Giving your children Hawaiian names when they are not Hawaiian...
This thread has been closed and archived.
This discussion is public.
Original Post
I'm Hawaiian--very easy going, laid back, not much fazes me (ask my friends and co-workers), yet this bugs the heck out of me. I have met people with Hawaiian names that neither have a clue of the meaning behind them, or an ounce of Hawaiian blood. I've met parents who say, "Oh, I liked the name," without knowing the meaning behind it, and I want to scream.
I and all my siblings were giving our Hawaiian names by our grandmother, and we cherish them.
Oh, and living in Hawaii doesn't make one Hawaiian, just like living in Boston doesn't make me a Bostonian. I am Hawaiian, born and raised. Proud to be Hawaiian.
Sure, it's a free country, and we can name our kids anything we want. But it's something about my Hawaiian heritage and PRIDE--maybe because there are so few of us,compared to the rest of the world's races--that makes me want to keep everything Hawaiian (names, included) to and within the Hawaiian race.
I'm married to an Irishman, and our children have American, Gaelic, as well as Hawaiian names.
I'll probably get a lot of flack for this, but it is what it is.
Posted at 11:30am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
Responses
I think it shouldn't matter where the names come from as long as you know the meaning.
These names you encounter, are they even the correct Hawaiian spelling?
Posted at 11:32am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
we are all entitled to our opinions
personally i have never understood being proud of something (like heritage, sex, race) that you have no control over...not saying people shouldn't feel proud of that stuff...just saying i don't understand it
i'm proud of my accomplishments, etc...things i have actually had to DO...i'm not proud of the fact that my parents had sex and here i am (not ashamed of it ...it's just a non issue for me)
my heritage is largely dutch
i could really care less if people wanna name their kids with dutch names
or any other names for that matter
words and names can be very beautiful and i can understand seeing the beauty in all sorts of different names
Posted at 11:33am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
Who really gives a flap what ppl name their kids, seriously!
Posted at 11:35am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
I guess your children's name will stand out more and they will be able to share the meanings with people.
Posted at 11:37am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
i crack up when i hear all the public outrage at some of the names celebs give their kids
seriously
who cares if gwyneth paltrow names her kid "Apple"
why is it important?
why are people so judgemental?
Posted at 11:38am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
I think if we all named our kids based on the meanings there are a lot of names out there that wouldn't be used at all.
Posted at 11:39am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
well you certainly have some strong feelings on the subject.
I do think it is a good idea to know the meaning of the name you give your child.
Posted at 11:40am Jun 10, 2008 EDT
It is fine for you to feel strongly about it, but people are going to do what people want to do.
Posted at 11:43am Jun 10, 2008 EDT