Ethnic/Cultural Identity (Ewa Beach, Pukalani: purchasing, school, college)

[cynmkolohe]

With all the posts about the interactions between groups we have going on the forum, I'm hoping to get a thread started here that will be an informative, enlightening twist on the topic.

A few questions to get started:
*Where do you live now?
*Where are you from?
*What ethnic backgrounds do you associate with--not the "check one box", but all that are important in your family history?
*What story or stories can you tell us that might illustrate your experience in Hawaii?
*What are the issues facing our generation as we discuss ethnicity?

I always enjoy hearing the history of folks I meet here. Share as little or as much as you like....

[cynmkolohe]

I'll start:

I was raised in South Carolina and lived in the Carolinas until just after college. I moved to Hawaii several years ago and now live on the Big Island.

I look Irish and have documented evidence that my father's ancestors moved from Ireland to England sometime in the 1700s. I also have a trace of Cherokee Indian blood as well...I don't actively identify with Ireland or the Indian nation, but have great sympathy for the struggles of each and believe that my knowledge of the histories of both has shaped my perception of how things "should be" in the world. I grew up in an area where racism was prevalent--and left as soon as I could with a desire to live in a place where that kind of small-mindedness was less influential.

My experience in Hawaii has been a very positive one. I moved into Ewa Beach and was openly welcomed by the staff and families of the school where I worked. I have worked in the school system on the Big Island as well and was also welcomed here. My relationships now include such a broad range of people from so many different backgrounds that I couldn't even begin to describe them. And I like it that way!

[micro.boyraisedinhawaii]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

With all the posts about the interactions between groups we have going on the forum, I'm hoping to get a thread started here that will be an informative, enlightening twist on the topic.

A few questions to get started:
*Where do you live now?
*Where are you from?
*What ethnic backgrounds do you associate with--not the "check one box", but all that are important in your family history?
*What story or stories can you tell us that might illustrate your experience in Hawaii?
*What are the issues facing our generation as we discuss ethnicity?

I always enjoy hearing the history of folks I meet here. Share as little or as much as you like....

I live in Pukalani Upcountry Maui.

From Maui originally.

half micronesian half white, look micronesian with white skin, everybody here mistakes me for hapa hawaiian meaning half hawaiian half something else, usually caucasian.

LOVE LIVING HERE! NOWHERE ELSE! Well, maybe another island but preferrably in US which is basically HAWAII! Have many diverse friends ranging from hawaiian, to filipino, to tongan, to caucasian, etc.

None really with me because there are a lot of micronesians around and that race isnt really dying out. I only have concern for my fellow hawaiian friends future because there are barely any full hawaiians left. My whole life I have only known like 6 different full blooded hawaiians. I think the majority of them are on the island Ni'ihau which is forbidden to go to unless invited by the family that owns that island. The islands are LITERALLY the melting pot of the united states. So many different backgrounds.

[bamasandman]

I am suprised there has not been more activity on this thread, so I will jump in. I am from the great state of Alabama, have always had a dream of someday relocating to Hawaii. I am middle aged, caucasion, I too am from Irish descent. Employed as a purchasing manager for a major oilfield service company. Thats my 2 cents worth, now someone else jump in. Aloha

[kani-lehua]

i am of japanese, portuguese, english, german and hawaiian ethnicities.

from my mother: japanese, portuguese and english. her grandfather came from a small fishing village in japan. the original family name was ebisutani, but somehow was changed to tanna (the name of their village). her father grew up in maui (family name is hart). i could be wrong, but i think there is some samurai blood in there somewhere.

from my father: japanese, portuguese, english, german and hawaiian. his japanese grandfather married into the gaspar family of napo'opo'o, big island hawai'i. the great grandfather was john gaspar who resided in the islands beginning 1871 after ten years as a seaman on freight steamers. he was a coffee farmer who was the first to use a coffee sheller and the first to construct a coffee mill in hawai'i. he was also one of the founders of the old portuguese mutual benefit society, the st. antonio society, which was established in 1877. of other significance was that his mother's bloodline can be traced back to king kamehameha the first who married his ancestor palila. as i was looking for lots on the big island, i noticed that there is a street name of palila. german family name was first wolfe then changed to dewolfe.

heh, cynmkolohe, i grew up in ewa beach. my mother has taught hawaiian studies with the leeward district for many years. i bet you would know her. i thought i might meet you when i finally move to volcano, but maybe i already know you? hm?!

as a youth, i spent some summers with my extended hilo family and one time with the lindsey family from kamuela. the peace and serenity i experienced at that time inspired me to acutally write a song that was later translated into hawaiian by larry kimura. i had never had that feeling again until my recent trip to the big island last week up at mauna loa estates. according to one of my kupuna, my father's land is calling me. the beauty alone will knock you off your feet!

better stop here. i could go on and on................

