I’ve never been to Hawaii. It’s never really been an option honestly, I can barely afford a day trip to Seattle, let alone air fair to get myself out of state. However, in my head, I’ve always thought of Hawaii as one big resort, and never really considered what led to Hawaii becoming the 50th state. My sister and her husband just honeymooned there, and sent back beautiful pictures relaxing by the beach of the bright blue ocean, and wide open skies.

This week during class really made me think about what paradise really means. As a white American, I have every opportunity to just enjoy what Hawaii has to offer without any repercussion. I never thought about the land we have taken and claimed, or the fact that much of what is regularly enjoyed has been appropriated for a wealthy persons vacation. Most people want to sit back and relax on the beach, on land that was once someone else’s. Not only that, but for the longest time white missionaries, and western takeover led to the outlaw of teaching Hawaiian culture to young people in schools. Americans wanted to erase what made native Hawaiians themselves, while also using their culture for personal gain. Now everything is commodified and nothing is sacred.