Author Archives: Nicole Winston

Legend – Hawaii

Nationality: Irish-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 26, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“He was on a boat, called the Hoku. They were sailing from Lanai to Owahu. On the way there, they hit bad weather and got lost off course. He was a waterman and a big surfer. He jumped off and paddled to the nearest island to find help. BUT, they never found him. A day later a helicopter found the boat. Now they say “Eddie would go”. He became a legend. On bumper stickers and stuff it’d say, Eddie would go. Made contest in his honor: Eddie Aikau Invitational. The waves have to be at least 25 ft or else they won’t have it. The whole Island shuts down and goes to the Eddie. It went once for 6 years without having it because the conditions were not right.”

Analysis:

Collin Evans was born and raised in Hawaii. He grew up on the main island and attended Hawaiian school all his life. He recently moved to California to attend the University of Southern California to major in Mechanical engineering.

Collin remembers this story from when he was very young. He says “its just something you know. All Hawaiians know it.” This true story has become a legend: Did Eddie really make it to an island or not? Collin, a surfer himself, respects Eddie abilities as a renowned surfer as well as his courage and compassion for others. The phrase “Eddie would go” not only pay tribute to the great surfer, but can be also said if “someone chickens out of a wave.” Collin, like all Hawaiians, recognizes the noble act and that is the reason why he is celebrated. He was young and could have won many more surfing competitions, but died unnecessarily.

Studying the breakdown of events in the Eddie Aikau story reveals unique characteristics that proved reason for its mass appeal and his permanent place in history. His story follows a standard archetype of a hero. He is a person from “humble beginnings… [who] masters a particular skill…saves man/uplifts them from despair… [then] vanishes or dies tragically…leaving his absence open to interpretation” (definition of a mythic hero by MythicHero.com) It is almost uncanny how closely the story of Eddie Aikua follows these guidelines, The storyshows Eddie Aikau had a good heart and was a good person. In a world full of violence and danger, it is reassuring to know there is still good people left. Eddie is an ideal role model for young kids growing up, like Collin, for he promotes a good image. He was not the typical athlete that could have a negative influence on the youth of society.

Annotation:
Stuart Holmes Coleman wrote a novel, “Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero,” published by Bess Press in October 2002, which includes interviews from friends and people onboard the vessel with Eddie during the storm. The tragic story is told (pg. 119 and bits and pieces in the introduction), describing Eddie humble life and all his accomplishments.

(http://books.google.com/books?id=VYyOBBZAq0AC&pg=PA137-IA6&sig=-MXCpZ-FQprbC_muoVa2fptjxLo&vq=%22To+everything,+turn,+turn,+turn,+there+is+a+season,+turn,+turn,+turn,+and+a+time+to+every+purpose+under+heaven..%22&source=gbs_quotes_s&cad=2#PPT1,M1)

Some background information on Eddie is that in 1968 he became the first lifeguard hired by the City of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. Eddie was known for rescuing people in waves reaching well over 20 feet; his reputation impeccable for not a single life was lost during his time served. As mentioned earlier he was also an amazing surfer, winning the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship. “Eddie Would Go,” was actually first coined for his ability to take on big waves that other surfers would normally back down from and his courage to make rescues in treacherous waters. He died trying to save his fellow shipmates in 1978.

I find it interesting that Staurt Holmes Coleman has taken this new piece of folklore and published it, making a profit off the iconic figure. Throughout history there have been incorporations of folklore in copyrighted music, movies, book, and other materials. Even Shakespeare utilized folklore in many of his distinguished and celebrated plays. This is another example of copyrighted folklore, except this time the copyright came extremely close to the tragedy, only about 35 year afterwards. In a way, I feel this has canonized the Idea of Eddie Aikau. It will halt new folklore and stories about Eddie, since there is a “the true story” already published.

Eddie Aikau riding a wave.

