Pidgin Lesson

When I wrote about the Hawaii Five-0 episode titles recently, I noted that they were in Hawaiian.  There has been a resurgence of late trying to incorporate more of the Hawaiian language into everyday life.  If you don't live here, or haven't lived here very long, then you probably won't notice.  The change has occurred over the last 10-15 years.  That is for the actual Hawaiian language.  Pidgin, however, is the "street language" that you will hear wherever you go.  It's hard to explain without a voice sample, but essentially it is a relaxed form of proper English (think the polynesian form of ebonics). This website says I'm wrong.  It says that pidgin is a form of creole.  Like when Oakland tried to teach ebonics in school because it was a "recognized language." Yeah, if you're retarded.

Pidgin is actually a legitimate language phenomenon that develops as a way for divergent groups to communicate with each other when they don't have a language in common. It is usually employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside.  This makes sense for Hawai'i since the Native Hawaiians, for example, are really a mix of all the polynesian island groups and tribes.
  

Today, pidgin is easily distinguishable because there is a sort of "accent" that comes along with it.  If you've been keeping up with Hawaii Five-0, then you've undoubtedly heard Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) use some pidgin.  You just may not have known what the hell he was saying.  Below is a list of the most common pidgin phrases that you may come across.  I wouldn't recommend trying to use them.  It's pretty easy to tell when someone is faking it, and then you just look foolish.  But try to listen for it if you're ever in Hawaii (hint: you won't hear it in the tourist resorts...).


An' den - And then? (Dude, Where's My Car? Anyone?)
Ass right - That's right
Brah - Friend, Brother (used ALL THE TIME)
Brok' da mouf - Delicious
Bus nose - Something smells bad
Choke - Plenty of something
Cockaroach - Rip off, steal
Da Kine - Used for EVERYTHING.  This is heard all the time, too.  You can literally use it for anything.  If you see something awesome, it's common to shout out, "That's da kine, brah" - seriously. This is my life.
Grind - Eat
Grinds - Food
Howzit - How's it going.  This is a VERY common way that locals greet each other.  It is also a fast way to tell if someone lives in Hawaii or is just a tourist.  I find that white people use it more often because even if you live here, if you're white, people still think you're a tourist.  But locals use it, too.
Mek plate - make yourself a plate of food
Moke - A large, local, toughguy
O wot? - Or what?
Pau Hana - After work (usually in reference to happy hour)
Shahkbait - Shark Bait, meaning pale, untanned people (I particularly like this one because I recently had a few visitors who are...well...shahkbait).
Shaka - Great! (This is also the name for the common Hawaiian greeting with the thumb and pinky finger extended)
Talk story - Shooting the breeze
Yeah? - Used at the end of sentences (This is also very common.  So common in fact that I do it and don't even realize it and was told recently that it is quite annoying).

Haole in Hawaii

Before I moved to Hawaii, I had a professor tell me how lucky I was to be moving to a place with so much racial and ethnic diversity.  He told me all about how President Obama's book, Dreams From My Father, painted a pleasant image of racial relations in Hawaii.  The book is not the only place Obama praised race relations in Hawaii.  He was also lauded for his speech, A More Perfect Union, which among other things, mentioned the way Hawaii's diverse population and racial harmony could serve as an example to guide the rest of America.  However, I saw an article today that exposes the notion of Hawaiian racial harmony as not exactly accurate...at least not if you're white.  Have I seen crotchety old asian women give me dirty looks on my commute to work?  Sure.  But when this happens I don't automatically assume they are racist.  I'm not Jesse Jackson.

If you've been watching Hawaii Five-0, then you've undoubtedly heard the word "Haole" (pronounced: HOW - LEE).  It means "white person."  Many Hawaiian locals in the show use it to refer to Steve McGarrett or his partner Danno in a derogatory or demeaning way.  It is not necessarily an insult, though.  It can also be used matter-of-factly.  For example, many people refer to Colt Brennan - the (white) University of Hawaii quarterback who led the Warriors to an undefeated season in 2007 - as "everyone's favorite haole."

More often than not, though, it's derogatory.  This became all too apparent to me this weekend when I learned a new phrase - "HTW."  It is uttered by non-white people (even white-wash Asians who grew up on the mainland but like to pretend they're locals) and means "Haole, That's Why."  You can hear it said if a white person does something inconsistent with Hawaiian culture.  For example, "Why doesn't she eat Spam?" HTW.  "Why doesn't he wear an Aloha (Hawaiian) shirt?" HTW.  "Why is he tall?"  HTW.

