Your story: Was it worth it to move to Hawaii? (Honolulu: health insurance, new home)

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by werogers42

There is a movement amongst some of the locals that they are trying to separate from the union (which of course will not happen) because of the underhanded way that it became a state.

I think that is a mis-statement. I wonder how many of those here who hold that belief were here in Hawaii in 1959, and know just what happened, first hand, not just what an "activist" today tells them.

I was here. I had been here for two years when statehood was approved, after years of lobbying by residents of Hawaii for statehood. Here is a newsreel that ran at that time:

Internet Archive: Details: Aloha Hawaii. islanders Celebrate Long-Sought Statehood, 1959/03/16

Prior to 1959, Washington politicians had not been able to agree to admit Hawaii to statehood, because it was predominantly Democratic. Statehood only came in a deal to admit both Hawaii and Alaska (predominantly Republican).

There was real celebration when statehood was achieved. I was here. Now, those who want to change Hawaiis status say that the way it became a state was underhanded because all Hawaii residents voted. They say only full blooded Hawaiians should have been able to vote. Some of their brochures say that "even the military was allowed to vote". Not true. I was here. I was military. I could not vote, because I was a resident of another state.

Our civil rights movement confirmed that every citizen gets a vote. Who was a citizen in 1959? You decide.

Now if you want to talk about the way Hawaii became a Territory in the late 1800's, that's another story.

Hank

[Mvn 2 Paradise]

Maholo Hank.

I think that is helpful information.

Sharlee

[kani-lehua]

the movement to separate is amongst the hawaiians and not the "locals." that term is used to loosely. if you are born here, you are local. to be hawaiian, you must be of that ethnicity.

[viking2001]

Originally Posted by aloha717200

Aloha,

This question is mainly for mainlanders who moved to Hawaii.

I've been doing as much research as I can lately to try and weigh the pros and cons of moving to Hawaii, and trying to locate a safe place to live. but the most insightful things I've read have come out of online forums, reading what people who live in Hawaii have to say about life there. And to me, it seems as if Hawaii has just as many downsides as it does benefits.

It is beautiful, but expensive. A broad range of people, but also much racism. Not so much violent crime (though it is rising), but among the nation's worst rates of property crime, fueled by the growing Ice problem. A land of Aloha Spirit, but that spirit being broken by those seeking to harm their fellow man. The land is being developed, both for good (jobs, affordable housing), and for bad (overexpansion).

Local governments are said to be corrupt by some, and others say that the local police departments cannot or will not be able to combat rising crime. An air of uncertainty over Hawaii's future looms, and for those planning on raising children in the islands, there are large fears of the growing numbers of gangs, violence in schools, racism among pupils, poor school environments and widely varying test scores.

With so many people voicing so many passionate concerns, does any hope seem in sight that things will start to get better? Can enough voices change things for the better? Or do most of us feel that things will only get worse? Is hawaii truly "safe", is it truly "happy", for you, for your families?

Is it worth it to continue to have the dream of living in Hawaii, even knowing that you may sacrifice your peace of mind, to not know for sure if your car, your home, will be safe from thieves from day to day? To worry about your kids at school, to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet and enjoy your islands only on the weekends?

Can the feeling of Aloha still persevere even after facing all of the above? I would like to know. I love Hawaii, have loved Hawaii all of my life, and in my heart it feels like the one true place I belong. But the Hawaii that I grew up dreaming of didn't contain the fears of crime that are there today. This darker side of Hawaii was something I didn't know of until very recently. But my love of the islands still is strong.

Perhaps things aren't as bad as they seem from outside. Maybe a lot of passion towards preserving Hawaii as a great place to live has made people shout just a little bit louder about problems they might see. But from over here, it seems like the problems are pretty big. I don't want to give up my dream of living there, the thought is heartbreaking, but is the sacrifice worth it?

Tell me your story. I want to hear. When you moved to Hawaii, what was it like for you? What is it like now? Did you adjust easily to the islands? Were you accepted? How will you face the growing problems in the islands? And could they ever cause you to move back to the mainland? What can all of us do to make a better hawaii for our future?

Mahalo,

Brandon

I have been to Hawaii 10 times. I used to own property on the big island, but sold it due to loss of interest in spending anymore time there. Everytime I have gone there it has become progressively worse with anti white racism. It is becoming a real cesspool of hatred & ignorance, along with out of control drug abuse & crime.
One day all the "Haole" will leave. So will the tourist dollars, mine have. Then who will pay the high taxes to support this highly intelligent mix of humanity ??