Proverb – Peru

Nationality: Peruvian
Age: 77
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Redondo Beach, CA
Performance Date: March 25, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish

“Si no hay camino, se hace camino al andar”

“If there is no way, way when walking becomes”

“If there is no path, you make a path as you go”

Laura Moreno was born in the small town of Huaraz on the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range. She was the youngest of five children. She grew up in the city, but would spend time on their farm that was a short distance away.

Laura learned most of the proverbs she knows today from her grandparents, parents, and friends.  To her this saying means that once a person starts something, he should finish it. If one doe not take that crucial first step, then he will go no where. If he wanted to walk a mile, he would need to start with a step.

I agree with Laura’s analysis of the proverb.  There are many people that dabble in too many things and do not commit or ever finish one of them. It is the same as “Do not have too many irons in the fire”, which refers to taking more responsibility than one can handle.

However, this proverb also reminds me of the saying that one should go not where the path leads, but rather where there is no path at all, or otherwise more popularly known as “marching to the beat of your own drummer.” Sometimes in life, there are no set paths. It is up to one to be honest with oneself and follow the path that best suits him.

Proverb – Peruvian

Nationality: Peruvian
Age: 77
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Redondo Beach, CA
Performance Date: MArch 25, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish

“Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres”

“It tell me with who you walk and you tell that you are”

“Tell me who you go with and I’ll tell you who you are”

Laura recalls her parents telling her this proverb when she was a young girl. Her family held education up on a very high pedestal, where all five children were to attend school to at least the university level. Thus, Laura family perceived if one held good company through the association of smart friends that liked to study and avoid trouble. They were seen as good people. On the other hand, if even one person in a group of friends was considered rebellious or bad, then there was a fear that everyone would become like her. They would say

“La manzana podria pudre a la de mas.”

“One rotten apple makes the other ones rotten.”

The idea is that one person can influence the group negatively had a profound affect on Laura. She too raised her children, using the same proverb. It was important to her because “people tend to stereotype other people very quickly. One bad person in the group can ill-represent the group. Then everyone’s perceived negatively.” The proverb means that friends and companions should be chosen wisely for they can reflect on oneself by association. I agree with Laura’s analysis of this proverb for those you associate with greatly influence ones life, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. The overall moral is to pick ones friends wisely.

Annotation:

In 2002 Tony Cantu wrote “My way of talking: Life lessons in Mexican-American proverbs”, located in The World and I Vol 17(9) on page 182.  It can also be found in the USC Research Library Core database, document ID: 187559831, or by the following link. (http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=187559831&Fmt=3&clientId=69396&RQT=309&VName=PQD)

The article described a similar parental reaction towards certain friendships through their favorite refrain: Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres (Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you what you are). I find it fascinating that two different Latin countries use the same proverb. It may have originally derived in Spain and diverged during colonization periods. It also may have been recently spread as globalization is homogenizing different cultures (homogenization can be applied to non-western countries).

Proverb – Peruvian

Nationality: Peruvian
Age: 77
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Redondo Beach, CA
Performance Date: March 25, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish

“La mona aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda”

“Monkey although wears of silk, monkey remains”

“Although a monkey wears silk, he’s still a monkey”

Laura was born in Huaraz, Peru, a small town located in the foothills of the Andy Mountain range. She mentions that the economic background in Peru was and still is not well. There had been many dictators throughout the ages, the last one being Fujimori. She sees this proverb as being prejudice toward poor people. As there are an enormous percentage of poor in Peru, she feels that it is geared towards keeping those that have power in power, and keep those that do not in their place. She says that if someone growing up in poverty acquires different mannerism and ways of carrying themselves, it is not their fault. Thus, if they somehow they manage to acquire wealth or inherit money, the person is not given the same respect that would be given to a person born into wealth. He instead is mocked and laughed about at gatherings. She says heard this saying growing up, but does not remember specifically from which person. I agree with Laura’s analysis of the proverb. This example makes it clear how paramount it is to understand the background information when looking at a piece of folklore.