Off the News: Protecting the hula from hijacking



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A nascent coalition of kumu hula – Huamakahikina – has undertaken an ambitious mission, to control and protect Hawaii’s indigenous art form. They rightly view cultural appropriation, commercialism and outright misinterpretation as threats, and seek to be a clearinghouse for the presentation of the hula in the public, professional and commercial realms.

This is probably a tough climb, as the hula has become a staple of pop culture, but who better to carry the banner than accredited hula masters?

High-profile case of false COVID documents

The two travelers who signed up for the Hawaii Safe Travels portal using fake COVID-19 test documents may have done us a favor. Lazar Hayward Jr. and Raven Randle were captured after arriving in Lihue and returned to Los Angeles.

Turns out Hayward was a basketball star at Marquette University and a 2010 first-round pick for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is no longer a pro, but known enough for his story to make national news. It gets the word out about COVID-19 safety among potential scofflaws: don’t try to sneak into our islands.



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