UNAPOLOGETICALLY Beautiful

Some things are hard to believe until you see them.  Unapologetic beauty is one of those rare qualities that can be recognized instantly, better than it can be described. It’s both a presence and a presentation which commands attention without necessarily asking for it.

Perhaps when beauty looks like it has nothing to apologize for, it’s in fact little more than a glorified mystique - something which most people want, or at least want to be with. It’s instant status; an inherent clout. It’s a fantasy of attaining the unattainable - giving form and shape to desires that language can only describe poorly. Literature romanticizes and exaggerates these narratives; film and television manufactures it in the actors it employs, and the internet spends innumerable hours on forums and social media debating and justifying the “aesthetics” of the moment.

KAIROU Waterman Brand Ambassador OniMasai Ku’ulei Connor

None of these capture the real meaning of the idea.  Unapologetic beauty needs to be experienced - not explicated.  Some things are hard to believe until you see them.

That’s Oni - OniMasai - unapologetic beauty; the genuine article.

In today’s unpredictable and rapidly-changing world, beauty remains a type of social currency (beyond its more lofty philosophical values). For women of any age or race, that currency is perpetually at risk of being co-opted, sexualized, objectified, reduced, and/or exchanged with values far beneath anyone’s dignity or worth.  The status and value of girls in spaces meant to promote beauty is treated both as something desirable and denigrated; the forces which promote an up-and-comer’s image can also poison their future and their sense of self.  Historically, those same forces have been most unkind to girls with Polynesian or African ancestry.  In this case, Oni is both.

Representation matters - which is why diversity in what counts as beautiful becomes so important.  Accurately portraying beauty in its full range of types and tropes is a complex and loaded issue. Having been used to seeing the same types of beauty over and over again can blind our community to the value of beauty within - as well as within others who aren’t represented equally, often enough, or both. For Oni, the sooner these social obstacles can be removed and the fuller the spectrum of diversity, the better.

KAIROU takes genuine pride in introducing our first brand ambassador: OniMasai.

Pehea ‘oe Oni! Before we begin, what’s your basic info?

I’m 24, originally from California. Leo sun, Aquarius rising, Libra moon. You can find me on INSTAGRAM: @onigrl_ & on TWITTER: @lmnhzd

So, describe your vibe:

The best way to describe my vibe is to say that I am a student. I’m a student that never steps off of my figurative campus, because I am always learning. I’m always growing. I am Black-Hawaiian, born and raised in Oakland, CA; a 5 hour flight from Oahu, yet it feels like it’s a whole world or two away.

I learned a lot from living in a large city; how to thrive in a place that never stops moving, how to protect myself, how to organize and show up to do the work that matters most in the community. I learned how to stand proudly in my Blackness because of Oakland - also known as ‘Chocolate City’.

I also learned how to express myself unapologetically. When my mom decided she was ready to move back home to Hawai’i, I decided I was ready to follow her and continue learning. My Black and Hawaiian roots are intertwined, and I crave to understand more in order to stand prouder in my identity, period.

It has been so fulfilling to spend time with my ‘ohana (family) here in the Hawaiian Islands. Both blood related and not, my ‘ohana has showered me with aloha and I couldn’t be more grateful. I am always learning; about myself, about my lineage, and about our ‘aina (ancestral lands).

Reconnecting with family is so important. The aloha that only a family can express together and with each other is equally significant. What does aloha mean to you, and how do you try to live it?

The word ‘unapologetic’ is probably going to follow me throughout this interview. Aloha also means many things - including ‘goodbye’. For example, It’s not aloha - nor my kuleana (responsibility/duty) to [go out of my or anyone’s way in order to] make visitors feel comfortable - even if we work around tourists & visitors on an almost daily basis. Living aloha, to me, looks like sharing “polite” knowledge with the visitors that I encounter. They ask me questions like, “do Hawaiians really exist?” and I try my best to provide an answer that uplifts lahui Hawai’i (the collective of all Hawaiians) but doesn’t coddle their feelings. 

Living aloha, to me, is preserving the culture by sharing it, while also fiercely protecting it. You cannot go anywhere in Hawai’i without encountering a traveler living in blind ignorance, often in a ‘paradise’-fueled dreamscape. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to share the culture with outsiders is to be blunt in truth.

