Pusong Pinoy
Ehra Louise Guiwa | Maui High School, Class of 2028
Being Filipino and growing up in Hawai‘i we get a blend of different cultures, traditions and lifestyles seeping into our own. It’s like experiencing the Philippines without even having to fly to our sacred Motherland. Stories of livelihoods, hardships and family are passed to us by lolas, lolos, Titas, Titos and even our own parents, for generations to come. The legacy of being Filipino runs through our blood and many of our fellow Filipinos carry it deeply in their hearts. It does not matter what percentage of Filipino you are nor does it affect this tight-knit community, immersed in Aloha, making being Filipino-American such a blessing.
All of us have different experiences growing up yet the strong sense of community is what we share. A student from Baldwin High School, Sadie-Lei Deocares, expresses how growing up in Hawai‘i is special to her: “We have a huge community here filled with generations of Filipinos in Hawai‘i that makes me feel like I belong!” Hawai‘i is home to more than 370,000 Filipinos who have carried the spirit of home miles away. Similarly, another student from Baldwin High School, Landon Dela Cruz adds “It’s interesting to see how Filipino culture mixes with Hawaiian culture.” Over the years, Filipino Culture has impacted Hawai‘i in many different ways; a common example is through its food. Local dishes such as Chicken Papaya and Chicken Long Rice have their Filipino counterparts: Sotanghon and Tinola. Not to mention house-party staples like pancit and lumpia. This is derived from many generations of Filipinos who have contributed to the building of local culture.
A Maui High School student, Alvis Agader comments “Being Filipino in Hawai‘i is different than Filipino in the Philippines or even on the mainland. I’m proud of Filipino people who take up important roles like doctors, cops, lawyers, teachers and coaches.” In its earliest days, Filipino laborers, often called Sakadas, made up the largest workforce behind Hawai‘i’s sugar plantations and have now led them to become professionals in numerous career fields. Although representation of our culture in the media has remained low, this motivates many of our youth to strive high in hopes of inspiring those in the future.
Cailyn Paa, a sophomore at Maui High School shares “It has also given me a strong sense of belonging and identity that is hard to come by, especially when you are only half of that group ethnically.” Mixed-race children often fall into an identity crisis; some feel they are not enough of either ethnicity. To Cailyn, “The Filipino community here is so rich in culture and lets me experience and learn things I wouldn’t be able to anywhere else.” This creates a balance between her Korean and Filipino heritage. During my childhood, I’ve moved from Maui to California many times but with every return to this beautiful island, it made me appreciate how surrounded I felt by its community. With many events happening in society, we lose ourselves in constant worrying, forgetting why most of us call this island home in the first place.
Cailyn shares “Being around so many different people from so many different backgrounds exposed me to diversity at a young age.” Diversity brings us closer in Hawai‘i; our differences do not stand in the way of unity. The teaching of Aloha is a vital core value; it is a huge part of life “a lot of people don’t get to experience,” Sadie comments. While Landon expresses his love for the land around him, “the nature makes it stand out to me. After finally traveling outside the state, I notice many other places have larger cities with many buildings, which makes me appreciate living in Hawai‘i, where things are calmer.”
As the idea of moving away from Hawai‘i becomes a hot topic surrounding its community, this column serves as a daily reminder to think about what in Hawai‘i stands out to you.
Google® Is Not Everything…… is a monthly column authored by high school students. The column’s title emphasizes that education is more than just googling a topic. Google® is a registered trademark. This month’s guest columnist is Ehra Louise Guiwa, a Sophomore at Maui High School. She is the President of Sabers of Law (Maui High’s Mock Trial Club), one of the Executive Vice Presidents for Student Government, Historian in the Key Club, and a student of eskrima under Doce Pares Multi-Style Hawaii. Ehra Louise is in the Law and Public Safety pathway at Maui High and aspires to be a U.S Senator. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, baking, volunteering at church, spending time with family and friends, and exploring. She is the only daughter of Merlyn Guiwa and Reymund Guiwa.