My Haole Boy (road, interest, should)

[insanityincredibly]

To the Sorceror: Haole, Ka'u, the '70's......that's gnarly. Noone should have to live in that sort of hell. My uncles were long hair haoles in the late '70's in Kea'au school, that was bad enough for them I'm sure.

Me: Haole, Puna, the late 80's early 90's. I, thankfully, never really had the s##t beat outta me, I was able to be friendly with most everybody in school days.....but, overall I've never really been anything more than a fu##ing haole here on the Big Island. I have a son now, blonde hair blue eyes, we are leaving because of the effect my experiences growing up here had on me, mild compared to some no doubt, but still sucked!! I don't want him to have to deal with the mokes.......counter label to haole for those who may not know. I know there are ignorant a-holes everywhere, but these ones are definitely special to me, some are taught to hate us and some aren't discouraged, which is no better. There are alotta cool locals, but they seem to be torn by a loyalty factor of sorts. The missionaries and english settlers did it, not me, I'm sorry it happened but it did, it can't be changed no matter how many haoles you beat down physically or psychologically.

Like I said, I was never hurt real bad, but I was always treated differently even today. I knew who not to look in the eye I guess, and I knew when to walk the other way, that's most likely what saved me physical harm. I still have a hard time looking anyone in the eye, I'm almost 30. Still, not comparable to some, but I understand.

[DDane]

I was under the mistaken impression I could have an effect here on this generally racist website.

Not really.

The problem with threads like this is they generally turn into bitchfests with hardly any basis to fact especially when you compare them with expieriences of people of different races who live in the same area.

I gave it some thought and now I believe it is better to have threads like these. Threads like these means less a-holes to come to Hawaii. Who cares if poeple think Hawaii is home to a bunch of racists as long as people obssesed with race or have paper thin egos don't come here.

Better for us who live in Hawaii who enjoy racial diversity and arn't a bunch of egotistical self centered nazis.

[apacificco]

I find it funny how many have there say in this ( thread) thing. Theres no harm in what anyone says. It draws debate is all. Debate is good.
I don't get offended even if someone insulted me. I find it amusing and simulating that someone has taken the time to say something. Its good.

Of course getting cared away with something is never good. Nor is letting something get out of control.

The fact is Hawaii is a great place .Its connected to all of us. You think you ( live there ?) but really there is everywhere. A little place called earth.

[cynmkolohe]

Originally Posted by apacificco

I hear all this talk about Bad kids hurting good ones but where are the teachers?, and if any kid hurt my kid i would be at the parents door or have the parents called in class to talk about there bad out of control child and if that didn't work I would be contacting a lawyer and suing someone. Wow.
Cool aloha spirit

One of the difficulties in discussing the schools of Hawaii is that within the same community you have some serious extremes. Even from classroom to classroom on the same campus.

On the positive side, there are some great teachers here. There are some great classes. (A friend of mine who just left for a year in Australia taught English, AP English and Latin up to the third year level at Waiakea High...loved her students and had a very positive impact on many of them...)

On the other hand, because of inclusion policies, there are some students at a third grade reading level in regular ed high school classrooms. This makes a teacher's job so much more difficult. Imagine trying to teach "To Kill a Mockingbird" to a classroom of students that includes three 16-year old boys who can't read it. Do you think they are staying engaged in a conversation about "theme" or "character development"? Let me assure you, they find other things to do!

The special education system is designed to make it almost impossible to remove extreme behavior problems from classrooms. You mention lawyers..the special education system has so deeply ingrained in the minds of parents that they have a "legal right" to services that there are constant threats of and actual initiation of many suits against the DOE. (You wouldn't be the first to consider legal action!) The problem is, these parents are fighting just as hard to keep the students responsible for some of these fights and low test scores in the regular education classrooms. It is very complicated. (Please don't assume I am completely anti-inclusion...I'm not, but under the current circumstances, I draw the conclusion that, in many cases, it is not really working for anyone...the teachers, the "regular ed" students and the students qualified for "services". )

Should this cause parents to lose hope? Not necessarily. Plenty of students are graduating from Hawaii schools, going on to college and starting successful careers.

Much is determined by what types of classes a student chooses to take. As soon at a student has choices on a High School level, the student should take the toughest classes he/she can handle. Take languages. Take AP classes where offered. Take the highest level of math offered.

