#loo choo

For context, some friends and I were hoping to meet up via zoom last night to study and practice ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi together. We are trying to meet up regularly to practice and encourage each other. Our goal for this week was to polish our ho'olauna (introductions). Unfortunately, we had to cancel/reschedule. But I've challenged myself to practice speaking every day (and not just practice my reading/writing comprehension), even if itʻs just for a few minutes. So.....

I recorded myself practicing and ya'll get to be my accountability buddies this time.

I've been learning 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi online since this summer. One challenge I face no matter what language I speak (even English) is overcoming my social anxieties. I often freeze and/or nervously fumble over my words, particularly in group settings. Of course, this increases the less familiar I am with the language and/or culture. What fun! Aaaand Zoom classes tend to bump the dial up several notches and send my anxiety soaring through the roof. The emotional landscape of the state of the world certainly doesnʻt help either! So, Iʻm trying to make concerted efforts outside of class to help me lean into the challenges of learning online and my own discomfort. So, here we are...

Please note, this isn't my formal or more traditional ho'olauna but this is my effort to stretch and try to finds ways to speak to some of the many questions that often come up whenever I have to introduce myself, particularly when it comes to where I am "from"... Spoiler alert: I am a multi-ethnic Shimanchu, born on the island of Uchinaa but raised in the diaspora. You can call me Okinawan /  Uchinaanchu or Ryukyuan / LooChooan but please know that I am NOT Japanese. Being given Japanese citizenship at birth does not erase the violent overthrow of our Kingdom and ongoing illegal occupation of the Loo Choo islands.  No matter how much the Japanese government has tried to kill and/or beat or erase Shimanchu and the rich history and culture of the Loo Choo Kingdom, they cannot take away the blood that runs through my veins and the pride I hold in my heart for all of the gifts and lessons my ancestors have passed down to me.

Also, much like trying to learn my own heritage languages like Uchinaaguchi or Chahta Anumpa, it can be challenging to find folks who are both willing and able to practice indigenous languages, thanks to colonialism and the intergenerational trauma and institutional erasure or other barriers it creates/created. But I have been truly inspired by innovative and empowering ways indigenous brothers/sisters/siblings across the globe are leveraging technology to heal, connect, and overcome these hurdles, especially during these times of social distancing. (I mean, have yʻall been on TikTok??) So, here's my attempt to use technology to break down some of these barriers while also confronting some of my fears. Who knows...maybe itʻll inspire someone else to tackle some of your own fears, transform the way you think about technology, ....or perhaps (hopefully!) it'll make you pause to think about our individual and collective responsibility to decolonize ourselves and our communities and to honor the lands we call home - and the indigenous / aboriginal / First Nations peoples of the lands where we live - wherever in the world we find ourselves. (OK, gonna stop there for now before I start ranting about Asian Settler Colonialism, but consider this me lovingly calling in all Shimanchu here in Hawaiʻi to join me...)