[viking2001]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

Hmmm. Have to git a bit of a giggle over all the "haole" go home" stuff. Whatever! I have been around Native Americans's (they still call themselves American Indians, by the way) my whole life. Good friends and good times still bein' had! Oh sure.. we have our jokes bout Custer had it Comin' Eh Heh ...Not that far...( if you don;t get it you gotta have been there) I've been called ****** , white bread, cracker and pecker wood, ( never by Indians) Washichue, white eye, bluecoat and a few others by Indians...( All friends of mine) Lol ...just never call me late fer supper! "Haole"....gimme a break! Been raked over the coals ( literally) just makin' friends. Given as good as I got..and we still all share a fire at hunting camp. .....Go figger. Whats wrong with us?....don't we know we's supposed to hate each other? Hmmm....that news never got out this far I reckon. Pass the jug and stoke the fire .....The Sun will rise tomorow....yah te heh (aloha) to all!

Tell those things to a 400lb Samoan who stomps the life out of you for smiling & sayng hello. You obvoiusly have never been to Hawaii. I have shared many a good time with many types of native peoples in the USA mainland & Alaska, but do not confuse these island people with them. It could cost you alot of pain or your life.

[NVplumber]

Originally Posted by viking2001

Tell those things to a 400lb Samoan who stomps the life out of you for smiling & sayng hello. You obvoiusly have never been to Hawaii. I have shared many a good time with many types of native peoples in the USA mainland & Alaska, but do not confuse these island people with them. It could cost you alot of pain or your life.

Actually I have been there. Never got that type of a negative experience with a Samoan or any other person. Course I wasn't out stomping around in areas where I might get into that type of situation. I think the trick here for a new arrival is to work in slow and obviously there are places you don't want to go even after many years. Thats the same everywhere. Even being familiar with and having many friends among the Indian tribes here there are places ( and times) where I know I'm not welcome on the reservation. The point I was actually trying to impart here was that being called a "haole" doesn't effect me much. Just another one to add to all the others. If one lets every single negative experience govern ones life you'll never gain any ground or make any new friends. Certainly I have enough common sense not to stick my nose in places where it might get bit off. Ihave no intention of trying to boldly land in the islands thinking that it's going to be the same as here. I'm under no illusions that I'm going to be accepted as a long lost friend or something. However up to this point, I have not been threatened or molested in any way by anyone while in the islands. Time may change that but, my personal opinion, is that you can't let irrational fear govern your every move in life. I'm sure there are a few hardcore "haole" haters there. Just like there are haters everywhere. I'll do my best to steer my self clear and try not to get stomped. Aloha all!

[aloha717200]

Originally Posted by viking2001

Tell those things to a 400lb Samoan who stomps the life out of you for smiling & sayng hello. You obvoiusly have never been to Hawaii. I have shared many a good time with many types of native peoples in the USA mainland & Alaska, but do not confuse these island people with them. It could cost you alot of pain or your life.

Did this happen to you? Which part of the big island is like this?

[kani-lehua]

hatred and ignorance=a two way street and it's continually perpetuated on/in this and other threads. drugs were introduced.

[higas]

I just have to take issue to your comment that "Racism just wouldn't work here" in San Francisco. I was born in Livermore, CA, but raised in Hawaii 24 years, met and married a local boy, so I believe I know of which I speak. Yes, I encountered racism in Hawaii because of my skin color, but never was I treated so bad as in the Bay Area 20 years ago after I got married (to a local boy from Hawaii). As a result we only stayed 15 months and were sent back home (Hawaii) via the U.S. Military. True they all can get along on some level, but California is one of the most segregated places I have ever lived, not to mention a huge tolerance for both violent and non-violent crime that everyone seems to turn a blind eye to and think it's normal...which brings me to my next point...which is why my husband works in Hayward, California and we live in Ohio. The problem is that on the whole (not all but many, and I'm not necessarily talking at all about you) Californians are so arrogant they think where they live is Heaven on Earth. My extended family who lives in the Bay Area likes to believe they are so racially accepting, but heck, all their friends are white, and they're from Berkeley, Piedmont and So. Cal. My in-laws (of Okinawan descent) initially were a little skeptical of me being white, but once they saw I was friendly, outgoing, and really loved their son (and was a good Mother to their grandchildren) loved and accepted me as their daughter. You may be the exception to the rule and I'll gladly give you that if you are, but I can guarantee you don't hang out in, for example Oakland. My friends and family here, in Oregon and Hawaii range from being white to oriental and Hawaiian and any Pac-Islander race in-between. Don't have any black friends, but mainly because in my young years in California there weren't any around where I lived and very few in Hawaii.