And all along the way, parents must stay involved. If every parent would be sure their kids would keep iPods, CD players, pornographic notebook covers, etc AT HOME, they would sure be making their teacher's jobs a lot easier. What??? you say? Why doesn't the teacher take care of these things in the classroom.....Because our teacher's are constantly walking a fine line between maintaining order and violating a student's rights. The "system" is not in the teacher's favor. But I don't believe this is unique to Hawaii....

Forgive the "soap box". As a former teacher, this is an issue close to my heart. I love the process of education, but had to do a serious reality check when witnessing first hand the extremes that are tolerated in some classrooms...and by some families......(Please keep in mind that my last position involved extensive work with a special education department. The system needs some major overhauling. And many parents must learn to take more responsibilty for what their children do at school.)

[IntoTheMystic]

Originally Posted by apacificco

I read a good post on moving to Maui on here dated 6/17 It was insightful and there is hope if you really want to move. It was called my experiences moving to Maui. Maybe you already read it. Not sure what utility bills would go for.

Good luck and never give up on your dreams.

Mike

Yes, a lovely post by someone who doesn't either go to school or work with a lot of locals. Or live where there are a majority of locals either. Much of Maui is like an island off of California. I don't mean that as an insult.

Many transplants have entirely or almost entirely positive experiences. Many locals are folks with plenty of aloha.

However...

I've taught in south central LA and Miami FL. I've never taught white kids. I've also never seen as much fighting as I did in my Hawaii school. I've always been an outsider among the locals, but never been made to feel like one as I did at my Hawaii school. I put out so much aloha it took me a whole year to realize that some people really were going to *completely* ignore me and/or show me daily hostility. And these were the grown-ups.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

One of the difficulties in discussing the schools of Hawaii is that within the same community you have some serious extremes. Even from classroom to classroom on the same campus.

I totally agree with you. I wasn't saying Hawaii schools are only one way.

[64Rings]

i do feel really bad for all the little kids who are beaten to a pulp every day simply because they were born with the 'wrong' skin color. As you can read from the stories in news papers; this does not end when they graduate.

As many people on this forum and others have noted; racism against white people is very strong here, occasionally turning violent. I am forming a brotherhood of "haoles" as many here would call us. A support network of the oppressed. We will also decide if and how we can combat the racism the island culture, or the best action to take. Our decisions, names and actions will not be made known to those outside the group, as it may endanger us and our families given the strong prejudices of many of the natives here.

if you are interested email me at illuminatedones@gmail.com.
I am located in Honolulu, near Waikiki.

[Jungjohann]

Combat the "Island Culture", are you kidding me? A lot of the animosity stems from the missionaries who came here and forced their ways upon the Hawaiians. No more Hula, no speaking the Hawaiian language in school. Sounds like you need to go back in time about 150 years. Ha awi mai imaha...... where's Rocco when you really need him......

Aloha kukae po'o

[Brav989]

Yea exactly it was 150 years ago. Middle of the 19th century. Get over it. As annoying as blacks being pissed because of slavery around the same time. Can't ever make something better by bringing up the very subject over and over again.

[jumpnjackflash]

Hey 64 Rings,
does membership in your secret society include special, white hooded garments????

Seriously, I got my ass kicked on a daily basis on the mainland back in the 60's because I was a chubby, quiet kid who didn't seem to fit in. Then I grew a foot and put on a 100 pounds and the beatings stopped. I shouldn't say that...the beatings on me stopped. The group that beat on me, however, were not nearly so lucky.

I think this is a great forum and it's always difficult to talk about violence and racism and inequity. But it needs to be discussed without personalizing or name calling, something that's tough to do. So thanks for the discussion. Sorcerer, I feel your pain, buddy. I bet it still hurts to think or write about it. Jung, I gotta tell you that I have really enjoyed lurking and reading everything you write. You're smart and funny and balanced, Dude.

I live in Wisconsin May through mid-November and then come and kick back in my condo on Oahu. It's a great life. Maye it's because I'm a pretty big-sized guy, maybe it's because I don't mess with people and I try to be aloha as much as I can, but I think the people here are outstanding. Fortunately, my kids are grown and don't have to deal with what some of you have gone through...it hurts to even hear it.

Peace, Jack