FANCY DANCE

And Remembering Béla Tarr

Kathleen Norris on THE MISSING AND MURDERED

People in Hawaii have coined a term, “haole-splain,” referring to the way white newcomers to the islands often take it upon themselves to explain Hawaiian culture and history to natives (both native-born whites and the indigenous). Sometimes good intentions lead to historically inaccurate and offensive absurdity, as when a pastor recently arrived from the U. S. Mainland assumes he’s honoring the Hawaiian royal family by having scripture read in pidgin English. Pidgin originated on Hawaiian plantations in the 19th century, giving workers who spoke different languages a common tongue. But it was not employed by King Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma, Queen Liliuokalani, or Queen Kapiolani, who were friends of Queen Victoria and spoke and wrote eloquent English. Kamehameha IV translated the Anglican Book of Common Prayer into Hawaiian; it would not have occurred to him to put it into pidgin.