Cameron Crowe's 'Aloha' Criticized for Depicting "Whitewashed" Hawaii

[brassmonkey]

The forthcoming Cameron Crowe-directed film Aloha is finding itself making headlines for unflattering reasons again.

The Media Action Network for Asian-Americans released a press release to the New York Post that accuses the Columbia Pictures dramedy of presenting a "whitewashed" version of Hawaii.

"Caucasians only make up 30 percent of the population [of Hawaii], but from watching this film, you?d think they made up 99 percent," said Guy Aoki, head and co-founder of MANAA.

The forthcoming Cameron Crowe-directed film Aloha is finding itself making headlines for unflattering reasons again.

The Media Action Network for Asian-Americans released a press release to the New York Post that accuses the Columbia Pictures dramedy of presenting a "whitewashed" version of Hawaii.

"Caucasians only make up 30 percent of the population [of Hawaii], but from watching this film, you?d think they made up 99 percent," said Guy Aoki, head and co-founder of MANAA.

Read MoreBradley Cooper, Emma Stone Flirt on the Job in 'Aloha' Trailer (Video)

"This comes in a long line of films ? The Descendants, 50 First Dates, Blue Crush, Pearl Harbor ? that uses Hawaii for its exotic backdrop but goes out of its way to exclude the very people who live there," Aoki continued. "It's an insult to the diverse culture and fabric of Hawaii."

According to Aoki, the largest roles for islanders in Aloha are characters without names, some of which are described as "Indian pedestrian," "upscale Japanese tourist" and "upscale restaurant guest."

"How can you educate your audience to the 'rich history' of Hawaii by using mostly white people and excluding the majority of the people who live there and who helped build that history?" he said.

Sony declined to comment, and a MANAA rep did not respond to a request for comment. An Aloha source tells The Hollywood Reporter that no member of MANAA has yet to see the film or read the script and that the film's storyline centers on the spirit of the Hawaiian people.

Last year, 20th Century Fox's Exodus: Gods and Kings dealt with similar criticism over white actors playing Egyptian roles.

This is not the first hiccup that Aloha has faced. Following last year's Sony hack, leaked emails from Amy Pascal revealed that she took issue with the film's difficult production.

Aloha stars Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin and Bill Murray in the story of a military contractor (Cooper) who moves to Hawaii for work and falls for an energetic Air Force member (Stone). Sony releases the film May 29, and the trailer can be seen above.

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/s/camer...045036078.html

[Diomed]

No.. Your not race baiting at all. (As you just mentioned in your last thread).

On a serious note, what I find truly awesome. Is how much time you spend trying to thump white folks ears.

Not only searching for shit like this to post, but then all of your ensuing responses, etc.

I've said my peace on a few race related issues here.. But only from experience, never conjecture. The thing is.. I move the fuck on after that.

Every day I watch you spend a minimum of an hour making zero concessions about black culture. I certainly don't have an issue making concessions about white people's actions.

That lack of honesty and self awareness is exactly what propogates this ideal about black behavior.

It would seem, Being that your one of the few black people on this board, you have a bigger responsibility to walk an honest and objective line to dispel these preconceived notions about black people today and their culture.

Yet you continue to do yourself and your race a disservice by literally appitimising the poor examples of intellect and behaviors which are brought to light in a negative way about your people and their habits.

[The Porn Nerd]

This movie looks like cable TV SHIT and I cannot believe Cameron Crowe would waste his talent on this crapola.

[Bladewire]

Hawaiian's are more Austronesian than Asian. It's going VERY far back in ancestry to call native Hawaiians "Asian" let alone "Asian Americans"