[cynmkolohe]

Kani-Lehua...thanks so much for sharing. Please keep going if you want to share more of your family history. This, to me, is what Hawaii is really about!

Mahalo also to micro.boy...lucky you growing up on Maui!

And bamasandman...you will find quite a few folks here who share some of our Irish heritage. You can't always tell at first glance, but it is not uncommon!

I've been meaning to mention a book that I read just after arriving in Hawaii...it is Growing up Local: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose from Hawaii by Eric Chock (Editor), James R. Harstad (Editor), Bill Teter (Editor). I read this when I had first moved to Oahu and was teaching. Some of the stories in this anthology opened my eyes to so many things I might have missed for a long time. (Although I know, even after my time here, that I've just barely scratched the surface of what Hawaii must have been like even just a few years ago!) Search Amazon or Barnes & Noble or try a local library if you are interested in reading the book.

[Jimbo's]

Well I am mostly German with a bit of Hawaiian as I am told my great, great grandmother was Hawaiian and my GG Grandfather was mostly German. My Father lived on the islands until he was 8 years old and then relocated to Texas and then Arizona where I was born.

I have been to Hawaii many, many times growing up since I was 6 years old. I started a business about 20 years ago and if anyone who owns a business knows there is very little time for anything else now times that by 5 additional businesses I started and own so I haven’t been able to visit for a number of years until last year when my wife and I said enough is enough and started visiting Hawaii again.

We have decided to sell off every business but our Alternative Energy business and plans are being made to relocate it to the islands. I have always loved everything about Hawaii and can’t wait to get there for good. We haven’t decided which island yet but we will make that decision in March when we are there to find a spot.

[kani-lehua]

cynmkolohe: i'm definitely going to check out that book you were talking about. i'm wondering if NA MEA HAWAI'I bookstore has it? hope that's the correct name of the store.

jimbo's: hawaii needs alternative energy! am not sure why so many people are opposed to windmills?! now, that would be a great source of energy. i, too, owned and operated several businesses. the last was an okazu-ya (japanese/local delicatessen [spelling]). did that for exactly 1 year. yes, i said 1 year. what a rude awakening that was. nearly killed me and my relationships with family and friends. up at 2am, get to the restaurant get all the food ready including sushi and then open by 6am to serve breakfast. at least i gave it a try, but will never do that again!!!!!!!!!!! kudos to anyone in this field. maki sushi (hand rolls) here in hawaii is traditional food for the holidays. i'm not kidding, for new year's we had to shut down the restaurant and make approximately 800 rolls. yikes! that's a lot of rice!

[Jimbo's]

Originally Posted by kani-lehua

cynmkolohe: i'm definitely going to check out that book you were talking about. i'm wondering if NA MEA HAWAI'I bookstore has it? hope that's the correct name of the store.

jimbo's: hawaii needs alternative energy! am not sure why so many people are opposed to windmills?! now, that would be a great source of energy. i, too, owned and operated several businesses. the last was an okazu-ya (japanese/local delicatessen [spelling]). did that for exactly 1 year. yes, i said 1 year. what a rude awakening that was. nearly killed me and my relationships with family and friends. up at 2am, get to the restaurant get all the food ready including sushi and then open by 6am to serve breakfast. at least i gave it a try, but will never do that again!!!!!!!!!!! kudos to anyone in this field. maki sushi (hand rolls) here in hawaii is traditional food for the holidays. i'm not kidding, for new year's we had to shut down the restaurant and make approximately 800 rolls. yikes! that's a lot of rice!

Well we don't do the windmills per say, I designed a bearing that we manufacture that will allow the wind generator to work at a lower elevation and at lower wind speeds. The wind generator itself is more of a piece of art then what the normal wind turbines look like. The people here on the mainland use it for yard decerations instead of a alternitive source of energy Go Figure!

[kani-lehua]

now that you mention it, i've heard about something like that. can't remember who, what, when, why or how. probably was on some channel like hgtv or discovery. i wouldn't mind a "yard decoration." the neighbors would probably scoff, but what the heck.