Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2026

Document Type

Research Paper

Department

Whittier Scholars Program

First Advisor

Dr. Douglas Manuel

Abstract

In the attempt to better understand the grounds for the generation culture disconnect of identity in Native Hawaiians, I study the diaspora of my people. Diaspora is the dispersion of people from their native lands. I find interest in this aspect of my people because the most common studies blame our dispersion on socioeconomic status and as a Native Hawaiian that wishes to do more for her people, I want to express that while it plays a part that there is a disconnection between the social actions and reactions of Hawaiʻi’s people. Common questions that I find unanswered are, why do we tear down engagement within the language? Where does the disconnect lie? What adds to the disconnect? Are Hawaiians really leaving Hawaiʻi only because of the socioeconomic impacts? What else are we missing? In my study and research around this topic, I find common themes of lateral violence and ethnocentrism within the experiences of Native Hawaiians and other native people. But one of my biggest questions is why are we doing this to ourselves? By whose standards are you Hawaiian? And can you be Hawaiian outside of Hawaiʻi? I seek to answer these questions with the study and analysis throughout my project.

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