'Lani' is how I veiw myself as a coconut. As of March 2025 this has been her design!
Reflection 12/17
I’ve clarified what I wish I had done here and there, but honestly, the biggest disappointment was not using the three puppets I built for this project. I kept second-guessing myself when I really should have trusted my instincts. I still plan to use them in the future, but I wish they could have made their debut this semester.
Why a Coconut? - 9/7
The reason I chose to portray myself as a coconut is because of the racial connotations behind it. I went to what was often called “the white school” back in Hawaiʻi. Punahou School, founded in 1841 by missionaries as Oʻahu College, has long been one of the most prestigious private schools in Hawaiʻi. It was originally built for missionary children and later for their descendants. Punahou became known as a school for wealthy haole families (haole means “foreigner,” but it is often used to describe those of Caucasian descent) and the local elite. That is why it was often dubbed “the white school.” Even Barack Obama attended, which shows how far its reputation reaches beyond Hawaiʻi.
Growing up there, I felt the weight of that legacy. It was predominantly white back in the day, though there are more mixed kids now. Since I had been there from kindergarten, I was always called a “coconut” or a “banana.” What is it with people using fruits to label others? In case you did not guess, it is because both fruits are considered “white on the inside.” This warped my perception of being Native Hawaiian when I was a child, and I still feel the lasting effects today.
In a way, portraying myself as a coconut is about reclaiming what was once used against me as a weakness. I am Hawaiian, and blood quantum be damned. Despite being at least twenty-five percent (I say “at least” because that is what my dad told me), I still get criticized for “not being Hawaiian enough.” Which is literal coconuts, but whatever.
Concept Design - 9/3
Armatures! - 9/8
Body! - 9/13
Adding Hair! - 9/17
Hair Refinement! - 9/19
Finalizing Puppet(s)!