What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about my ‘ohana. I am most passionate about our ‘aina. I am most passionate about the smell of pikake blossoms in the wind, the sounds of big swells crashing on our shores, and the way the mist of light rain kisses my skin in the morning.

I am most passionate about doing my part to preserve Hawai’i nei to ensure the generations of keiki (children) to come will be able to thrive on their own land. From things as small as picking up trash when I visit the beach, to bigger things like protesting at the capitol building against U.S. colonization & imperialism.

The world is rapidly changing and in some places it shows that it is rapidly dying. It is critical to pass our oral teachings down. It is beyond important that our daily routines preserve Hawaiian culture, roots, land, and life.

Who or what has had the most meaningful influence on your life?

I would be nothing without my mother. She raised me by herself and I am an only child; it’s always been just she & I. My Hawaiian lineage comes from her and she made sure that those roots embraced me. I also get my Blackness from her, as well as my father.

My mom did an incredible job of raising me in both backgrounds - never one more than the other. We would leave her hula practice to go to protests against police brutality in the Black community. My tutu (grandmother) would talk to me about what it was like to grow up in Lahaina, and my grandpa would talk to me about the time he spent as a Black Panther.

Normalized society makes you feel like you have to be “one” or the “other”, but never both. This is why I am thankful for my mother and for the uniqueness of my ‘ohana, as well as for the acceptance and grace of my ‘ohana. I would be lost without them.

How has (re)connecting with your Hawaiian identity impacted your sense of purpose, personal value, or self worth?

The way that my mother has held space for me to connect with my Hawaiian identity throughout my life was only intensified a thousand-fold upon moving to O’ahu. However, there is an intensity that comes with immersion. I can’t say that I didn’t have a hard time feeling secure in my identity when I first moved here. I wasn’t born here, I moved here. It was hard not to feel out of place. I had a hard time connecting with people, & for once in my life I had a really hard time expressing myself.

Somewhat weirdly, I have Twitter to thank for my newfound confidence! If it wasn’t for finding the Hawaiian corner of Twitter, I don’t know how far along on my personal connection journey I’d be. The friends I’ve made have encouraged me to keep living unapologetically. To look no farther than myself and my lineage for acceptance and/or approval. I am constantly learning from the lovely people I meet and am so grateful for the honor.

Most people - including too many in Hawai’i - are unaware that there are Native Hawaiians lineages with genuine African ancestry. What do you wish more people understood about the intersection of Blackness and Hawaiian identity?

Oof, that’s a tough question. For this topic, we must study our colonizers.

The U.S has always been inherently anti-Black, the creators of race to oppress, so it’s no surprise that those values would make their way to our ‘aina. We are a fierce and protective people when it comes to our land and our culture, but we must stay mindful and remain focused. Other communities of color are not our enemies but rather our allies, experiencing similar types of trauma. Unfortunately, all kinds of people benefit from tourism in the Hawaiian Islands and suffer from vacation brain. This issue is a two-way street.

However, Hawai’i gains nothing from upholding anti-Black views. I am not lesser than simply because I am also Black, despite some nasty encounters I’ve had. Nor am I lesser than simply because I am also Hawaiian, despite other nasty encounters I’ve had. I’ve learned that facilitating open conversations has been the best way to combat this problem. Abrasiveness often comes from a place of ignorance. Education and spreading awareness has proved to be the best weapon in defeating this learned behavior. Resources are abundant & I personally believe no question is too stupid to answer. This is also how I live in & with aloha. The U.S. has invaded our land, our schools, our minds, our belief systems, our spiritual practices. If we can understand how we got where we are, we can work on getting where we’re meant to be.

Finally… what’s next for you?

The learning never stops! The journey must continue! Goddess willing! I have a lot of life ahead of me which will provide the time to continue steeping in my cultures. My intention is to one day be a solid source of knowledge for our keiki, and to be a solid intersectional bridge between identities. My ultimate path is the route headed straight towards who I am meant to be.

Mahalo for your time, Oni.

Mahalo nui.