Asian Pacific Islanders build up worship service, learn Hawaiian/Polynesian songs and dances

“Aloha” is a Hawaiian greeting a group of Asian Pacific Islanders use at the California Health Care Facility, in Stockton, California. Many of them need wheelchairs but are at work to build up their own spiritual worship service.

On most Tuesday afternoons, a diverse set of men from the CHCF facility’s API community, meet in the chapel to learn traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian songs and customs such as “Haka,” a war dance.

“I started the group in February this year,” said Netani Vosacataki who has been incarcerated since 2019. “I want the men to be rehabilitated through their customs and traditions.”

Born in Fiji, Vosacataki said the API community were guests in the Native American circle at CHCF, but he wanted to reach the broader API community. “Men can be rehabilitated when they know who they are,” he said.

In a July gathering, about two dozen members from the API community attended the spiritual service. Eleven showed up in a wheelchair, and two used a four-wheel walker. Seven were able to sing and dance in a group lesson.

In the face of not having volunteer support from the outside, and few resources, the CHCF Jewish chaplain sponsors the API group. Nonetheless, a spirit of brotherhood was present at their gathering.

One of the API elders, Ropati Seumanu, referred to himself as “Uso Smurf, a real authentic uso” (brother). He dons cultural tattoos on his knee and back. Like everyone in the group, he was good-natured, in spite of the fact he has a death sentence still looming and is confined to a wheelchair. “We’re doing this for the Suicide Awareness [event],” he said.

“I’m teaching you to be a warrior without a king,” said Tupoutoe Mataele. He is another one of the API elders who also has a sentence of death and uses a wheelchair. He recalled the songs as well. “Memorize the words to get the rhythm,” he said regarding the “Kamate Haka.”

Mataele instructed the group to “Let the Haka, the spirit of the ancestors, takeover you,” adding, “ride the wave.”

There are four API elders at CHCF. One repeated, “Ride the wave. Don’t let the wave take you.” After a short break they learned and sang songs such as “Aloha.”

E O Mai Ka Ike/Mai Luna Mai E/Ona Mea Hana No Eau/E Ō Mai/ E O Mai E/Mahalo.

The following week the group was back in action, singing to a makeshift drum beat performed by Seumanu on a file cabinet. They practiced the song “I Jisu.” 

“It’s a special song for the British armed forces,” said one of the elders, who explained how it is sang before battle. “It’s a death song.” 

Mataele helped with pronunciations as the group learned the song “Sun Greeting.” 

“In Polynesian songs, if you pronounce the words [as written] phonetically, you won’t go wrong,” said Mataele. “There are a lot of Ks in the Hawaiian language.” 

The group learned greetings in API languages: Samoan, Fijan, North/South Indian, Tongan, Hawaiian, Chamorro, Mādri, Laotian, Mien, and Native American. 

“Everyone has to learn how to lead the Haka, said another elder. “We are in here together. We live what we preach.” He encouraged the group to “lookout for each other.” 

“The mana spirit is given to us from above,” said Vosacataki. “It helps us know who we are.” The group closed out the gathering with a prayer in the form of a song, ending with “Mahalo” (Goodbye).