Hawaiian Traditional Games & Garments

Lara Suddes (zaflas@zaf.sas.com)
Fri, 27 Oct 1995 12:23:07 -0200

[ I believe Lara is writing from South Africa. I suspect we all have
some doubts about whether the kind of event she describes could do
much in the way of providing genuine cultural education, or if the
people attending would really be able to appreciate the authentic
culture of Hawai`i in such a setting as the one in which the event
is being held. I have some serious personal reservations, in fact,
about this sort of thing, in that it seems to represent yet another
example of the appropriation of culture solely for entertainment,
doing little to promote genuine appreciation and understanding.
I could be wrong - but this is what my intuition tells me. Maybe
some subscribers would like to write to Lara personally to express
your own feelings and suggestions (please do not post replies to the
NATIVE-L list). --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]

Hi,

My mother is organising her company's Xmas function. The theme is
Hawaiian. "That is strange", you might say but understand that we live
in a country where Xmas is in mid-summer.

Her company will be taking a "Booze Cruise" on one of our local dams.
She would like to decorate the ferry (small in comparison to
international ferries) (more the size of a house boat) with authentic
"looking" Hawaiian plants, masks, rugs and table settings.

The company she works for is in Communications (Public Relations). The
people working there are very fastidious about detail and authenticity.

So what I am looking for is some ideas for her to make this a very
special and authentic occasion. She wanted to know if there were any
particular traditional games played at Hawaiian festivals, and what
garments/jewellery do Hawaiian people wear at the festivals. And if
there are any specific symbols or masks displayed in the dancing area.
One other thing, my Mom is looking for some traditional Hawaiian music
which she can possibly get to make it even more authentic.

Thanking you in advance..

Lara