×
×
homepage logo

Ha‘ina Hou to feature ‘Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii’

By Staff | Jun 6, 2013

“Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii” explores the language of Hawaii’s working people in its rise from plantation jargon to a source of island identity and pride.

LAHAINA – Explore Lahaina’s unique history with Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s “Ha’ina Hou-Let the Story be Told” at the Baldwin Home Museum lawn on Friday, June 14, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

LRF will present the film “Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii” by Marlene Booth and Kanalu Young.

Born on sugar plantations, Pidgin was spoken by more than half of Hawaii’s population.

Consisting of part English, part Hawaiian, along with pieces of Chinese, Japanese and Tagalog, Pidgin captures the essence of multiethnic Hawaii.

“Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii” is a one-hour documentary profiling the language of Hawaii’s working people in its rise from plantation jargon to a source of island identity and pride.

In the 1920s, English Standard Schools and government funded public schools refused to admit Pidgin-speaking children, fueling an anti-Pidgin and anti-Asian sentiment and leaving a legacy of shame in speaking Pidgin.

This film charts the 1970s rebirth of Native Hawaiian culture and its inspiration on Pidgin speakers to take pride in their language.

This movement led to many “Pidgin” projects, including many best-selling novels written with Pidgin dialogue, and a Certificate in Pidgin and Creole Studies program at the University of Hawaii.

Pidgin continues to live on and leave its mark forever on Hawaii.

In addition, the popular candlelit tour of the Baldwin Home Museum will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The museum is located on the corner of Front and Dickenson streets.

The $7 fee includes admission to the Wo Hing Museum at 858 Front St. Children 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult are free.

Ha’ina Hou is a free monthly program held in conjunction with Lahaina’s Second Friday Town Party.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, contact Lahaina Restoration Foundation at 661-3262 or visit www.lahainarestoration.org.