ʻAʻOLE PONO KĒIA. This shit here is NOT OKAY. Reading the description of this book and the authorʻs tweets about her characters and story just made me flush with anger. Iʻm SHAKING WITH IT. As a Kumu Hula & mamo no Kaʻōhiʻalau, I am horrified at how this narrative trivializes 1/n https://twitter.com/fangirlJeanne/status/1299393600984199168

the colonization of the culture, language, & experience of my moʻokūʻauhau makuahine. This woman here, set to profit off the WORST stereotypes of Kānaka Maoli: rootless, exploitable, drug-addicted, sexually indiscriminate, irresponsible/incapable parents

longing to cast aside our culture & traditions for the promise of acceptance into Haole society and affluence...I JUST. CANʻT. AS IF hula was something so valueless that a character trained in it since childhood would even WANT to THROW IT AWAY.

As if MY HULA, the hula of my ancestors & teachers, WAS WORTHLESS TRASH. As if Wāhine Kānaka Maoli & other Polynesian women were not ALWAYS + FOREVER warriors, leaders, way finders, preservers & yes, FIRE DANCERS. Maʻam, you should have done your research AMONG NĀ POʻE KĀNAKA

Then perhaps you would have known better & DONE BETTER by my culture, ʻāina, & kūpuna than THIS.

Auwē, ua mōhala no kēia Tweet! This one getting the most response of anything I’ve posted, so if can, send a little kōkua aʻo nā kiaʻi ʻāina: https://hawaiicommunitybailfund.org/