The Local Knowledge Proficiency Test

The Local Knowledge Proficiency Test (LKPT) is conducted by Self-Educating for tests of overseas with cooperation of local institutions, Hawaiian Educational resources, and consists of ten independent levels of competence with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The reason the test exists isn't a government test, not no stamp of approval, and is not even official cause it would take too much money. It’s a concept, it is a way for people—especially those who move here—to check themselves without talking to someone and have reassurance that a highly scrutinized and strict test has been made to show several things: “Do I actually understand this place I live in?”, “Am I living with respect, or am I just squatting on somebody else’s culture?”. Its respectful to yourself, it keeps you informed, and it shows you took action to be pono.

The LKPT doesn't break down no social-gates tinto groups, it isn't a award that shows you reached somewhere, but it means that you know as much as someone who bothered to read material, talk to people, and understand the culture to a point that a group of people who made the test took hundreds of hours to make. Some people who can pass this are "More Local" than the for real "Local" and thats why its a measure just of knowledge, because everyone at some point in the not know phase. The reason why is that there is no official “local” definition that any two people can agree upon and because of that it clearly isn't defined. The study guides that can be read can explain most of the variations people have of their own definition of local, but still, always gottah check what their personal-definition of local is and can silently compare it to the LKPT stuff.

In Hawaiʻi there are so many definitions of “Local” that nobody like talk about it and then it becomes a problem that nobody wants to talk about and then it persists. The way people carry themselves is "Local Etiquette", the sort of cuisine is "Local Cuisine", the values people have is "Local Lifestyle". When people interact with one another is "Local Socializing" and the way of island people consus is "Local Society" and there is just so many things that are local and no one is comfortable talking about it. The test is not to be confused with a "Local Authorization Card" and isn't anything but to show proof to yourself that you have a proficient amount of "Local Knowledge" and that's where it ends. Not making you more or less local, not able to claim you a local to somebody, and people will know if it just starts with local etiquette and that comes from a basic amount of local knowledge. This is the starting point.

Concerns: Hawaiian Society there is a status of being a "Local" and while being born to the land and connecting to long time people from the land is one thing "Kama'aina Local", to be accepted as "Local Resident" is a hurdle, and "Local Proficiency" is another. Being able to self label as "Haole" regardless of of race is much easier to obtain than the label of "Local", which makes it important that there be some sort of measure of academic local proficiency — to show someone has done work and research to reach a certain level.

"You know, nowadays, more people are just fine being 'foreign' with whatever they do. And they'll just take that 'haole' label, even if they were born right here on the 'aina, or they're actual Kanaka Oiwi themselves. Why? 'Cause trying to get that 'local' stamp, da 'hawaiian stamp, or the 'hui stamp... no matter what you're talking about, it's like a moving goal post. One guy says this, the next guy says that. It's not defined. It's like everybody's got their own personal test you gotta pass. And if it's not defined, it ain't consistent, and then it can be pretty much anything."

Haolification isn't just someone doing something like someone from the US continent, but can also be like doing something from a place not from Hawaii. People can spend a lifetime trying to convince people they are local, or just use the "Haole Card" and bypass local norms and that's a comparative point.  As a general social rule, but with the understanding that there might be exceptions or specific conditions that alter this general rule, people tend to just not bring up a discussion of what is local or what is haole in perspective. Background checks of where someone went to school with "What School you Grad" has less meaning as more people who grow up here choose not to stay from being "Priced out of Paradise". Resulting in more foreign residents opting out of learning to be Local Culture Proficient.

"Everybody's idea of 'local,' eh? It changes. Depends on the island, the area, what generation you're from, even the school, even the clique you run with. So why you gonna chase after being part of something you'll never truly be? That just wastes everybody's time, brah. It's time we define what 'local' really means now. Me? I'm totally against people living here in Hawaii being ignorant. But then again, how you gonna blame 'em when they don't even know where the beginning is from the end?"

For Respect people have shifted from pursuing community connection through localness to hustling for hustle culture for securing monetary gains to remain a resident. That means residents in general don't have a feeling or a reason to have a deeper understanding of Hawaii. This connects to things like to vote, run in elections, adding that local proficiency in being a resident makes people more invested mentally. This is also why there is a voiced fear of foreign influence on domestic issues, domestic social media, and domestic politics. Anxiety of the United States, specifically California's growing influence.

"So, you know what I think's gonna happen, yeah? The rich guys, the real sneaky ones, they got all the money, all the connections. They gonna come here, think this is some kinda paradise, and just slide right into all the big, high-paying jobs. And they gonna change everything, man, just for their own quick buck. And how they gonna do it? They gonna push their own people to run for office, get 'em elected. Guys who think with agendas that just suck the life out of these islands instead of actually helpin' the islands. There have been kooks from as far back as the beginning of statehood and recently in 2018, the one who got exposed for being totally anti-Hawaii? Running for just a neighborhood seat, too. Yeah, that kind. It's a story that stays on rotation here in the islands every election cycle."

Some social groups in Hawaii do not grant full permission of someones proficiency as a local resident. Groups that choose to categorize certain people as "forever transplants" rather than "locals" are barred from being invited and communicated as parts of peoples close circles. Those are simply those running under a "discriminatory friendship system". There is no merit in talking about it, because those people won't attract friends, respect, or networks. A system like that only attracts criticism that turns into divisions that ultimately ride the line of hatred. This creates a vacuum affect where like minded people who are discriminatory meet to make their own echo chamber that people see, but don't mind them much business, since they are what people call "Mynah birds". Birds of a feather flock together as they say. Those who use this system will not be impressed with those who pass the LKPT.

"You know how you can spot 'em, right? They're the ones who gonna tell you straight up that you can never know what the real people of Hawaii know. And why? Because they're scared to let you in, man. It's a control thing, pure and simple. It's all about power. They like that power of knowing more than someone who doesn't have generations of family roots here. And then, the crazy part? They'll even discourage the ones who do got family here, measuring you by how many generations, just so they can be the one in charge, the one who's always right, the big mouth with all the power. 66They think they're fighting for some kind of social justice, but really? They just... squawkers."

Mynah birds are quite bold and will often get into places they're not wanted, like raiding fruit trees or even venturing indoors. This can translate to someone who is perceived as meddling in others' affairs offline and especially as a keyboard warrior online. Or being where they don't belong, which is almost always where they can be spotted. Mynah birds are known for their constant chattering and noisy squawking. Calling someone a Mynah bird suggests they talk excessively, spread rumors, or can't keep a secret. They're seen as constantly "squawking" about other people's business. Their noisy and often aggressive behavior in real life makes them quite annoying to many residents. So, being compared to one means you're perceived as irritating or obnoxious. In essence the LKPT is a do-it-yourself Mynah Bird Repellent.

Separation Oversight — with localization in Hawaii being a often rude subject and not really appropriate to be overseen it is believed that by having such a nasty stigma as a topic makes it easier to go socially unnoticed and further detach oneself from being part of Hawaii society.