Cries of cultural appropriation causes Hawaii-themed restaurant to close

[Morphine Prince 109,655]

Cries of “cultural appropriation” were too much for an Oregon businessman who recently opened The Hapuna Kahuna Tiki Bar & Kitchen in Corvallis.

Cloud Davidson recently opened a bar on June 22 that was inspired by his childhood trips to Hawaii. Outrage by some local residents and members of the Oregon State University Asian and Pacific Cultural Center stunned the owner, who decided prior to the Fourth of July holiday to abandon his dream.

“I unintentionally made a mistake, and I’m very sorry,” Mr. Davidsontold the Corvallis Gazette-Times July 3. “I’m very sympathetic to the issues that were brought up to me. And I’m not for a moment going to tell a person of color that they’re wrong for how they feel.”

Complaints revolved around plastic leis that were handed out to customers, the establishment’s name and cartoonish images.

“A lot of this has to do with family. That was a big part of my childhood,” Mr. Davidson added.

The owner removed offensive materials and incorporated the space into an adjacent bar he owns called The Downward Dog, the newspaper reported.

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jul/5/tiki-bar-owner-bows-to-cultural-appropriation-outc/

 

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

[KyliesChild 16,907]

“A lot of this has to do with family. That was a big part of my childhood,” Mr. Davidsonadded.

[Miracle 14,068]

Unlike the Kesha matter, I think this is actually logical. Monetizing a whole culture with no knowledge of it is disrespectful. 

 

[Pablo 8,581]

this is too much 

[Lanius 1,055]

Just now, Miracle said:

Unlike the Kesha matter, I think this is actually logical. Monetizing a whole culture with no knowledge of it is disrespectful.

 

THIS.

He's a white man from a mostly white community taking a marginalized groups culture and profiting from it. While those same POC don't have the same resources/sucess

[REALITY 80,162]

I have mixed feelings about this because on one end of the spectrum, unlike the guy who's saying Kesha is using "cultural appropriation", I do think this is a bit more legitimate, however, we don't know the full story. I think we would actually have to see the restaurant and see how much Hawaiian influences are in it.

That said, from the looks of this article, the man didn't mean to do any harm, and was in fact praising and celebrating Hawaii from his childhood memories. Also, it sucks that the man, possibly members of his family, and every other employee there has now lost their job. 

[Regina George 59,387]

Can we go back in time where people were actually adults and not some kids who cry about everything and when we didn't use words ''cultural appropriation''? World is too much in 2017.

[Lanius 1,055]

1 minute ago, M Monstre said:

I have mixed feelings about this because on one end of the spectrum, unlike the guy who's saying Kesha is using "cultural appropriation", I do think this is a bit more legitimate, however, we don't know the full story. I think we would actually have to see the restaurant and see how much Hawaiian influences are in it.

That said, from the looks of this article, the man didn't mean to do any harm, and was in fact praising and celebrating Hawaii from his childhood memories. Also, it sucks that the man, possibly members of his family, and ever other employee there has now lost their job. 

But thing is, He's using their culture to profit while people who originated the culture aren't making any revenue and are still discriminated against. 

[bloody g 31,746]

THIS IS CULTURAL APPROPIATION. When you make money out of something that doesn't belong to your culture!

Getting inspired by a culture is not appropiation, is praising.

[Luc 4,776]

2 minutes ago, Lanius said:

THIS.

He's a white man from a mostly white community taking a marginalized groups culture and profiting from it. While those same POC don't have the same resources/sucess

I think this (ex-) restaurant owner would've had the job of his life if this went through. Does this restaurant really hurt Hawaiians' feelings that much? Make them truly unhappy and depressed? Because only that would compensate for the loss of happiness on the side of the restaurant owner in my opinion.

To answer my own (rhetorical) question, I don't think many people will get genuinely mad when they see a culture being used or taken for inspiration by a white person with no connection to the dark side of American history whatsoever. In the end, the ones screaming 'cultural appropriation!' at everything inspired have a far worse effect on society in many different ways than the ones using an exotic theme or anything alike for a business.

It only becomes offensive when the intent of the owner is to offend or mimic. This owner obviously has no intent to hurt anyone and does this out of love, not laughter, towards Hawaiian culture and tradition.

[Lanius 1,055]

Just now, ReginaGeorge said:

Can we go back in time where people were actually adults and not some kids who cry about everything and when we didn't use words ''cultural appropriation''? World is too much in 2017.

be Careful sis, If we go to far back in time (As in less than 50 years ago) You'll get this

[shoful 13,304]

People care WAY TOO MUCH about what other people do. Just leave the guy alone and get your own life. Who cares if he's appropriating something. Does it really affect your life at all?????

People are more concerned about this nonsense than stopping terrorism

[shoful 13,304]

2 minutes ago, ReginaGeorge said:

Can we go back in time where people were actually adults and not some kids who cry about everything and when we didn't use words ''cultural appropriation''? World is too much in 2017.

Finally someone with sense

[Edonis 28,974]

Well if I heard of a restaurant called something offensive like "Abu Babaloo" that served stereotyped Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, handed out plastic tarboosh to customers, had cartoonish depictions of even more stereotypes, and was run by someone who wasn't Middle Eastern or North African and had no working knowledge about the culture, I would be kind of super offended as well  

I don't know the extent this restaurant went with their decorations and outlandishness, but I don't necessarily think he should've been shut down. Realistically, he should have consulted some actual Pacific Islanders to find some way to reach a balance between authenticity and accessibility to casual diners while still being respectful to that particular culture.