Ova Da Rainbow: HAWAII'S STORY (3)

Blue Hawaii

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the United States.

This was a victory across America for everyone fighting for civil rights, a victory that shouldn't be glazed over in any way... unless it doesn't really matter to the story you're telling.

Let's set the stage. It's the mid-sixties in Hawaii, and the tourism industry is at it's peak. There needs to be something new and exciting to keep folks coming back. So, instead of burying the past and it's sinful nature, now was the time to capitalize on it.

Hundreds of Tiki Bars opened up, in the islands and on the mainland. They sold something people wanted more than anything else. Paradise that you could run away to and pretend you were in. It was a form of mass escapism performed by millions.

Nightly luaus catered to tourists coming in, giving them glimpses of the past, watered down to appeal to the mass market. Some came for the more sensual side, to watch the hula dancers and have a good time. Others saw it as a way to be fully immersed in a past that never happened.

The mainland's fight for civil rights did spark one thing, however. It sparked a series of debates on Hawaiian culture and how it was used. Instead of a fight for equality and looking to the future, with the mid-sixties came a sharp split in the citizens of Hawaii's views on their past.

One such debate was about the flag that waved above their home. The fuss over a piece of cloth used to represent the people of Hawaii was actually much more of a heated debate than anyone would suppose it to be.

But now, many believed the flag was a sign of rebellion and anarchy, the prime symbol of anti-patriotism, ani-nationalism of the people. Anti-American. And that was both seen as good and bad for a number of different reasons.

The Hawaiian flag, the same one that was the national flag of the kingdom, republic, and territory, was flown very little outside of government buildings anymore. This was a sharp contrast to before, where everywhere you turned there was a flag. In households, in front of stores, all over Honolulu. The Hawaiian Flag used to be well known, well beloved by the people.

Hawaii found her flag to be more loathsome by the day, looking in the mirror and seeing that was just unbearable at times.

Somehow, being human was even worse.

Not only did Hawaii lose much of her respect for being a coloured woman, with the amount of diverse folks growing in the islands, Hawaii's human form had only changed more and more throughout her years.

Her skin as a human lightened over the years, and she looked more and more white and Asian. She doubted her younger self would have recognised her by now.

Sure, it was fine, she didn't have a problem reflecting her people. It just looked wrong to her somehow.

She was trapped either way, and so began her avoidance of the islands in general, and mirrors. Looking at herself became something she couldn't stand.

One of the only things she looked forward to was Kalaupapa. Every month, she made sure to visit him, and for a moment, the world was okay. Unless he wanted to pry. Which he did, sometimes. He seemed to be able to see right through her.

He sat on the beach, eating his sandwich, before glancing at his mother. "Hey Mama, you wanna talk about... May?"

"Lau, I'm fine. It's been almost a year." Hawaii said, smiling a little. She rubbed her son's head, "She would have loved you. I just know it."

"I've watched people die every day. Some are scared to go, and they want someone to hold their hand. Others smile and let themselves go easily." Kalaupapa said, looking at his cup with shaky hands. "Mama, I know you loved her, and that it's really hard to let go. I understand how you feel."