So there's been this trademark "war" going on that I wasn't even aware of until recently, when my local Hawaii friends as well as the social media sphere has been extensively sharing, how a Chicago-based company called: Aloha Poke Co. has been trying to go after local small businesses in Hawaii, for simply using the words "Aloha" and/or "Poke".
My first thought is ... what the hell? No One Owns the Rights to "Aloha" or "Poke"?
Aloha is such a universal word that holds dear to many people's hearts in Hawaii, particularly those of Native Hawaiian blood.
Aloha has multitude of meanings, not just only the standard "hi".
To trademark that word, along with the word "poke" ... is indeed modern day oppression of a culture and people that have been oppressed for hundreds of years.
Below is a partial screenshot of the trademark letter:
Notice that the trademark letter is dated on January 17, 2018.
Why is January 17 so significant?
If you look back 125 years ago, on January 17, 1893 ... was when the Kingdom of Hawaii, an independent nation recognized by many nations/treaties, was illegally overthrown by the United States.
So these trademark lawyers and the company has the NERVE to send this letter out on this date? I bet they weren't even aware.
Then again, the mainland attitude is one of which they don't care about history, and only care about profits to benefit themselves.
Don't want to sound racist, but in Hawaii ... we call this situation "haole" attitude (or mainland/white attitude).