Tattooing In Hawaii, Blending Hawaiian Culture & Art with Kelii Makua | Culturised Live

[@dawesome873]

I love the background and cultural information here. I came from aesthetic tattooing to Japanese hand done pieces under hori and have been in awe of the cultural and historical importance of tattooing since. Thanks for all of the simple and clear explanations for outsiders.

[@Culturised]

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[@josephKEOarthur]

@@Culturised subscribed and did that bell 🛎 alarm Thingiverse .

[@dylansinclair4116]

Thanks for the interesting conversation and perspectives. Really cool and interesting to me to hear the perspective of someone of a mixed culture background connecting so intensely with his culture especially after growing up stateside. Growing up close friends with a Hawaiian family in rural Idaho as a child and watching my friends move back to Hawaii to connect with their culture as well, this was a very interesting overall discussion for me to take in.

[@PakeSalmon]

Yeah Cuz!

[@cz7693]

Hey guys.... Does anybody knows who replaced Kelii Makua since he's not tapping anymore ? I would like to come down to get some tattoos ... Thanks

[@MauiKahiapo]

No one "replaced" Keli'i, but Kawika Au is another one of Keone Nunes Haumana that you can contact about getting work done. Otherwise, Kai from this video is also performing work.

[@cz7693]

Thank you !

[@sionemanupunafunaki8512]

Very interesting interview and mahalo for the 'ike. I would push back however and I think greater conversations need to be had about 'awa and Kahu Keli'i's ideas and beliefs, all of our beliefs actually surrounding 'awa. I found it highly problematic the comments about the plastic buckets, but I understand the sentiment. My work involves kava and I come from a culture steeped in kava culture unbroken and also ever changing. I think however, we as Kanaka need to address this issue about cultural authenticity. Does drinking out of a plastic bowl or bucket make you less respectful, cultural, less of a Hawaiian or a Polynesian even? What of those who use plastic buckets out of necessity? If that's the case than why is it that those performing 'awa ceremonies wearing cotton fibre kiheis and malo? Why are many Hawaiian 'awa ceremonies done out of bowls that are shaped in the style of Tonga, Samoan, and Fijian bowls and often using kava from Tonga, Fiji, and Vanuatu? Does it make those ceremonies now less authentic? My father belongs to a kalapu kava Tonga, one of hundreds of kalapu spread throughout the United States and Hawai'i (which by the way has over 30 official kalapu (kava clubs) ranging in area, membership, and generation), and while he and his club do not use a wooden kava bowl, their cultural identity is nonetheless unquestionable. All of their 30-40+ members speak Tonga, were born in Tonga, go to Tongan churches, and to relative extent practice their Tongan culture. Does it make their kava culture less than because they choose to use a plastic bowl? Or is it practical since wooden bowls in Utah do not last very long with the extreme heat and cold causing many kava bowls to crack significantly, sharing from personal experience. Also wooden bowls are expensive and those with the knowledge of carving Tongan styled kava bowls are not found in Utah for the most part or other parts of the continent so they make do with what they have. I think we need to question as well what does 'awa drinking in our culture look like today and how was it being practiced in the times past. Was it limited to ceremony? If so what does that mean? Is ceremony only when get a kahu, ali'i, etc.? What about all the stories of Kane and Kanaloa drinking kava not in a ceremonial setting with chiefs, attendants, etc. , but just the two of them enjoying, talking, and sanctifying spaces. Many define ceremony as repeated actions that bring an emotional connection. Others define ceremony as practices that act as social theatre that teaches societal values and norms. Where ceremony can also be seen as practices that have a roll in strengthening social connections in particular groups. If that's the case, many of these "inauthentic" mixing groups are practicing ceremony then because they use it to connect to each other. Mixing groups like the traditional Tongan kalapu around the island or mixing groups like the La'ie Boys/Girls use their connections in the mix to support each other's financial and cultural needs with weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc. While I respect the 'ike and knowledge presented here, I think we need to understand what culture means to some has different meaning for others. Sure there is abuse as well of 'awa, just look at the kava bars, there already the association with alcohol causes negative connotations. There is a lot more to this conversation about 'awa that needs to be had, but all in all to limit our use of 'awa as only for "ceremony" limits our ability to interpret and express our culture in ways that actually do fit in with our 'ike kupuna, we have just become obsessed almost with this idea of one authentic way. I thought, 'a'ole pau ka 'ike i ka halau ho'okahi, pela no a i 'ole 'a'ole?

[@ephemerio]

I love Polynesian and Japanese style tattoos but me being white I’m kinda second guessing getting them because a lot of people are going to try and say I’m “culturally appropriating” the cultures when I just want to express their art and keep the tradition going😕 I don’t know maybe I should just say Fck em