"They're as ubiquitous as Starbucks. Within a 5-mile radius of my Orange County home, I've counted at least 15 poke establishments. And every time I see a marquee advertising poke, I can feel my face flushing, reacting to my deep annoyance, because the word is so often incorrectly spelled "poké," "pokey," "poki" or some other abomination. It is poke. And it's Hawaiian, rooted to the Indigenous people of the Islands. It deserves respect by being properly acknowledged."
"The dish many restaurants are calling poke, from California to New York and around the world, is so far removed from traditional Hawaiian poke that I believe it shouldn't even carry the name. In many cases, it appears these businesses are capitalizing on cultural appropriation, hoping to profit from the popularity of a Hawaiian dish while ignoring its cultural meaning and origins."
"The commercialization of Hawaiian culture has been rampant ever since people realized they could exploit it for profit, and it is continuing to modern times. It wasn't that long ago that Chicago restaurant Aloha Poke Co. tried to trademark the words "aloha" and "poke." Another company, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, trademarked "aloha spirit" last year."
Poke is a traditional Hawaiian raw fish dish and a Native Hawaiian verb. The dish surged in popularity in the mid-2010s, becoming prominent in New York and California and spreading nationwide. Many modern poke establishments misspell the word and serve versions far removed from traditional preparations, often resembling salad bowls. Commercialization and cultural appropriation have led businesses to capitalize on poke, including attempts to trademark terms like "aloha" and "poke" and trademarking "aloha spirit." A part-Native Hawaiian recounts growing up with poke in Hawaii, emphasizing the dish's cultural roots and need for respect.
Read at SFGATE
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