Submitted by Brianna Distler on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the School of Education…
This week was full of cramming for our last few days here on this island traveling to different areas and exploring what we had time left for. By accident, we even ended up in places where tourists are not exactly wanted. When going to Hawaii, you hear of places that tourists or outsiders aren’t welcome, and then you get here and everyone is so nice and helpful, so it is hard to believe until you experience it. My roommate had insisted on going to Chinatown to eat food there, and they had recommended not to go at night, so we went a few hours before sundown. As soon as we got off the bus, we immediately knew it was a mistake and that we were not welcomed. The touristy pictures we saw on Pinterest were not what we saw in person. There were shops and the traditional Chinese look of the town, but it was empty, there were no tourists and no one quite welcoming there. As soon as we got off the bus, we left about 10 minutes later on the next bus out. I am not explaining this situation to scare or upset anyone, but simply to explain that I learned that trespassing is a thing even in such a beautiful welcoming island. I learned and understood that I wouldn’t want people not from my home walking around, taking pictures, and buying goods that I might need to buy for my family. While tourists bring in a ton of money for the island, I can see how this would be frustrating for people who have lived there their whole lives.
After that scenario, we went to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and got to experience the beautiful mixtures of cultures and even individually saw how each island and culture brought rich resources, knowledge, and beliefs into one area. When I thought of Hula dancing, I pictured how they Hula danced in Lilo and Stitch and while there was some similarities, there were also huge differences in the dance and how the people moved. I also didn’t realize how tiring it was to Hula! I did not last very long trying to keep up with the girl’s beginner course where she was so at ease and I know I looked quite clumsy. Their singing and chants were all so different, yet so beautiful and even though, I had absolutely no clue what they were saying, I was in awe of the beauty. If you ever get the chance to explore Hawaii, this is absolutely a place to go to!
