Mau Loa: Forever

“Next law: Everyone will love Jesus.” As said by Queen Malama in the movie Hawaii, this quote reflects how a culture was changed through religion. Culture is defined as the behaviors and beliefs found in a particular ethnic group. Each person in this ethnic group learns, spreads, and thrives under these beliefs. Without them, ethnic groups throughout history would not have flourished and been passed on to later generations. However, because of characteristics found in human nature, many powerful cultures have strongly influenced weaker ones, almost to the point of total domination. When it comes to religion, language, and disease, it is almost impossible for the weaker cultures to resist the change.

Before a stronger culture can impact a weaker one fully, they need to influence their language first. Language is the most important connection between people, and if they speak different ones, then it becomes difficult for them to communicate and fully impact the weaker culture. In Hawaii, Reverend Hale and the other missionaries spoke English, while the natives spoke their native Hawaiian tongue. Though they did have an interpreter, it became hard for them to spread their beliefs to the natives. So, they forced the natives to learn English in order to effectively spread their culture. Once it became the official language and more English speaking people began moving to the islands, then the native tongue slowly diminished. This is reflective of many other same occurrences. Languages are lost when others reign over it, which ultimately causes the culture to be lost because language is the basis of any culture.

Religion has been a very powerful component in culture for almost all of human existence. Because each culture developed in various places in the world, they had different views on religion. This can cause much conflict between them. Some religions believe that they are the only right one, therefore they must make sure everyone else follows it. This is reflected well in Hawaii. Reverend Hale believes that he needs to spread the word of God to the “heathen” natives in Hawaii in order to save them. So, he travels there on a mission from God, intent on teaching them the religion and ultimately making it their formal one. Some people may teach their religion in a peaceful and accepting way. However, in the cases of many of these incidents, the interactions are not as positive. Reverend Hale was extremely intolerant of their religion, saying that the one he preached was the only right one and that they, again, were “heathens” for following theirs. With his intimidating and powerful words that they hardly understood, the natives grew weary of trying to fight his preaching. This happens very often when a stronger culture tries to convert a weaker culture’s religion. The weaker culture is confused and intimidated by the foreigners, becoming fearful of them and ultimately folding under their will. So, the stronger culture has the upper hand after they influence the religion, one of the most important aspects to a group’s culture.

Lastly, and possibly the strongest and most fullproof way to completely influence a weaker culture, is through disease. In Hawaii, the foreign white men continue to travel to the island, bringing about many diseases. The main disease, however, was the measles. Because of the lack of medicine on the island, many of the natives became sick and died. This weakened them even more than anything else the white men brought over. This is true of many cultures that have been destroyed by others. When a culture is weak, they lack the necessary medicines and knowledge to cure these terrible and destructive diseases. So, the stronger culture, knowingly or unknowingly, comes in and spreads the diseases that they may be immune to, but the weaker culture is not because they have never been exposed to it before.