You may move to Hawaii, but like it or not, you're a Haole and the sooner you accept that fact, the easier you will find it is for you. There are in fact local terms for others (like Portagee, Popolo, well, I could go on, also stereotypes associated with each race that are, well the butt of many locals jokes). Don't be so hung up with whether someone is racist or not and kick back and enjoy the joke.

I hope you find Hawaii the true place of Aloha that I do.

Originally Posted by Berus

Having just posted a question of my own about my upcoming move to Oahu in another thread on this board, I found this thread very interesting.

A bit about me - I am caucasian (British family heritage), and currently live in San Francisco. San Francisco, as most of you know, is an intense mix of every race and ethnicity you can imagine. Racism just wouldn't work here. More importantly, any sort of racism does more harm to the racist than to the target of the racist behavior. ANY sort of racism is equated with stupidity and ignorance. That's just how things are in San Francisco.

What I've read in this thread is interesting to me because it sounds as though there is a great deal of anti-white racism among certain of Hawaii's residents. The above rant which contained the phrases "shut up haole" and "go home haole". Literally made me laugh. First of all... I have a news flash: Hawaii is a state. As Americans of ANY color or ethnic persuasion, none of us have to "shut up" or "go home". As Americans, ALL of America, be it Hawaii, New York, Alaska, or Florida IS our "home". Secondly, don't call me a "haole". It's meant in a disrespectful, racist manner, and as such, it has no place in any dialogue between fellow Americans.

If I want to move to Hawaii because I like Hawaii, I will.

No ignorant, backward, racist philosophy or ranting will prevent me from doing so.

While I will take practical precautions against being victimized by racism, (such as not moving into a neighborhood known to be hostile to causcasians), I will not be frightened out of my plans to move by any sort of racist rant. Frankly, I just find it amazing that in the year 2008, there is still dialogue in which people of a certain color or ethnicity are being "warned" not to move to a state in the USA. That is nothing more than racist coercion. It's just absurd. Worry less about the color of people's skin, and more about the color of the earth - namely, keeping it green.

I love Hawaii. I'm moving to Hawaii. I intend to be very happy - probably much happier than anyone who is concerning themselves with some sort of racial agenda.

My advice - ignore the racists - whatever color you are.


---Berus

[higas]

Originally Posted by HankDfrmSD

I think that is a mis-statement. I wonder how many of those here who hold that belief were here in Hawaii in 1959, and know just what happened, first hand, not just what an "activist" today tells them.

I was here. I had been here for two years when statehood was approved, after years of lobbying by residents of Hawaii for statehood. Here is a newsreel that ran at that time:

Internet Archive: Details: Aloha Hawaii. islanders Celebrate Long-Sought Statehood, 1959/03/16

Prior to 1959, Washington politicians had not been able to agree to admit Hawaii to statehood, because it was predominantly Democratic. Statehood only came in a deal to admit both Hawaii and Alaska (predominantly Republican).

There was real celebration when statehood was achieved. I was here. Now, those who want to change Hawaiis status say that the way it became a state was underhanded because all Hawaii residents voted. They say only full blooded Hawaiians should have been able to vote. Some of their brochures say that "even the military was allowed to vote". Not true. I was here. I was military. I could not vote, because I was a resident of another state.

Our civil rights movement confirmed that every citizen gets a vote. Who was a citizen in 1959? You decide.

Now if you want to talk about the way Hawaii became a Territory in the late 1800's, that's another story.

Hank

The funny thing is to your comment that politicians had not been able to agree on Hawaii becoming a state because it was predominantly democratic is the fact that the Democrats have run Hawaii into the ground while I believe most locals will agree with me that Republican Linda Lingle has done more to put this state back together since she took office--moreso than either Waihee, Ariyoshi or the last governor, the Filipino one...his name slips my mind. Linda Lingle is well-respected and a uniter, not a divider and...she's a Republican! It was great to see the warm welcome she received at the Sugar Bowl when the Warriors played the Dawgs. They really love their Governor...and with good reason. I couldn't believe how much graffiti, crime and tourist traps...even at Haunauma Bay had taken over when I was back home visiting family in Aug. of 2006, but the locals all told me she was really cracking down and addressing the problems.

Aloha!