No, apparently this is just a local nickname for Nakalele because tourists engage in persistent rock stacking here, using the area's plentiful rocks to make countless little piles of balanced stones. Rock stackers must be considered by the locals to be hippy-dippy Lord of the Rings flower-children types. Hence . . . Hobbitland.
Actually, many Hawai'ians resent rock stacking by tourists. They see it as cultural desecration of their land. They will dismantle any rock stacks they find. Occasionally you will see signs forbidding rock stacking and advising that fines will be levied against anyone caught doing it.
[Photo by Debra She Who Seeks]
15 comments:
How interesting - I'm guessing the inukshuk (more than two are referred to as "inuksuit" - I found that out just now :) of the Inuit would be considered an eyesore - I really like them myself. But with the number of tourists visiting Hawaii each year, it all may get to be a bit too much.
Stacking rocks is fun, I remember we stacked rocks up north on vacation one autumn, but if it were considered disrespectful people should respect that. Sweet story though.
Wow, thats amazing, I never heard of this, although I do know the Inuit resent tourists making Inukshuks also .
I think this must have been a beautiful trip, much better than sitting in a resort all the time.
I can understand that Hawaiians might consider bunches of rock piles to be eyesores. I can also see why it might surprise tourists, except if we think about our OWN lands. Would we want people to take stones out of our woodlands along a trail and make sculptures out of them? No. We'd want to leave our parks and public places as they found them. At national seashore parks, they do not want people collecting shells and creating little shell exhibits all over the place. We want it wild.
But I had never thought about it. Wake up call, huh! Hawaaii... sigh... how wonderful to be there!
INTERESTING! Debs, interesting!
I find that a bit odd actually. Unless the 'tourists' are excavating the rocks to pile, I see no real harm being done. I thought Hawaii thrived on tourism?
Wow...never would have thought to stack, but might have been too dense to consider it might be disrespectful. Will have to remember that should I ever be lucky enough to visit!!
I dont think I have ever stacked rocks before. I dont think I have ever though about it to tell you the truth.
I call them oobos. I have several in my garden and people do this all over in special places such as this. Go here...http://inkspillersattic.blogspot.com/search/label/oobos%20garden .....to see my oobos posts, or just click on oobos in labels on my sidebar.
I think people who don't respect other's cultures are far off from what true Hobbits would do. I know that stacking rocks is archetypal but I can understand the natives getting pissed off and dismantling them. I also know that a lot of local Hawaaian cultures belive in the menehune (part of the fae realm) so maybe they're also visiting and making rock stacks….just a thought
~they honor and celebrate their land in ways that are different from some...my ex was hawaiian and i remember visiting hawaii for the first time and wanted to take sand home...no way...no how...forbidden...i would have had a curse follow me home...
we love making cairns...collecting and stacking rocks when we go camping...meditative and also i think it is fun to leave something behind for the next who comes...thank you for sharing this labyrinth with us...much love light and bright imbolc blessings upon you and yours~
I love the mythology a of Hawaii. I'd love to go. Such a beautiful place.
Mary
Hmm, I'm with Jim. I can't see that any harm has been done but maybe there is more to it than I'm imagining. Anyway the whole place seems so magical!
I have frodo foot...is that respectful enough?
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - you lack it, stay HOME... you're NOT welcome desecrating sacred ground! GRRRRRRR
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