Racism in Hawaii (appointed, living in, moving to)

[cynmkolohe]

I first read this when I was working at a local high school here on the Big Island. It is relevant to this discussion, I think...

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE

[kai.pacifica]

scorpy01...

Then you are the exception. My fiance is hapa. She has been called names (****, *****, etc.), pelted with stones, and even attacked on the mainland. This was done by white people.

BTW... I grew up on the West Virgina/Ohio/Pennsylvania border. We unfortunately can't go back there for all of the problems with "locals" there. And my fiance has been a model!!!!!!!!

Before getting too worried about the mistrust of caucasians in the islands, know there is more prejudice and hatred on the mainland to go around. Sad but very very true.

[scorpy01]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

I first read this when I was working at a local high school here on the Big Island. It is relevant to this discussion, I think...

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE

I think it is relevant to the discussion of whether or not Hawaii should be granted sovereignty. It is not relevant to whether people ought to treat each other badly or whether it is ever right to be cruel or disrespectful to someone based on their race or national origin.

BTW, thank you for that link. I'm exploring the site now.

[scorpy01]

Originally Posted by kai.pacifica

scorpy01...

Then you are the exception. My fiance is hapa. She has been called names (****, *****, etc.), pelted with stones, and even attacked on the mainland. This was done by white people.

BTW... I grew up on the West Virgina/Ohio/Pennsylvania border. We unfortunately can't go back there for all of the problems with "locals" there. And my fiance has been a model!!!!!!!!

Before getting too worried about the mistrust of caucasians in the islands, know there is more prejudice and hatred on the mainland to go around. Sad but very very true.

Then you were very near to where I am. I can see Ohio from my front window and my husband worked in PA for about 6 years. (Pittsburgh)

I'm truly sorry that you experienced racism. I live in a very "redneck" neighborhood so I do know that it exists. However, I've found that simply speaking out and letting others know that you won't tolerate that kind of hatred goes a long way toward silencing it. You can't control anyone else's beliefs but by speaking out, you can ensure that their behavior doesn't step over the line of what is right.

If you ever do come back to this area, I'd love to meet you. My kids have brought many friends home of varying shades, some who lived with us for several months. I remember coming home from work one evening and seeing my son with his three friends in the living room. One friend was white, one was Palestinian and one, who lived with us at the time, was black. I'd just had an argument with my boss that very day when he made a racist statement. (He was also sexist, btw.) When I looked at my son and his three best friends, I knew I was right. We're all just people. And we each deserve to be judged individually, not as a part of any group.

Someday, perhaps.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by Steve40th

Hawaii also asked the US to become part of the US in the mid 1800's. Look it up and see how smart the white people were of the US, by saying no they effectively stopped slavery in the islands here. Imagine how that would have been.

To be fair Hawaii asked *after* wealthy White planters started hijacking the government...

[Calico Salsa]

Of course there is racism in Hawaii. There is racism everywhere in the US.

My friends who visit sometimes ask about it beforehand and also notice it when they are here. Of course they notice it less than they might if they lived here, since as visitors they tend to frequent only the visitor-oriented places.

My answer is that I suggest they are aware of it more here because it is directed at them for a change. That is, if they are white, they might intellectually understand that racism exists in their own town, or be willing to object to racist remarks made about someone else, but the experience of having it directed at you is something entirely different.

Racism takes many forms, both outright, like name calling, and very subtle, like getting less of a welcome or a more sterilized aloha rather than feeling truly greeted. Once my visitors perceive what racism is truly all about, they are often astonished what that feels like.

I also suggest that my friends with children use their visit as a means of educating them about racism, and "see how that feels?" It is a really golden opportunity to show their kids how it can hurt and make other people feel badly, so that they don't go along with it in their own schools or with friends.

I moved to Maui some years ago, and I look native. I have to say that while I grew up in one of the most progressive and mixed-race environments, I never really understood how much I was on the "outside" until I came to a place where I am treated like an insider.

By the way, racism goes in all directions. As someone who looks native, even when dressed in 'resort casual' nice clothing and accompanying my visiting friends in tourist shops, I'm the one that gets closely watched as if I might steal something. And white people in the local community organizations (Lions, Rotary, etc) sometimes assume I am less educated or make less money than them.

I am sure it is harder for the kids in school, but gee, that's the age when they are most likely to pick on each other for anything. I remember my school days, and if it wasn't race it was something else (boy/girl, tall/short, fat/thin). Teach your children how to deal with it, not to become a part of it.

Here, as anywhere, respect goes a long way. Making faces at local cuisine, mocking the dances, mimicking the accents, all that is what might be causing some of the reactions. Visitors please remember that while you are on vacation and in a new and novel situation, this isn't Disneyland - it's our home.

[Tarla]

Hey missyelliot,

I am a Samoan girl and when I get to Hawaii this month and settle down and get to know the place a bit more, I would like to meet up for a coffee.

[GrannyII]

I grew up in Oregon - a Japanese hapa - in the 50's. I have had very few bad times. Some discomfort at times, but that could have just been me. Mostly, a very good childhood and life. I have met whites who had terrible childhoods or young adult experiences in Hawaii, though. They are about the same age, so I would say it must have been worse racism in Hawaii.

We lived more than one place - rural area, large city of Portland and also California. Never really any terrible experiences.

My mom loved Hawaii where she grew up and always spoke of the good relations between races. However, that is not what my white friends and acquaintances have told me. And they are very nice people.

[Tarla]

Where ever you go in the world there will be racism no mater what. the more people argue about it and say this and that will only continue the fuel. I have friends from different races and YES we do at times talk about this subject of Racism, but at the end of each day it depends on the person. If you are going to move to Hawaii with the thought that every local is racist than let everything that follows that come your way cos all it will bring is unhappy negative reactions. However if you leave with an open mind and except that it happens in every corner of the world and just go enjoy yourself than I can assure you that life will be less dramatic than going with the perception of locals on Hawaii being racist. I for one have never been there and have heard dome horror stories of what happens there. I don't condone racist behaviour but people need to respect where they are going and where they are at. ( JUST MY OPINION)

[Rathagos]

I'm retired Navy now, but was active only 3 years ago. I lived in Hawaii for 6 1/2 years (3 in Ewa Beach and 3 1/2 in Aiea). I'm about as white as they come, and was lucky enough to have never experienced the racism first hand. My ex-wife was Asian, and she never was really subjected to it either.

I know that this next statement is generalistic in nature, broad in scope, and argumentative at best, but I think racism is worse for people who really look for it. I know that there are those that have unfortunate dealings, but there are so many positives of different places, why focus on the negatives (I know they stand out more). I have probably been helped off my bottom side more in life than I have been pushed down on it. I would rather look at all the people (regardless of race, sex, religion, etc) who have helped me and done kind things for me, than those who have slighted me.

Racism is not going to go away any time soon (if at all), and the topic was Racism in Hawaii. The answer is racism is everywhere. All racism is is the discrimination or negative behavior based on race (read: different). We have been dividing people for a long time. Because there will always be different races, there will always be racism - just like as long as there are different sexes there will always be sexism. The same for religious persecution, etc.

The point is that its going to exist everywhere, education can hopefully alleviate much of it, but as long as we have education problems (which EVERY state has), it's going to be a recurrent problem.

So, the next time you have a chance to do something nice to or for someone else (regardless of the race, sex, religion of the person), give them something nice to remember... may make it easier to forget the negative.