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"We Are Not What You Think": Hawaiian Cultural Memory, Group Identity and Resistance in Hula: A Novel
Evers, Jens
Evers, Jens
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Abstract
Hula: A Novel by Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes narrates the story of three generations of Naupaka family women between the 1960s and 1990s. I intend to analyze the ways in which the novel employs cultural memory as counter-myth to challenge exclusionary discourse about Hawaiian history, and the image of Hawai’i as tourist destination. The narrative reaffirms Hawaiian linguistic identity that is tied to place and memory, as the narrator transcends the individual and unites the people with Hawai’i as a place - a place that constitutes an entity and that roots the inhabitants of Hilo, HI. Thus, the role of Hawaiians as caretakers of the land, and the inextricable connections between land, culture, and its people, is emphasized. Hula negotiates the lasting effects of US imperialism and how it has compromised Hawaiian ways of life both materially and immaterially. The novel contributes to the formation of cultural memory by drawing on the tradition of hula performances and storytelling to represent Hawaiian identity, reemphasizing cultural understandings that differ from census categories and imposed “blood quantum” requirements. My analysis further highlights the connections between genre, narrative situation and cultural memory. I argue that the narrative situation contributes to turning the novel into counter-myth, as it inverts power structures, while reinforcing a sense of self and group identity. The narrative re-establishes a common shared foundation and exposes the hypocrisy of legislation, while establishing clear boundaries to outside groups.
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This is the paper from a presentation given at the MELUS 2025 conference held in Los Angeles, CA on 04/03/2025.
Date
2025-04-03
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University of Kansas
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EversJ_2025.pdf
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Keywords
Cultural memory, Collective identity, Historical fiction, Counter-narrative, Hawai'i