Hawaii Kama’aina "Born of the Land"

“howz it brah, you from here? or wut?” is a question that is common and when someone responds with Kama’aina it can actually mean all sorts of things, but back when people still practiced Olelo (Hawaiian Language) it would originally mean “Born in Hawaii”. To a Native Hawaiian speaking in the context of Hawaiian definitions it does not follow someone's residence nor any length of time. But that doesn’t allow for the full spread of what the term has become overtime.

For some the Hawaiian Language version is the most authentic definition as being the oldest definition, but it is possible that there are different definitions based on what someone's trying to communicate. As the Hawaiian Language definition of “Birthright” or the commonly known definition “Residency” — but to many its lesser known definition is the proper attitude, values, and practice that is a in between for “Resident Title” as a matter of Aloha spirit contended by “Resident Transplants”.

Born of the Land: In the days of Hawaiian Kingdom, becoming a Kama’aina wouldn’t happen until a son or daughter was born on the land of Hawaii. The word kama- means child and -aina is land, but together it means child of the native land, which is wherever you were born. As Hawaii became constitutional, foreigners would become “Hawaiian Nationals” through “Hawaiian Naturalization” as to meet certain requirements to become a person of citizenship. Kama’aina was not only about being born in Hawaii, but also the duty to the land with intention to live with the land, instead of bloodlines.

Kama’aina-Born in the plantation times would learn to understand that -aina referred to planting, which would have to do with the process of caring, growing, and harvesting. It was not only to be born of the land, but also it meant contributing to the land itself and in the case of Hawaii that would also be those of the land, which is why there was a strong bond of community through the land that brought people together all the while ignoring the growing popularity of the Colonial American color-system.

Western Definition: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary refers to Kama’aina as “One who has lived in Hawaii for a long time” as it expanded with its Western definition. Merchants would have another sort of Kama’aina that would refer to those who “Have Hawaii Citizenship” that may allow them special rates to businesses and attractions. The number of Kama’aina would increase at a exponential rate with the number of strangers moving to the islands with its word change to have several definition that no longer made it as meaningful or as inclusive.

Most of the transplants moved to Hawaii from Japan, Europe, and the West Coast United States and some parts of the South United States. An usual amount of people would come from the Pacific Northwest United States as they had seeked a better life, many of those foreigners came from riches, and wanted to change the islands to be like where they were from— and were labelled Haoles (foreigner) — this was of course, before American Colonials would try to place the word to be synonymous with “White” in their Colonial American Color-System, which of course was not.

Conflict of Cultural Interest: The Clash of meaning through words — a cultural war of Kama’aina and serving the land versus being a foreigner Haole that would be working for racial division through colonial beliefs. It was really hard to change the way of life from the plantations to serve large corporate businesses not from the islands, very big banks, new technology, and chain stores. But, here came those who would be stubborn in their determination to not associate with local culture and threaten to destroy Hawaii of its distinctive character that was unique to the islands.

Overtime after statehood, there was a slow decline of localism and a loss of interest in “Hawaii Local Clubs” who were proud and pro-local “Naturalized Kama’aina”. Even though there were few people who decided to be a bit outspoken about where they came from like saying “Island Grown, island raised” and were asked “What high school you wen grad?” as a application to be approved of being Kama’aina or as a test to see how local the person might be from their geographic upbringing. Politicians would carefully place their record of descendants as to show not only them being Kama’aina, but also what generation local they were, or if they were converted as a non-local by ways of; values, lifestyle, and social etiquette.

Pride and Belonging: Reason that the generation of being a Hawaii family is so important is that it could place an entire mood and expectation of a person, but generation isn’t enough, since if a person acts Haole their heritage won’t save them from judgement of the other. A Kama’aina that acted foreign maybe asked where they are from, just to double check their origins, because locals tend to respect those who have come before them who actually have touched Taro, cleaned up the land from trash, or had survived the times of the plantation and before. Locals fear the loss of the Hawaii way of life that is from the islands themselves and the land they were formed from, but it also comes from pride of the culture with a sense of continuity and belonging.

To be island born and raised in Hawaii is to be part of Hawaii with its diverse and proud people who carry on their traditions, island traditions, and reflections on the history of the islands as well. Kama’aina have been in danger of needing to leave, so programs like “Kama’aina Come Home” in 1998 were intended to bring back former residents from the continental United States. There is a desire to become Kama’aina, but its best to know which category of Kama’aina you may fall under as not all definitions align to be the same.