When I was in Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand) as a student, I had the honor of receiving the hongi from a group of local Māori students. The host school greeted us in an organized queue of teachers and students, and one by one, I pressed my nose to each stranger’s nose. While perhaps unthinkable during the coronavirus pandemic, this affectionate gesture served to me as an obvious indicator of building relationships and trust.
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrated in the United States in May, we are taking a moment to appreciate the cultural values of Polynesian cultures, a subregion of the Pacific Islands. The cultures which fall under Polynesia include Native Hawaii (United States), Samoa, American Samoa (United States), Tokelaua (New Zealand), Tahiti (French Polynesia), Fiji, and Tonga, among others. While there are most certainly differences in cultural traditions, food, and language among the Polynesian nations, there are also several common values.
Relationship-Oriented
In most Polynesian cultures, relationships are the key to success. Trust is built through a culture of hospitality, and prioritization of community. Invitations to join cultural traditions is a common method to develop relationships with those outside the community, and should be interpreted as a gesture of good faith. I already mentioned the Māori greeting of hongi as a powerful example of relationship-building. The shared breath and the closeness of faces symbolizes that one is no longer considered a visitor, but “one of the people of the land” (tangata whenua).
Hierarchy
Several Polynesian cultures have a more hierarchical approach, and will avoid communication until they can determine who is of higher rank. Social gatherings of drinks called ‘ava in Samoa, Tahiti, and Hawai'i (where it's spelled ‘awa), and yaqona in Fiji arrange seating determined by seniority and rank, though the arrangement of hierarchy varies among each nation. Tonga – a matriarchical society – has a social and familial hierarchy is determined by one’s gender and subsequently by one’s age. Therefore, a 35-year-old woman may be higher ranking than her 40-year-old brother. In Hawaii, deference to elders (kupuna) can be reflected in the way the most senior elder is allowed the last word in a conversation.
Group-Oriented
Thirdly, reciprocity, interdependence, and group consensus are key values in Polynesian cultures. Polynesian cultures generally value mutual assistance among group members and a focus on collective effort. In Samoan culture, the word fa’a Samoa is used to indicate the high importance of the dignity and achievements of the collective, rather than on individual achievements. The term fa’a Samoa also refers to the idea of cooperation and consensus. Through a mindfulness of how people are interconnected, group harmony can be achieved.
As with all our cultural analyses, we must be cautious to use what we learn about common cultural values and behaviors as a means for providing context and appreciation, and not as a short-cut for stereotypes. Our values are shaped by many factors, including historical events, colonization, globalization, generational norms, as well as individual experiences.
To learn about other cultural values and how they relate to the workplace, schedule a consultation here.
References:
https://americansamoa.noaa.gov/learn/faa-samoa.html
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/samoan-culture/samoan-culture-core-concepts
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=theses
https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/interviews/what-hongi-means
https://hrsd.spc.int/sites/default/files/2021-07/Cultural_Etiquette_in_the_Pacific_Islands_0.pdf
