Kee-no-SHEE-ta or Kee-NOSH-ta?
Nichi Bei Time - October 18, 2003
Da Two Japanee Bruddahs stay notice one beeg difference between kotonks and Japanese Americans from Hawai'i (or Pineapples, as some of you kotonks like to refer to us). Garans, if you like know if somebody is from Hawai'i or da Mainland, go ask ‘em how fo’ pronounce “Kinoshita.” Anyone from Hawai'i, Japanee or not, will say “Kee-no-SHEE-ta,” while kotonks will say “Kee-NOSH-ta.”
This also applies to names like Ta-ke-SHEE-ta and Ya-ma-SHEE-ta, but is not limited to the “shita” names. Remember the big debate during the 1998 Winter Olympics? Suddenly everyone, even people dat nevah know how fo’ read one Benihana menu, wuz saying NA-ga-no. NA-ga-no? Huh? Garans, I nevah wen hea Johnny Nagano’s name pronounced NA-ga-no. It’s Johnny Na-GA-no. Jus’ go ask bruddah next time you see him in Japantown.
So, which is correct? Japanee Bruddah Kyle used to work wit da kine Japanee from Japan so he know dey would say “Kee-NOSH-ta.” So, that’s how it’s pronounced in Japan, but does that make it correct here? Okay, we admit dat we nevah really expect fo’ resolve dis debate hea. Jus’ consider it one mo’ ting dat makes us guys different from kotonks.
While we stay on top da subject of language differences between Hawai'i an da Mainland, da Two Japanee Bruddahs get couple mo’ tips fo’ help you blend in wit da locals da next time you stay vacationing in da Islands.
Tip numbah one. Da thin rubbah sandals you stay wea unda your feet; no call ‘em “flip-flops.” Only da sunburned lobster-red tourists from Iowa called ‘em flip-flops. Whether you get da $1.99 kine from Longs or da fancy high makamaka $20 Scotts, they’re called slippahs (‘kay, slippers, if you wen grad Punahou). An’ by all means, no wea ‘em wit socks. Like counting tree rings, a good measure of someone’s “localness” is the intensity of the slippah tan lines on the tops of their feet.
Tip numbah two. While in Hawai'i, you will inevitably see locals flashing each other the hand gesture with the extended thumb and pinkie. Tourists, again, typically the well-done variety, refer to this gesture as “hang loose.” We’ll let you in on a big secret. Kama’aina tell tourists that it’s called “hang loose,” mostly so we can laugh at them. Locals refer to it as “shaka.”
Like the word “aloha,” shaka is an all-purpose hand gesture with various meanings including “hello,” “right on,” “thank you, or usually just “howzit.” An, wen someone flashes you one shaka, proper local etiquette requires dat you return da shaka.
While the derivation of the word, shaka, is unknown, there’s a colorful story regarding the origin of the hand gesture. Da Two Japanee Bruddahs tink dis might be one da kine urban legend (or in dis case, rural legend), but we tell ‘em to you anyway.
As the story goes, Kalili Hamana, a worker at the Kahuku Sugar Mill, lost the three middle fingers of his right hand in a terrible industrial accident in the early 1940s. Since he could no longer work in the mill, the company reassigned him as a security guard on the sugar train. Over time, his unique thumb-and-pinkie wave from atop the train became a familiar sight along the railway’s Sunset Beach to Ka'a'awa route.
A well-known community leader, the highly respected Hamana also served as choir director for the Mormon Church in Laie, and was the Mo’i, or King, of the famed community hukilau that drew thousands to the small town. As a result, countless others were exposed to his unique gesture of greeting, and soon, people began to imitate his wave out of respect for the popular Hamana.
In the 1960s and ‘70s, long after Hamana’s passing, his hand gesture really took off when it was popularized throughout Hawai'i by the “King of Pidgin,” Lippy Espinda. Espinda, who hosted his own TV program, “Lippy’s Lanai Theater,” and also appeared in commercials for his used-car lot, always signed off with a “Shaka, brah!” accompanied by the shaka sign.
Like we wen say, dis might be one urban legend, but sound pretty good, no?
Da Kine…
Immediately following the University of Hawai'i/San Jose State University football game on Saturday, November 1st, (around 3:00 p.m.), da Hukilau San Jose (230 Jackson Street) will host the biggest Hawaiian style block party ever seen in San Jose’s Japantown. In addition to prizes, ono local grinds and drink specials, the party will feature music by Pupule Boyz, Mana and One Groove, some of the hottest Island bands in the Bay Area. Go to to the Global Pau Hana Web site for more information.
The award-winning female trio, Na Leo Pilimehana, will be appearing in the Bay Area for a series of holiday concerts (December 2nd in Walnut Creek, December 3rd in Fresno and December 4th in Cupertino). After hearing Na Leo’s beautiful renditions of holiday favorites, as well as a few original tunes, you’ll understand why their two Christmas CDs are essential in any Island Music collection. Go to www.thesoundsofhawaii.com for more information.
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Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are the Two Japanee Bruddahs. Read past articles on their Web site at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com or email them at wot@twojapaneebruddahs.com.
Da thin
rubbah sandals you stay wea
unda your feet; no call ‘em “flip-flops.”
Illustration by Cane Haul Road
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