Settling literally on the language: Colby Y. Miyose, Eean Grimshaw, ‘Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono: Cultural appropriation of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii Five-0’, PRism, 15, 1, 2019, pp. 1-17 | settler colonial studies blog

Settling literally on the language: Colby Y. Miyose, Eean Grimshaw, ‘Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono: Cultural appropriation of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii Five-0’, PRism, 15, 1, 2019, pp. 1-17

05Jan20

Abstract: Most in Hawaiʻi are familiar with the phrase, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono,” roughly translated as “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” However, the Western adoption of this phrase has resulted in its colonization and retranslation, devaluing its significance for Native Hawaiians. This project historically traces the phrase, focusing on: ea, aina, and pono. Of particular concern is how the phrase is translated/embodied for the consumption of a global audience as the title of an episode of the hit crime series Hawaii Five-0. We discuss the implications of the show’s use of the phrase, specifically the appropriation of Hawaiian culture and language, and its resultant impact on understanding Hawaiian identity. We conclude that shows like Hawaii Five-0 distort and/or prevent an accurate understanding of what is authentically “Hawaiian,” by downplaying the uniqueness of Hawaiian identity in favor of its continued exoticization.

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