Now, I always shrug off suggestions of underlying racism, both when asserted by my minority friends back home and when people here claim haoles are treated differently.  If someone gives me a dirty look because I'm white...well...I have made enough racist jokes that I probably deserve it.  Such is life.  This article suggested, however, that haole-based racism may actually be a legitimate problem in Hawaii (insert minority roommate's comment: "wait, you're telling me racism in America is a problem? I'm shocked!").  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (federal court with appellate jurisdiction over Hawaii, Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington) last week rejected a challenge to the Kamehameha Schools admissions practice that gives preferential treatment to native Hawaiians.  The lawsuit apparently includes a heated debate over whether four non-Hawaiian students would be subject to racial attacks if their identities were revealed.


Judges Alex Kozinski and Stephen Reinhardt wrote strongly worded dissents, referring to "Kill Haole Day" at Hawaii's schools and arguing that the four non-Hawaiian students would be endangered in a "racially charged environment."  What? Kill Haole Day? Surely this is just some silly myth.  Well, it turns out that the last day of school before summer is annually known as Kill Haole Day.  This is not to be confused with Kick a Ginger Day (which, as we all know, is just plain old good fun!).  Local school kids in Hawaii will harass and sometimes beat up on mainland young white kids. Tourists don't exactly get exposed to this part of the culture when they visit, but local people know all about it. It isn't discussed openly or written about in newspapers, but it has been part of island practice among some of the young people for decades, apparently.


From my perspective, I have never experienced haole-based racism...and I have some pretty embarrassing proof that such claims may be overblown.  As I mentioned earlier, I went to Sandy's Beach this weekend.  When it comes to parking, you have two choices: the paved parking lot or the grass/sand in front of the beach.  There is basically a big field in front of the beach that is preceded by a strip of sand maybe 5-6 feet wide.  Well, I pull up over the sand, park the car, and go to the beach.  No problem.  We come back from the beach, get in the car and prepare to leave.  I drive over the grass and am ready to pull out on the narrow, one-lane road in front of the beach, but there is a lot of traffic.  So everyone has to go slowly and take their time.  I, unfortunately, happened to stop right on the strip of sand.  I didn't think anything of it.  Finally, no cars were coming, so I gradually ease out...oh wait...no...the wheels start spinning but I go NOWHERE.  The following conversation took place in the car:


Me: uh oh, I think we're stuck
Passenger:  What?
Me: Stuck in the sand
Passenger: Just give it more gas.  
Me: Ok


Nothing Happens.  


Passenger: Try going in reverse  
Me: Ok...


Yep, goin' nowhere


Passenger: Haha, lol!
Me:  That's not helpful...

Notice the position of the cars...these are where the locals park

Now, I don't have pictures of this cluster f*ck, so I will try to be as descriptive as possible (you can sort of see the layout from this picture).  The road I was trying to turn on runs parallel to the beach (right behind the cars on the left side of the picture here).  The field is directly behind that. To exit the park, you're driving toward the beach and turn right onto the road.  All the local boys are parked perpendicular to the road/beach/field.  As I'm looking out the front windshield, I can see the beach and the entire row of about 15 cars/trucks filled with 4-5 local boys each who have now taken notice of my nightmare what is going on.  I am still spinning the wheels in a futile effort to go somewhere.  They ALL start yelling different instructions at me in an effort to help.  Of course, all the instructions contradict each other.  Some are telling me to give it more gas.  Some say turn the wheel.  Some say go in reverse.  Some just point in six different directions.  After a few minutes, I exit the vehicle to see what my options might be. HA!  The wheels were BURIED in the sand.  Yep, not going anywhere.

Example of a Local Boy

Well, wouldn't ya know it...after another minute of watching this haole idiot screw around with his car, a SWARM of these guys walks up to us.  They assess the situation and say, "ah brah, you're buried."  Ya think!?  A group of them have now boxed me out of the situation completely and discuss among themselves how to get the car out.  Within what seemed like an hour a minute or so, one guy goes over to his truck and pulls out some type of strap.  Now 3 or 4 guys are laying on the ground looking under the bumper screaming at each other, "hook it there!;" "no, it'll pull the bumper, brah, you gotta hook it there;" "nah brah, wrap it around here!"  


I'm just standing silently on the side thinking: sure guys, let me know if I can help.  After a few minutes, my truck is hooked up to a bigger truck.  Now EVERYONE is watching in amusement - including the dozen-or-so line of cars that cannot pass on the road because the bigger truck is blocking it as we are hood to hood.  He pulls me out pretty quickly and with my bumper still intact, I am on my merry way with NO intention of showing my face at Sandy's Beach Park ever again.  So while they all got a good laugh/story at the haole's expense, I certainly don't think I'd classify them as anything but friendly/helpful guys.


So I suppose I'd have to say that my assessment of Hawaii is a little different than Judge Kozinski's.

