Kaawa, a Native Hawaiian who was receiving two bachelor’s degrees from the School of Hawaiian Studies, was wearing the malo as part of an oli (Hawaiian chant) that opened the graduation ceremony. Kaawa said he wanted to use the garment to remind people “not to be ashamed of your culture, whether you are Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan, Tongan, etc… know your roots, represent and perpetuate! Not just for yourself, but for your family, your ancestors and the future generations of your culture.”
The Other Sociologist 