Today I'm joining Chris at Pearshapedcrafting with her When We Were Young theme at Art Journal Journey. Before we go on, this story is FICTITIOUS. I have never been to Hawaii or Oahu, although I pledged a sorority in high school, but NEVER in college.
I remember when my sorority sisters and I 
met in Oahu one year for spring break. We spent a week checking out the sights of the island. 
On the final night, we were invited to a luau. The food was spectacular. It included poi, pig, poke, and salmon. Of course, a luau wouldn't be complete without the traditional Polynesian hula dance, which included the grass skirts we were all given.
This story, invented in my mind, came about when I found a napkin of these ladies in traditional hula skirts. After creating the background using Staz-on reinkers and 91% isopropyl alcohol, I cut the ladies apart and assembled them on the page. I cut the legs too close and when I applied a glue stick to the images, I tore the legs of the first images I applied to the page. I tried to be more careful with the next images, but I still managed to tear a couple more.Bleubeard and I are delighted you chose to visit today. We also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on When We Were Young.
EDIT: Not discounting the comment left by Mae (see comments below), my real reason for sharing this was to use a napkin in my art, since we are having a napkin swap on T Stands For Tuesday.
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16 thoughtful remarks:
Such a fun take.
Those pledges are alien here.
Sadly, that much-loved stereotype of the "hula girl" represents disrespect for traditional Hawaiian culture. So many things look innocent, but turn out to have a harmful side.
I read this:
"The hula girl is so commonly exploited in tourism that she has become the perceived identity of Hawaiian women and Hawai‘i. The hula girl image, a product of tourism, has genderized Hawai‘i and created a stereotypical view of Hawaiian identity."
Cultural issues are a big problem for the native Hawaiians now, as many of them are very disadvantaged by economic changes and many new residents of Hawaii.
It's really hard these days... best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I thought this was so cute and a great story. I have a solar-hula-girl to the right and she dances when the sun hit.
After reading Mae´s comment I feel a bit sad and naive.
Yet. I still imagine it must be a great life in Hawaii.
There must be a reason Toast Hawaii has been invented in the 1950´s and Magnum is there, too.
And I think it´s the same world-wide.
Look at Aborigines, Indians, Inuit... the list could go on and I have no idea why.
Love how you assembled your page, Elizabeth. we never had sororities in England, so I never joined one. I would have liked to visit Hawaii, but I don't intend making any long journeys anymore, I'm happy when I make it to the supermarket in one piece! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
A lot of effort to fussy cut the figures from the napkins. I didn't join a sorority when I was in college and I've never been to Hawaii.
We didn't have sororities at my high school. That's an interesting idea. I didn't join one in college either, though I did become a little sister at a fraternity. That wasn't quite my style either, but it was interesting. I do like your page. Mae's comment was interesting, and I'm sure Hollywood helped that image become even more of a stereotype, but I do like your hula girls and your page. It's a fun one for Chris' challenge. And also true that those stereotypes were more common when we were young. We also have a solar hula girl like Iris-she rides on the dashboard of the boat. Not because we are into hula girls but so we can dream we are someplace far away while cruising I guess. Smile. Happy Saturday. hugs-Erika
I really love the hula girls and wow that you've cut out each one from a napkin print! WOW! Really love the take of the challenge with your sorority sisters memory. Always something wonderful to reflect on and I'm sure you were thinking of that the entire time while assembling this. Thanks for sharing!
we did not have sororities in high school only in colleges-so that must have been fun for you.
this would have been a very fun trip for sure-I have never been to Hawaii either. Always thought the foods would be great to explore. I like Guy Fiari on Food Network and this summer he did a series with his family in Hawaii the food always looked so delicious.
sad someone has to come up with negativity on an art page
Many thanks for your recent comment on the low carb diabetic.
We had a very enjoyable break away.
Wishing you a good weekend.
All the best Jan
Loved it. Seems like working with napkins would be challenging. Hawaii is on my bucket list:)
Enjoy the weekend.
Love your cute story and the piece, too. Happy weekend!
Nice page
Mae has a good point. So much harm done by stereotypes. When we know better we do better, though.
This is a lesson for me. I never thought about it.
Keep up the good work.
I didn't pledge a sorority in high school, partly because the pledge rituals (carry this around wherever you go, wear this odd thing, etc.) seemed ridiculous to me. I did join a sorority in college.
I miss our local Luau restaurant, which formed my view of Hawaiian culture while I was still a child. The hula girl idea seemed to be made for Elvis movies lol
love this, :) big smile! I have been to Oahu twice and I was on a hula dance class :)
They do look to be having fun together. I shall look up sorority now - definitely not a British thing. Thanks for this pretty page for my AJJ theme, hugs, Chrisx
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