My friend literally couldn't get away from Honolulu fast enough! (Pearl City: crime rates, hotel)

[Mililani Gal]

Totally agree. Multi-ethnic is the term we use here. Practically everyone is considered mutli-ethnic. You'll hear the term "chop suey". Even causians are considered multi-ethnic as it is very rare to find a US citizen that is a "full blooded..." I have caucasian friends that have ethnicities of Italian, German, Swiss, etc.

I would not be concerned about skin color as much as attitude. If you kids approach the other kids in school in a friendly manner, they'll find other kids just as open to new friends and skin color, or ethnicities are not emphasized. They may ask, "what nationality are you?" but just because the population in Hawaii is so multi-ethnic.

Besides, we can always us more nurses. So, e komo mai (welcome)!

[HawaiiboundNelli]

My daughter started school here on the Big Island about a week ago, and on the first day she came home smiling and happy - she has already made so many friends and has had no problems. She is very fair skinned with bright red hair and freckles, and a social butterfly. As long as your kids are friendly and open to new things, as well as tolerant of differences, there shouldn't be any problems.
I also want to add that, at least at the school she attends, the academics are very comparable to where we just moved from in Illinois. She is learning the same things, at the same level, as the school she just left. I definitely haven't found the public schools to be as bad as I had heard.
Nelli

[Nicolai]

I'm a country boy so I'ld probably react the same way: "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Sounds to me like she never left the city. And as far as trash on the streets- Honolulu is no Portland.

Hawaii's got a way of rejecting those who don't belong here.

[kkkkk]

I'm not sure what trash on the streets she's referring to. Honolulu's really clean and modern and safe, from what we saw. Lots of young professionals, tourist and families with kids were leisurely walking around the city even at night. Everyone's very laid back and friendly - and not paranoid and scared at night.

[At1WithNature]

i always wondered about this place, especially since on Dog the Bounty Hunter they always seem to make the natives look dumb as they are so easily conned/persuaded by that big oaf Dog the Bounty Hunter. Maybe she just didn't mesh well with the native islanders. portland is mostly white, right? just saying, that is all.

[kkkkk]

We've seen locals there and they seem chilled out, normal and friendly to us.

[Calico Salsa]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

i always wondered about this place, especially since on Dog the Bounty Hunter they always seem to make the natives look dumb as they are so easily conned/persuaded by that big oaf Dog the Bounty Hunter. Maybe she just didn't mesh well with the native islanders. portland is mostly white, right? just saying, that is all.

Seriously, you don't suppose that's just editing for television?
That's like saying all people in Texas run down the dirt roads drunk and naked, or dressed only in a white t-shirt, because that's what I see when I watch Cops.

Usually the folks portrayed on Dog are people involved with or living around the person they are hunting. Given that they are hunting a crook, and often a drug user, who do you think is going to be involved with them?
The smart, hard-working, average person makes for boring TV, and would surely be cut from the show.

Dog is well regarded by many here, because he shows respect for folks, even if he's chasing them down an alley or loading them into his truck. Unlike the shows where the excitement is all in watching someone get creamed or having their face shoved in the dirt.

[luvdabigisland]

Originally Posted by manoagirl

Well said, that was the point I was making that no one wants to be treated like a minority everyone wants to be treated like a human being and for some groups it is a new concept. Not that they deserve it but it is just the way it is. Thanks for getting my post.
It saddens me to read about anyone not being treated fairly because I have many different nationalities in my family and I feel for all of them. I also have Haoles in my family and it saddens me as a local to think that they would be treated poorly just because of their race. If people would treat people the way they want to be treated, then there would be less problems.

Just yesterday at my job a new manager was introduced to our company who is African American, Guess what she was stationed on Oahu when she was in the Air Force, and has nothing but horror stories of the Islands. There are a couple of guys in the office there that claim they are "Royal Hawaiians, Yea right! (sarcasm) Any how they came up to me saying that the new manager was already giving them "Stink Eye" now they are concern they might get moved to another department. My point is Hawaii is starting to get a bad rap on the mainland, it never used to be this way! I hope this changes because locals will not be welcome on the mainland like they once were. I don't really understand all the increased Haole aggression because Hawaiians were not treated poorly by Haoles when they came to the mainland, nor were Hawaiians treated poorly by blacks. We all need to find a way to just get along.

Maybe we could start by stopping the labeling and name calling of Haole...

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by luvdabigisland

Maybe we could start by stopping the labeling and name calling of Haole...

Nicely worded.

[KAILANI]

I just read that Portland is one of the top city for depression. Maybe she had that mentality BEFORE going over to Hawaii and couldn't see da aloha. Kinda like staying with an abusive boyfriend.
Oh well, i've read enough about this story....
Best of luck for her and her family.
ALOHA