Hawaii Five-O and Hawaiian Language

As I mentioned last week, CBS is filming new Hawaii Five-O episodes on the grounds and in the parking lot outside my office.  We caught a few glimpses of the actors and saw them running around and even doing a car chase.

I'd be curious to know whether anyone actually 1) watches the show or 2) thinks it's any good.  Someone asked me last week whether I talk about the show because I thought it was good or just because it's filmed outside my office window.  I have to admit, I think I watch it primarily because I recognize a lot of the landmarks that are seen in the show.  I also watch it because everyone in Hawai'i watches it and discusses it on Tuesday.  You sort of have to watch it if you don't want people to think you're rejecting their culture.  It's already bad enough I refuse to eat spam or wear a Hawaiian shirt to work (more on that another time).  The show itself is entertaining, but it is definitely a little cheesy with ridiculous dialogues.  There is also a lot of over-acting.  I still think it's worth checking out, though.  And for my friends working in big law firms, it airs right around the time you get home from work (i.e. Mondays 10/9c).

Anyway, today I learned something new about the show. Each episode has a title that is not in English.  The titles are in Hawaiian.  They also never appear on screen.  They're found in the TV listings and are often mentioned in social media outlets that discuss the show.  The titles to the first 7 shows are: "Ohana," "Malama ka Aina," "Lanakila," "Nalowale," "Ko'olauloa," "Ho'apono," and "Mana'o." Next week's show is called "Po'ipu," and the following week is "Hao Kanaka."   I never really noticed the names (probably because I had no idea what they meant), but it turns out it was a deliberate move by the show's producers.  They apparently wanted to give each episode a "Hawaiian identity," to make it unique and make it feel like these are stories that could only be told in Hawaii.  The producers also hoped "mainlanders" would take the time to find out what the names meant so it would be an "interactive experience."  Well, have no fear my devoted blog fans, I have decided to do the work for you.  Here are the names of the shows that have aired so far and their corresponding English translation:


Ohana: Family (This is actually a pretty common word used in everyday conversation in Hawaii.  People use it all the time to convey a community feeling.  You'll also hear businesses use it in commercials saying their customers are part of their Ohana.);


Malama ka Aina: Caring for the Land (malama means "to care for" and 'aina means "land");


Lanakila: Victory; triumph;


Nalowale: Lost, gone, forgotten;


Ko'olauloa: Ko'olau means "windward" and loa means "long."  It really refers to a long fishing line because of the history of this area, which is on the north shore of Oahu.  The valleys from La'ie to Kahana are well-watered and fertile. The most famous god of this land was Kamapua'a ("Pig-Child") whose home was in the valley of Kaliuwa'a (Sacred Falls) in Kaluanui. The gods Kane and Kanaloa wandered through this district, creating springs and fishing.  Fish is abundant in the area and the coastline is noted for its shark gods and shark men (mano kanaka). The episode was about a surfer who got killed and the suspect was an environmentalist...how that translates to shark gods, I have no idea, but there ya go;


Ho'apono: To approve; a true friend;


Mana'o: Thought, idea, belief, opinion, theory, desire, and want;


Po'ipu: To cover over entirely, as of clouds or engulfing waves;


Hao Kanaka: Hao means "iron" or is the general name for metal tools; Kanaka means "person, mankind, or individual."

Hawaii Five-O

In case you're not aware, a few weeks ago CBS aired a re-make of the popular 70s sitcom Hawaii Five-O.  They are currently still filming episodes, ironically enough, in Hawaii. Like the original version, the new show follows an elite unit/task force set up to fight crime in the State of Hawaii.  Now, if the show is to be believed, I live on a drug-ridden, gang-dominated island where I need to watch my back at every corner.  I suppose there are some angry people here, but I haven't really run into them yet.

However, the biggest impact on my life is that I can't take a lunch break without having to stop and wait for them to "cut" filming.  It turns out that the headquarters for this "elite task force" run by Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Laughlin) and "Danno" (Scott Caan) is actually the Supreme Court building next to where I work.  They have the parking lot barricaded and cameras all over the place so trying to leave the building is always a fun little adventure.  

Steve McGarrett

It is pretty funny, though, to see everyone in our office regularly peering out the windows trying to catch a glimpse of the actors as they stroll by.  You can also see dozens of swat team members loaded up with massive guns, Honolulu police, and extras all over the place.  It's quite the mad house.  If you're from Los Angeles (and maybe New York), then you probably don't appreciate being "star struck."  For people, like me, who grew up in the Great State of Delaware, Hollywood actors are a rarity.  Anyway, if you get a chance to check out the show, you'll undoubtedly notice the King Kamehameha statue and Supreme Court building.  It's in every episode. 

Steve McGarrett and Danno -
fighting Hawaii's crime wave by running through our parking lot