Personal Narrative: How Hawaiian Culture Changed My Life

Seven years earlier, I migrated to Hawaii when I was twenty-three. I had flown away from my mother and my life in the Philippines. Like young adults and being rebellious, I wanted to live on my own away from my mother 's roof. I left the city life I grew up with in the Philippines in hope of a better life in another country.

First things first, Chris Mccandless followed his dream to escape society and live in nature. Once he got out of society and was on the road he delighted, "McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well—relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy” (Krakauer, 55). Chris had the capability of escaping the society where he could go off on a journey to find himself. Chris is one of the few people out there that has the mindset of doing whatever it is to achieve his dream. Not many people in this world are able to do that especially if it is going out into the wild to fulfill your dream, maybe they will swim 50 miles in an ocean

It seemed like a normal day at the time, the sun was shining, the waves crashed on the shore, steady and reassuring. I did a lot of thinking that day. I thought of my future, of what I wanted to accomplish in life.Only now I realize that it wasn’t a normal day at all. It was the day I decided to graduate early.

When I think about the culture I come from, I immediately think about my Japanese and Filipino lineage. I also think about Hawaii, and how growing up there has shaped me today. This are only parts of the equation to my cultural identity. No matter what nationality or country you grow up in, each person is exposed to different ideals that mix in with their background culture. I would like to look at my cultural identity by looking at some traditions in Hawaii, the organizations I’ve been a part of, and my own unique personal identity. Each of these has played a role in shaping my own cultural identity.

White foam spreads across a carpet of clear blue. The carpet rises, and the foam curves off the back and crashes to the ground. It travels back across a desert of sand and repeats its actions. The morning sun meets the surface, bouncing off and chasing the reflection of the birds flying. Screams of excitement run past me, their bodies wading into the deep blue. Fiberglass skimming across the top, breaking the perfect surface. There was no looking back now. My heart jumps as i follow closely behind. My arms moving fast, diving deep into the warm liquid. Eager to get to the Hawaiian Dives. We start to slow, the sharp, brown rock, marks the bottoms of my feet as i run across. My hands grip onto the rock as i throw my body up to stand. You could see everything from up there.

America is often called the melting pot of cultures, welcoming various cultures and traditions, but the real gem that holds this title is located in the Pacific ocean. This place is called Hawaii and it is a place I am so proud to be from. The culturally diverse atmosphere of Hawaii has grown deep into my bones to become a part of what I am and what inspires me. From the rich languages that drift through this land to the many laughs and the smell of many mouthwatering foods that is carried through the air to various cultures and ethnicities blend together to create a beauty similar to the famous hawaiian sunsets. Seeing that Hawaii is such a diverse location it has introduced me to so many cultures I have fell in love with, many traditions

My family’s Native American heritage has influenced me by encouraging me to assist the poverty-stricken Lumbee community that I grew up in, whether that be by volunteering my time, energy, or resources. Growing up as a member of the Lumbee community, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that many Native American families face, including living paycheck to paycheck, being ridiculed for our heritage, and alcohol abuse in many households. My culture has instilled in me the desire to educate the youth to be proud of their heritage despite the derogatory stereotypes that people associate Native Americans with. Unlike many children I was raised with, I have the opportunity to go to college and become only the second person in my family to do

Growing up in an environment filled with a variety of cultures, there are words that mean different things and are used in different ways. In Hawaii, there is an official language, but there is also a slang language, “pidgin”, that was used during the era where sugar plantations were very popular. They created this language so that people of different ethnicities could communicate with one another as they traveled from other countries such as, Japan, China, Philippines, and Korea. Today, pidgin and the Native Hawaiian language are used amongst the locals allowing us to connect on another level by keeping our culture alive. Some words, however; have changed since ancestral times from something innocent to something derogatory and insulting. The word, “haole”, pronounced “hau-lay”, was used to describe Captain Cook and his men, today; this word is used to describe Caucasian people and is used as an insult amongst one another.

“I’m sorry Mommy, I promise I won’t do it again. Please forgive me.” this was all I could say. I had no excuse for my actions.

The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu (the star on the map shows where the capital is). People have a nickname for the state, they call it the “Aloha State” The current population for Hawaii is 1,360,301. It's pretty small compared to some of the mainland states. Hawaii is located at (21.3000°N, 157.8167°W). Honolulu is 4,957 miles from New York City. We acquired Hawaii in 1959. What happened was a group of sugar and pineapple businessmen, aided by the American minister to Hawaii and supported by U.S. soldiers and marines overthrew Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii. Two years later, the Republic of Hawaii was established as a U.S. territory making Hawaii our 50th state.

Maui, Hawaii, is a beautiful island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it’s an amazing vacation spot. Most families come to Maui for its island zipline, snorkeling with the sea turtles and riding horses through the island. A lot of people get married on Maui and stay there for there for their honeymoon.

I stood in the line that seemed to stretch for a mile long, cell phone in one hand, turkey leg in the other. Inch by inch, I slowly moved forward until I finally reached my destination: the famous Space Mountain roller coaster ride.

I am the middle child of sibling of 3. I Moved to Hawaii 1996. After 2 years, I moved to california Hawaii to go to school in 1998. I returned Oahu at 2005. I traveled a lot and have seen many countries. Therefor I am familiar with many cultuers and thire foods. I have never been married and have no kids. I have a 90 year old Grandma and two elderly aunts here Hawaii. I am obligated to take care of them when they need my help. I live in Kahal area. It is a very quiet neighborhood. We are surrounded with expensive houses and rich families. I have active lifestyle. I have been active my entire life. I enjoy outdoor activity, especially if it involves ocean and beach. I start swimming before walking, so Hawaii is perfect place for me. I played

I will start off by saying that I am writing about different aspects of Hawaiian culture. The first 2 aspects of the Hawaiian culture that I will be educating you about is the overall culture of the state and also, a little history on Hawaii. The state of Hawaii is valued to be very beautiful and to have great views of the vast landscape. The flower lei represents a welcome home gift from the islanders. It is there way of saying welcome you made it! You should never take it off in public, which is considered rude and dishonorable. There is also expert canoe builders and non-tool navigators. They know how to construct a sturdy boat to move resources or people. The non-tool navigators know the lay of the land. Using only the sun, the moon, and

Hawaii + Japan + New Jersey = Me, Nicole Aoki. This equation may seem strange and abnormal, but this is my life. With the combination of Hawaii and Japan for my childhood and transitioning to New Jersey into my adulthood, I have been molded and shaped into the person I have become today.