Book SummaryLocal, by Jessica Machado

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Local

The native inhabitants of Hawaii's past practiced traditions and held sacred beliefs.

Machado delves into the deep connection that Hawaii's native people share with their environment, highlighting how their history, spirituality, and cultural traditions are deeply interwoven. Their spiritual rituals, which emphasize the inseparable unity of mind, body, and spirit, are shaped by their understanding of this connection. However, she further emphasizes that the imposition of colonial governance and the missionary endeavors to propagate Christian beliefs have resulted in ongoing cultural and psychological turmoil, which still affects the self-perception of Hawaiians in contemporary times.

The deep connection the Kanaka Maoli have with the earth and its natural aspects is essential to their religious views and outlook on existence.

The 'āina, held sacred by the Kanaka Maoli, goes beyond mere physical existence, encapsulating the essence of their forebears, teeming with life, and is deeply intertwined with their spiritual beliefs. Machado describes this bond as a fundamental factor shaping their interaction with elements of nature such as volcanoes, mountains, seas, and heavenly entities. The author explores the tale of Pele, the volcanic deity, whose volcanic activity symbolizes destruction and birth, emphasizing the natural power and highlighting the native inhabitants' responsibility to preserve its equilibrium.

The spiritual traditions of the Kanaka Maoli, which were comprehensive, mirrored the deep bond that the community had with the land. Hula goes beyond simple dance, acting as a storytelling form that communicates the spirit of elements such as the wind, the land, and the sea, creating a connection that brings together the dancers with their ancestors and the planet. Lomilomi massage, a therapeutic tradition inherited across generations, incorporates pule (prayer) and tactile interaction to facilitate the expulsion of stress and detrimental energies, highlighting the unity of mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. Machado highlights the demonization and suppression of these practices, which were intrinsically connected to the natural environment, by Western powers intent on enforcing their own perspective.

The sacred song of creation from Hawaii, called the Kumulipo, depicts the hallowed birth of existence from the realm of the unseen.

The author delves into the cosmic viewpoints of Hawaii's indigenous people by analyzing their ancestral creation hymn, which is recognized as the Kumulipo. The ancestral chant uncovers a worldview in which existence springs from obscurity, unfolding in intertwined strata, where every component supports and sustains the subsequent one. Machado elucidates that the Kumulipo charts the ancestry of the Kanaka Maoli while concurrently detailing their responsibility to maintain the equilibrium of the environment. The core belief firmly embeds the notion that the sacredness of the natural world is intimately connected to every aspect of Kanaka Maoli existence.

Context

• It was composed in the 18th century and is attributed to the high chief Keaulumoku, serving as a genealogical prayer for King Kalaniʻōpuʻu.
• The "realm of the unseen" refers to the primordial darkness from which life emerges. In many Polynesian cultures, darkness is not negative but a fertile space of potential and creation.
• The idea of existence emerging from obscurity reflects a philosophical understanding that life and the universe are born from chaos or the unknown, a common theme in many indigenous and ancient cultures.
• The Kumulipo contains both mythological and historical elements, blending stories of gods and natural phenomena with the genealogies of chiefs, thus serving as a historical document as well as a spiritual guide.
• The chant uses symbolic language and metaphors to convey complex ideas about creation, interdependence, and the cyclical nature of life, reflecting a holistic worldview.
• In Hawaiian culture, the concept of mālama ʻāina, meaning to care for and nurture the land, is a fundamental principle. It emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature.
• Many Kanaka Maoli spiritual beliefs are rooted in the idea that gods and spirits inhabit natural elements like mountains, rivers, and oceans. This belief system fosters a deep respect for the environment as a sacred space.

The lomilomi massage, a key component of the indigenous Hawaiian healing practices, emphasizes the interconnectedness of mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Machado explores the deep-seated spiritual practices of Kanaka Maoli, highlighting their customary massage technique and native dance as key examples of their holistic cultural expression. She emphasizes the importance of hula, often misperceived as simple amusement, as a powerful storytelling tradition that embodies the indigenous Hawaiian people's profound bond with nature. The intricate sequence of movements and expressions captures the spirit of the breeze, the ocean,...

Local Summary The impact of colonialism endures in Hawaii, affecting the indigenous population known as the Kanaka.

Machado thoroughly exposes the ruinous impact of colonialism on the native people, illustrating the array of strategies and regulations that stripped the Kanaka Maoli of their traditional lands, undermined their autonomy, and disrupted the bonds within their communities. She exposes the two-faced nature of the colonizers who, under the guise of being benefactors, looted the Kanaka Maoli's resources, highlighting the lasting effects of this exploitation on both the native people and the natural surroundings.

The Great Mahele and various colonial tactics deprived the indigenous people of Hawaii of their ancestral lands and eroded their self-governance.

Machado emphasizes the Great Māhele of 1848 as a pivotal moment that led to the erosion of the land rights of the indigenous Hawaiian community and the weakening of their autonomous governance. Colonial powers exploited the unclear concept of land-ownership in Kanaka Maoli culture, thereby undermining the strategy intended to reallocate land and ostensibly grant landholding privileges to the makaʻāinana. The outcome led to the vast acquisition of land by haole elites, which resulted in the Kanaka Maoli being estranged from the...

Local Summary The author delves into her identity and reignites her connection with her native Hawaiian heritage.

Machado intertwines her individual narratives with an examination of Hawaii's heritage and traditions. She narrates the difficulties of harmonizing her indigenous Hawaiian roots with the weak connection her father had to his lineage and her mother's deep assimilation into the traditions of Hawai'i's local society. The author contends with the tension between long-time inhabitants and newcomers, alongside her personal move to the mainland and complex family relationships, contributing to her sense of displacement and her journey to discover her true belonging.

Jessica Machado's upbringing in Hawaii was shaped by the interplay of her mixed ancestry and the cultural interactions between the indigenous population and newcomers.

As a woman of mixed heritage, half Caucasian and half indigenous to Hawaii, Machado explores the complex journey of establishing her identity within a Hawaiian culture that values diversity yet also contends with subtle tensions between the native inhabitants and those from outside. She observes the subtle and at times overt complexities of cultural and racial identities in everyday exchanges, which include the shared humor that brings people together...

Local Summary Trauma encompasses the processes of mourning and recovery.

Throughout the book, Machado explores the individual journeys of sorrow, loss, and healing, connecting these narratives to the extensive historical background of the Native Hawaiian community. She examines how unresolved trauma can manifest in physical and emotional distress, leading to destructive coping mechanisms and a sense of disconnection from oneself and others. She delves into the lasting effects of colonialism's harsh legacy on Hawaiian society, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and addressing these deep-seated wounds to promote recovery among individuals and throughout the broader community.

The author's mother struggled with unresolved emotional traumas, burdened by profound shame, while she contended with ongoing health challenges and disabilities until her death.

Machado connects her mother's declining health, marked by constant suffering, disabling ailments, and an ultimate struggle with cancer, to the continuous emotional distress and humiliation that weighed on her for her entire existence. The author reveals a troubling secret within her family: during the 1960s in the Southern United States, her mother, at a tender age, had to give up a child for...