Hawaiian Renaissance

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.

The term Hawaiian Renaissance (also often called the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance) refers to a Hawaiian movement to develop a distinct cultural identity that draws upon Hawaiian cultural traditions.

It is generally considered to have started in 1970, and drew from similar cultural movements from the late 60s and early 70s. It is mostly known from music, such as Gabby Pahinui and his work with the Sons of Hawaii, or Keola and Kapono Beamer's traditionalist slack-key music. It's also associated with a renewed interest in Hawaiian language, Pidgin, Hula, Traditional Hawaiian Crafts, Hawaiian Studies, and other cultural items.

Polynesian Voyaging is also known as the most important issue about Hawaiian Renaissance.In 1975, An Anthropologist from San-Diego built a replica of Ancient Polynesian Voyaging Canoe. The vessel Hokule'a and the re-invented navigation technique("Wayfinding") by Nainoa Thompson is now a big icon of the native Polynesian culture.

The movement sometimes touches upon politics, including issues dealing with Native Hawaiians and restoration of Hawaiian independence.

The Hawaiian Renaissance is usually located during the 1970s, although others refer to it as a still-contemporary movement.