From a Native Daughter

Haunani-Kay Trask's essay, "From a Native Daughter," discusses the differences between the Hawaiian history she had learned from her native relatives and the recorded "western" history. I do agree that most of the history I have read about Hawaii describes the islands as a savage, uncivilized place, and most of this history is written by the western (white) man. Thus, the native Native Hawaiian history is lost. I think this happens in many historical events. For example, often times there is a difference between the way the Civil War is taught in parts of the U.S. I think that most of these differences boil down to a simple difference in opinion and outlook. Nearly any kind of story you tell is going to be different than how your friend tells it, for example. I think it is just human nature to bend and twist things into your favor, but it doesn't make it right.