Glossary Language and Terminology Usage Hawaiian and subsequent immigrant group native languages— i.e, words, terms, and cultural concepts other than proper nouns— are italicized throughout, followed by their definition, to call readers’ attention to the indigenous or immigrant usages and meanings that are common in Hawai'i but are not necessarily familiar to audiences beyond these Islands. Hawaiian word spellings and definitions that are included in the text are taken from Pukui and Elbert’s Hawaiian Dictionary, versions. 1o7t and 1986.1 Words and Terms Accommodation. A process by which people change their behavior to be ‘more similar to that ofthe people with whom they are interacting: the process by which existing mental structures and behaviors are ‘modified to adapt to new experiences. Acculturation. The exchange of cultural features that results when ‘groups of individuals having different cultures come into contin- ‘ous contact. This transfer of customs is a two-way process; that is, ‘each group of immigrants contributes some cultural traits to its new society ‘Anomie. A sociological term meaning “personal feeling of a lack of 223Glossary ‘norms; normlessness” Its a process that describes the breakdown of social norms and values. Assimilation, A. sociopolitical response to demographic multiethnicity that promotes the absorption of ethnic minorities into the domi- nant culture. Assimilation usually involves a gradual change and takes place in varying degrees; full assimilation occurs when ‘new members of a society become indistinguishable from older members. Bicultural, Biculturalism involves two originally distinct cultures in some form of coexistence. Biopsychosocial, A model that posits how biological, psychological, and social factors all play a significant role in human functioning, ust- ally in the context of health or illness. The biological component seeks to understand how the cause ofthe iliness stems from the fanctioning ofthe individual's body. The psychological component Jooks fo potential psychological causes, suchas lack of self-control, emotional turmoil, and negative thinking. The social component investigates how different factors such as socioeconomic status, culture, poverty technology, and religion can influence health (Caucasian (or White). A term that usually refers to human beings char- acterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin. A common definition of a white person is a person of primarily, or ‘wholly, European ancestry. Colonialism. The building and maintaining of colonies in one territory by people based in another. It consists ofa process whereby sover- cignty over the colony is claimed by the colonialsts who impose @ nnew government and often a new social structure and economy. It can also take the form of subjugation of a minority culture by a majority culture, both of whom exist in the same location. Colo- nialism involves unequal relationships between colonists and the indigenous population. Neocolonialism refers to a kind of unofli- al colonization in which a country’s government is overthrown by a larger country and replaced by a government that coincides with the larger country’s interest. Culture, The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and behaviors that characterizes a group. Culture incorporates the patterns of human activity within a society and the symbolic structures that give such, activity significance, Customs, laws, popular styles, social stan- Glossary 25 dards, and traditions are all examples of cultural elements. Cultural identity is the sense of self that is influenced by belonging to a particular cultural group. Bihnic Group/Bilnicity/Ethnic Identification, An ethnic group isa group ‘of people whose members identify with each other through a com- ‘mon cultural heritage. This shared heritage goes beyond race or physical characteristics and may be based upon ancestry, history, kinship, religion, language, shared territory, or nationality. Mem- bers of an ethnic group are conscious of their ethnicity, moreover, ethic identity is further marked by the recognition from others of a group's distinctiveness. Globatization. Globalization refers to a process by which regional econ- ‘omies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade. ‘The term is sometimes used to refer specifically to economic slobalization, though it is usually recognized as being driven by 4 combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, politi- cal, and biological factors. The term can also refer to the transna- tional circulation of ideas, languages, ot popular culture through acculturation, ‘Haole. Early Hawaiians used this term to refer to any foreigner. It is now defined by Merriam-Webster’ Collegiate Dictionary (2003) as “one ‘who is not descended from the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Hawaii: especially WHITE” In this book itis used to describe Euro-Americans, particulary in chapters 1 and 2 (see chapter 2 for a complete discussion of the term). For Hawai'i residents of Euro- pean descent, the terms “Euro-American’ or “Anglo-American” are rarely used, noris the term “wiite” (although this is the preferred term used in federal reports published by the U.S. government) Rather, the term “haole” is most often used in conversation to ‘mean “white,” while the term “Caucasian” is more frequently used ‘in written expression. ‘Hapa Haole. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (2003) offers this definition: “of part white ancestry or origin; especially: of white and Hawaiian ancestry” It is sometimes used today to describe a per- son who is part-Caucasian and partAsian or Pacific Islander. ‘Memes. A meme is a unit of cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through waiting,326 Glossary speech, gestures, rituals, o other imitable phenomena, Supporters ‘of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes, in that they selfeplicate and follow evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. (Multiculturalism. The acceptance or promotion of multiple ethnic cul- tures applied to the demographic makeup of a specific place. AS a descriptive term, multiculturalism has been taken to refer to cul- tural diversity. It implies a positive endorsement, even celebration, ‘of communal diversity, typically based on either the right of differ. ‘ent groups to respect and recognition or to the alleged benefits to the larger society of moral and cultural diversity. Race. Race refers to the categorization of humans into populations ‘or ancestral groups on the basis of heritable characteristics. The physical features commonly seen as indicating race are visual traits ‘such as skin color, cranial or facial features, and hair texture. Con- ceptions of race and racial classifications are often controversial for scientific as well as social and political reasons. Many scientists have pointed out that traditional definitions of race are imprecise and arbitrary, and have many exceptions and many gradations, and that the numbers of races delineated vary according to the culture making the racial distinctions. The controversy ultimately revolves around whether or not the socially constructed and perpetuated beliefs regarding race are biologically warranted. Thus, those rejecting the notion of race typically do so on the grounds that such categorizations are contradicted by the results of genetic research. Sociocultural. An umbella term for combined theories of cultural and social evolution that aims to describe how cultures and societies have developed over time. Sociocultural theories typically provide ‘models for understanding the relationship between technologies, social structure, the beliefs values, and goals ofa society, and how and why they change with time. Westernization. A process whereby societies come under or adopt the Western culture in such matters as industry, technology, law, politics, economics, lifestyle, diet, language, religion, philosophy, and values. Westernization can be related to the process of accul- turation—changes that occur within a society when two different groups come into direct continuous contact. tis usualy a two-way process, in which Western influences and interests themselves are joined by a wish, at least by parts of the affected society, to move Glossary a7 toward a more Westernized society in the hope of attaining West cern life or some aspects of it. However, it can be a forced as well as voluntary process, and it can also refer to the effects of Wester ‘expansion and colonialism on native societies. Notes 1. M.K.Pukui and $.H. Elbert, Hawatian Dictionary, Honolul: Uni versity of Hawai'i Press, 1971; M.K.Pukui and S.H.Elbert, Hawaiian Dictionary: Revised and Enlarged Edition, Honolulu: Univesity of Hawai Press, 1986,