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Paper short abstract:

O'ahu's west side contains the most populous Hawaiian Homesteads. Often referred to as Hawaiian Land, it also provides home for many non-Hawaiian who have been an important part of the community. This presentation examines Hawaiian local identity that brings unification to the multicultural society.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation examines Hawaiian " local identity", a comprehensive identification which seemingly bring an unification in the multicultural Hawaiian society.

On the most west side of O'ahu,Wai'anae District contains the most populous Homesteads in Hawai'i. Often referred to as "Hawaiian Lands," there are an estimated 8,600 Homestead residents, constituting almost one-fourth of the Wai'anae coast's population.

The Hawai'i Department of Hawaiian Home Lands states that lease applicants "must be a native Hawaiian defined as 'any descendant of not less than one-half part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778.'" This requires a "blood quantum" of at least 50 percent native Hawaiian, and for the successors 25 percent. For many Hawaiian families it has over time become increasingly difficult to meet this blood quantum mandate, leading to proposals that would take other cultural factors into consideration.

At the same time, deeply reflected on the Hawai'i's demographics, Wai'anae also is increasingly multicultural, embracing broad diversity. This multiculturalism is evidenced in many forms ranging from community organizations to churches and local eateries, and also residents' multi-ethnic last names.

Though the ethnic and cultural identification are diverse as such, the people of Wai'anae shares one common "local" identity. In a Hawaiian community the word "local" can be applied for anyone who were born and raised in Hawai'i. Even in Wai'anae, the land of Hawaiian, the term "local" makes it home for any non-Hawaiian community members.