw attention to the fact that they are an entity fighting for themselves, their culture, tradition and roots.
Brian Keaulana, son of Buffalo and also a surfer, in an interview for "The New York Times ” said that “In the surf culture around the world, everyone sees surfing in Hawaii as different. Even Californian surfers see Hawaii differently, but the Olympics see us the same way.”
A Question of Change
Surfing is one of the magnets that attracts people from all over the world to Hawaii. This is the place where this sport was born and its tradition was created.
Thanks to Hawaiian surfers, there is a real chance to draw the world's attention to the situation of Hawaiians.
This is expressed in particular by the issue of competing under their own, Hawaiian flag. The question of whether the International Olympic Committee will allow us to see a separate Hawaiian team at the next Summer Olympics in 2028 remains open.
Sources:
1. Bębenek Magdalena, Hawaje: Królestwo, o którym nigdy nie słyszeliście, 2018
2. Bischoff T., Weintraub A., Worley B., New wave of Hawaiian surfers look to reclaim sport's cultural spirit, „ABC News”, 2023
3. Branch John, Surfing for the United States, but Representing Hawaii, „The New York Times”, 2021
4. Cachola Jean Iwata, Kamehameha III: Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu, 1995
5. Lancaster John, Hawaje z krwi i kości. Jakie jest prawdziwe oblicze raju surferów?, „National Geographic”, 2019
6. NeSmith Keao, The Teaching and Learning of Hawaiian in Mainstream Educational Contexts: Time for Change?, 2012
7. Sipiński Dominik, Hawaje na fali. Uznania czy kolonizacji?, „Krytyka Polityczna”, 2024