Hawai’i Clout Chasing Needs to End: Credible Sourcing Matters

With one scroll, we have access to information about any place, culture, or community on demand. With the ease of access, most people generally feel informed —yet it is just as easy to fall into the trap of misinformation. Most of the time, people will settle for the first answer they find online, repeating it as fact without questioning its accuracy or origins. People on the internet can publish anything they want, making it difficult to discern what it truth and what is false. This is why it is important to find credible sources. Period.

This is especially true when it comes to cultures that are frequently misunderstood or misrepresented—like Hawaiʻi and the Kānaka (Native Hawaiian) community. Over the years (with it getting worser every year), I’ve witnessed countless examples of cultural appropriation and miseducation on social media. Content creators visit—or move to—Hawaiʻi for various reasons, spend most of their time and money in tourist spots (most of these don’t support local business that are  Kānaka owned btw), attend a few hula classes or “spiritual retreats” and suddenly speak as authorities on our sacred practices, land, and culture. They upload content that often misrepresents Hawaiian protocols and beliefs, sometimes unintentionally mocking or diluting the very culture they claim to honor.

Most times they also gloss over or completely ignore the struggles that locals in Hawai’i are facing – being unhoused, drug addiction, mental health needs, diaspora, unforgivable price gouging for everything, etc. – while also neglecting to give credit and feature the Kānaka that are actually doing the work in the community.

What Makes Information Credible?

This is why, if you feel the need to visit Hawai’i, you need to educate yourself on how to do so respectfully. The first step would be to seek out truly credible sources that can help prepare (educate) you for a visit or a move to Hawai’i. You need to take the time to seek out own voice creators—those who are part of the culture themselves and reputable sources. These individuals offer nuanced, lived experiences often lost when stories are filtered through outsiders or the lens of colonization.

Reducing misinformation and stereotypes, an accurate portrayal of the history and the ongoing affects of oppression, and combatting cultural appropriation, are all solid reasons to seek out credible sources.

You must be wondering, “well who should I be listening to then?” Practitioners within the lāhui who are doing the work—educators, farmers, weavers, kumu hula, and many others maintaining and sharing traditions with integrity should ALWAYS be the first place you go to. But researching is not enough – action is necessary. Support the local economy when you get there by shopping or giving back to Kānaka owned (when possible) businesses, volunteer for clean-ups or to replant indigenous plants, look for businesses that prioritize community well-being and protect the environment, and respect the land and ocean (basically – don’t be a dick and trash it). These are just tiny handful of things you should do if you want to truly be someone who supports Hawai’i.

How to Seek Real Information About Hawaiʻi

Ask yourself first, who benefits from putting information out there? Like who is telling the story and why are they telling it – are they looking to make money off of Hawai’i and the culture like so many do, are they giving back to the community, are they actively part of the lāhui, did they move to Hawai’i to find themselves and feel as if they can council you on what spiritual awakening they had – all things to ask. These will sometimes help in identifying credible sources.

Next, you’ll prioritize Native Voices by seeking out content and education from experts and creators who are Kānaka. Finally, you’ll support local businesses and organizations by seeking out people, organizations, or groups rooted in the Hawaiian community (Walmart ain’t it sis).

A Living Resource List

To help you get started, I’ll be sharing a curated list right HERE featuring reliable people, businesses, organizations, and teachers you can follow or support to find accurate information about Hawaiʻi. This list will frequently be updated, so I encourage you to visit it frequently.

Remember, most online content about Hawaiʻi, unless it comes from a knowledgeable source within the lāhui, it’s usually incomplete, inaccurate, or appropriated.