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A PSA about Cherry Bullet’s Aloha Oe and Hawaiian cultural appropriation in general: (AN UPDATED VERSION)
First of all, I would like to say that I usually love CB’s music and don’t have anything against the girls since they did not write, compose, or choreograph this song. Second, although I feel awakened saying this, I am native Hawaiian and speak Hawaiian...
(although I have forgotten a lot, having not spoken it for many years). Third, this is an updated thread simply for the fact that I am ignorant and my wording was horrible. I originally had a point that compared this Hawaiian CA to Hongjoong’s CA
and the black community have educated me that I should not have compared his situation to ours because it turns into a competition and discredits their fight
See below for an important comment: https://twitter.com/chyubs/status/1292972098386825217
I will also like to say that I am sorry if it appeared that I’m asking the black community or any community for that matter to lead or carry our fight. It is not your place and we don’t expect you to do so. A simple retweet, like, or comment is enough for us and that is all I ask
Now let’s get into the a quick history lesson. Once upon a time, Hawaiʻi was its own kingdom with chiefs and chiefesses known as aliʻi. Each island had its own chiefs of different rankings but the islands were finally united in 1810 by King Kamehameha I.
Under the Hawaiian monarchy, Hawaiʻi flourished and made many connections around the world, becoming friends with a multitude of monarchs. Fun fact: The ʻIolani Palace even had electricity before the White House
Then in 1989, Hawaiʻi was illegally annexed by the U.S. The Big Five (a group of companies) plotted and successfully overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani I without presidential approval. The thrown was taken by force and the Queen was placed in house arrest.
Queen Liliʻuokalani composed Aloha ʻOe, a song which became a “farewell song” for her people.
Here’s also a great question that was asked in the last thread: https://twitter.com/ughhhhhhfine/status/1292844739058962434
Here’s also a great question that was asked in the last thread: https://twitter.com/ughhhhhhfine/status/1292844739058962434
Hawaiians were dying by the thousands mostly due to diseases foreigners brought from abroad. The population was decreasing rapidly and the Queen knew that if her people fought back against the overthrow, they would be slaughtered and there would be even less Hawaiians left.
So, in order to save her people, she sacrificed the kingdom to the Americans. This song is often symbolized as a mourning song for the loss of the Hawaiian Kingdom and its Queen. CB’s song is not only a jab at the Hawaiian people but their kingdom and everything they have lost.
In their choreo, they have a “crown” like move in their chorus as well as some moves that seem to be “hula”. Also, in some of their promotions, they have been dressed in “Aloha tourist attire”.
I’m not sure if it’s just because CB is not a huge group compared to some in the industry or if it’s just because Hawaiian cultural appropriation is normalized in the media, but this situation is def not okay and needs to be made aware.
We are not just a place that can be advertised as paradise, a type of pizza, or people who live in grass shacks and ride dolphins to school (which I have been asked sadly too many times)
There are so many more options for summer themes for this comeback but I’m not sure why the person who wrote this thought it was appropriate to use Aloha ʻOe because I would assume they knew at least part of its background
given the fact that they used it in the instrumental. Therefore, this may just further prove my point that Hawaiian culture is just disregarded and commercialized in the media if no one questioned this comeback before it was released.
I do realize that there has been instances where this song has been used in other tv shows or movies but does it really make it acceptable? Plus Train to Busan’s use of the song seems a little more appropriate since the little girl was mourning.
I again apologize for my previous thread and I’m sorry to everyone I offended, hopefully this thread is better. All I ask to help spread info is to just retweet comment and like and if you still don’t see something you like, don’t be afraid to correct that person
Like how all of u did for me. But please, could be a little more respectful (I needed to be too). If someone simply nicely dmed me, I could have solved this issue much faster and better. I was also extremely defensive and I am sorry for that too.
I understand that I deserve all the hate and threats but I’m hoping this makes some things up. I will be keeping the other thread up in case people want to learn from my mistakes as well. But please, let us focus on the CA now, instead of fighting against each other.
