Biden formally apologized re: native schools

Daniel

He's talking about sexual abuse.
He might also be talking about physical abuse. I don't know.

He mentions native Hawaiians.

There was a school system set up by a Hawaiian princess with a large trust fund. She was married to Mr. Bishop. He was a member of one of the original missionary families and large land holders.

The scandal was so bad (and this wasn't a long time ago-- I was living there) that (sorry to say) people ended up mysteriously dead.

I have no idea what a formal federal apology would mean to the people affected. I couldn't guess.

Two aspects of this confuse me.

The first is the fact that the school system (it certainly still exists) is something I anyway associated with the State. The federal government might well have a role in it. I'm not aware it, though.

The second is that many native Hawaiians do not recognize the federal government. This might sound strange but it's the truth.

This group of Hawaiians insist that they are living as subjects of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

I met some of these Hawaiians.

Every Island is actually small. You meet all kinds of people.

The same is true for me regarding the other groups. I lack the perspective to know how this formal apology will be received.

Mik

Until I went there I was unaware of the influence of the Mormon church on Oahu too. It’s a complicated history, those islands.

But I’m just a howli boy, so what do I know.

Daniel

I know, right?

I lived in Polynesia for almost 20 years and it's only slightly less mysterious to me now than when I moved there.

I know a lot of the history. I had a lot of interesting experiences. I have a lot of impressions. I have a lot of memories.

Yet in retrospect even with the very warm welcome I received I can't say I didn't feel like a foreigner.

Mik

There are places like that in the south. They’ll welcome you and associate with you but if your family doesn’t go way back you’re still an outsider.

Daniel

Yes, it was exactly that way.