In recent years, the issue of cultural appropriation has become a highly debated topic. Cultural appropriation is defined as taking elements from one culture and using them in a way that sacrifices their meaning or history. As graduation season arrives, one aspect in particular that has come under scrutiny is the tradition of wearing leis.
Lei is a Hawaiian term which refers to a garland made from flowers, leaves, shells or feathers.It holds significant cultural and emotional value for those who live on the islands. The lei represents love and respect – it can be given as a symbol of affection towards another person during special events such as graduations, weddings or funerals.
However, there are some people who criticize non-Hawaiians for wearing leis at graduations calling it inappropriate,cultural appropriation or disrespectful to Hawaiian culture.People feel that students wear them just because they look “cool” without understanding what they mean.
On the other hand,some believe that wearing lei shows appreciation for Hawaiian culture.Such individuals view Lei-giving as an age-old tradition customarily practiced on important occasions throughout Hawaii.Kimberly Robertson,a professor of multicultural education at San Diego State University,stated,”Wearing leis when graduating gives students here in California an opportunity to honor something about Polynesian culture.”She also added “it enhances their own celebration.”
Perhaps we need to look back into history where Native people were oppressed by settlers imposing their traditions & cultures on Indigenous Peoples.For centuries,colonizers have snatched indigenous things including clothes,beliefs,languages and even human remains.As white colonialism loomed first over native peoples,Learning traditional ways was prohibited.Native Hawaiians endured with this plight too undergoing political colonization- annexing its queen’s sovereignty.Hence,wearing Leis without any sensitivity towards it’s significance & purity might seem hurtful to Hawaiians.Research indicate that widespread commercialisation marginalises sacred values,is very exploitative ,strips away historical & cultural contexts and monetises aspects that should never be up-for-sale.
In a time where discussions on diversity are gaining momentum,Wearing lei at the graduation opens room for discussion about other cultures as well.More importantly,this tradition of wearing leis can act as an opportunity to learn from different cultures in an attempt to create a more accepting, respectful,and inclusive society.However,it stills centres around respecting the values rooted within it.
Moreover,no cultural issue stands alone; other factors influence Hawaiian wear and native identity. These include representation in political spaces,inclusion of native practices alongside economic gains A 2019 survey showed most Hawaiians believe a better understanding of culture would lead to less appropriation-suggesting it’s not wrong appreciating cultures different from your own.But re-educating oneself & inculcating respect ,history do play vital roles for appropriate appreciation.
In conclusion, while Hawaiian leis may look pretty, they carry immense meaning behind them.In order to avoid disrespecting the cultural significance associated with leis,students could consider learning about their history and customs before paying tribute through wearing lei.Communication between different communities regarding its issue,intent,historical value,preservation practices might just settle down any grievances arising due to concern over appropriation vs acculturation.It is possible having conversations surrounding customs and traditions while keeping both integrity and respect intact.
Cultural appropriation has become a highly debated topic in recent years. It refers to taking elements from one culture and using them in a way that sacrifices their meaning or history. As graduation season arrives, one aspect that has come under scrutiny is the tradition of wearing leis.
Lei is a Hawaiian term which refers to a garland made from flowers, leaves, shells or feathers. It holds significant cultural and emotional value for those who live on the islands. The lei represents love and respect – it can be given as a symbol of affection towards another person during special events such as graduations, weddings or funerals.
However, some people criticize non-Hawaiians for wearing leis at graduations calling it inappropriate,cultural appropriation or disrespectful to Hawaiian culture.People feel that students wear them just because they look “cool” without understanding what they mean.
On the other hand,some believe that wearing lei shows appreciation for Hawaiian culture.Such individuals view Lei-giving as an age-old tradition customarily practiced on important occasions throughout Hawaii.Kimberly Robertson,a professor of multicultural education at San Diego State University,stated,”Wearing leis when graduating gives students here in California an opportunity to honor something about Polynesian culture.”She also added “it enhances their own celebration.”
The issue of cultural appropriation becomes critical when we consider how colonialism played out across different cultures worldwide.The colonizers have snatched indigenous things including clothes,beliefs,languages,and even human remains.As white colonialism loomed over native peoples,Learning traditional ways was prohibited.Native Hawaiians also underwent political colonization- annexing its queen’s sovereignty.Hence,wearing Leis without any sensitivity towards its significance & purity might seem hurtful to Hawaiians.Research indicates that widespread commercialization marginalizes sacred values,is very exploitative ,strips away historical & cultural contexts,and monetizes aspects indicating disassociation with true meanings attached.
In a time where discussions on diversity are gaining momentum,wearing lei at the graduation opens room for discussion about other cultures as well. More importantly, this tradition of wearing leis can act as an opportunity to learn from different cultures in an attempt to create a more accepting, respectful and inclusive society.However,it stills centers around respecting the values rooted within it.
Moreover,no cultural issue stands alone; other factors influence Hawaiian wear and native identity. These include representation in political spaces,inclusion of native practices alongside economic gains A 2019 survey showed most Hawaiians believe a better understanding of culture would lead to less appropriation-suggesting it’s not wrong appreciating cultures different from your own.But re-educating oneself & inculcating respect ,history do play vital roles for appropriate appreciation.
In conclusion, while Hawaiian leis may look pretty, they carry immense meaning behind them.In order to avoid disrespecting the cultural significance associated with leis,students could consider learning about their history and customs before paying tribute through wearing lei.Communication between different communities regarding its issue,intent,historical value,preservation practices might just settle down any grievances arising due to concern over appropriation vs acculturation.It is possible having conversations surrounding customs and traditions while keeping both integrity and respect intact.”