Hau‘oli Lā Ho‘omaika‘i – Happy Thanksgiving | Mana‘o Ulu Wale

Hau‘oli Lā Ho‘omaika‘i – Happy Thanksgiving

November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving is one of the occasions that has always given me pause. The thought of my horse knowing the way through the white and drifting snow sounds awesome. Every Hawai‘i kid would love to go careening through a snow covered landscape (or how about just seeing real snow for once). And, the annual turkey feast is not to be missed – of course with some obligatory island add-ons like fresh ahi and my mother’s Portagee sausage stuffing. I love spending this time with my family.

However, the pilgrim story is another matter. As a Hawaiian (native I mean versus hailing from the state), the celebration of one people’s survival at the expense of another seems rather disloyal.

Therefore, instead of donning doublet and breeches, I have chosen to pour my ambivalence into the greatest of American’s pastimes – television. Where else can the horrors of the human experience be served up so proudly with pratfalls and canned laughter?

So, with a nod to Sarah Vowell, author of the hilarious puritan exposé The Worthy Shipmates and voice of Violet Incredible, here are a few holiday memories to brighten the day.