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Neighbor island. It's a lot more friendly sounding.
Bingo. The reasoning is deeper than "friendly", it goes to an aversion of things being "Oahu centric". Neighbor island folks do not see themselves as bystanders to Oahu, thus, we are not "outer", but rather equal "neighbors".
When you are on Oahu, the "other" islands are referred to as outer islands. I work with a lot of State of Hawaii people - and that is the common phrase. Everyone says outer islands. It isn't meant as a bad thing, but that is the way they refer to the "other" islands. When on Maui or not Oahu, it doesn't make sense to say outer island - it even sounds weird - neighbor island sounds better but I don't think anyone is saying it from a friendlier perspective.
Hmmm, was not aware! So who was pushing the political correct meme? I've heard both references, neighbor island and outer island and didn't realize one would be considered somewhat offensive. Of course I'm not local nor did I live on one of the other islands.
When you are on Oahu, the "other" islands are referred to as outer islands. I work with a lot of State of Hawaii people - and that is the common phrase. Everyone says outer islands. It isn't meant as a bad thing, but that is the way they refer to the "other" islands. When on Maui or not Oahu, it doesn't make sense to say outer island - it even sounds weird - neighbor island sounds better but I don't think anyone is saying it from a friendlier perspective.
Hawaiʻi is one of the few archipelagos in the Pacific where some of the "outer islands" are larger than its political and economic center. For lack of a better term, "neighbor island" seems more preferable than "outer island" to the following:
If the "State of Oʻahu" existed instead of the "State of Hawaiʻi", the use of the term "outer islands" to refer to the other "main islands" would make more sense. When I think of the "outer islands" of Hawaiʻi, the islands and atolls of the "Northwestern Hawaiian Islands" (Nihoa, Necker Island, Kure Atoll, etc.) come to mind.
When filling out random forms on the internet, you sometimes get the choice of "US - minor outlying islands" and I always pick that. I think it actually refers to places like Midway or Palmyra, that may or may not be populated, but it's what the "outer" islands feel like sometime.
I work with a lot of State of Hawaii people - and that is the common phrase. Everyone says outer islands.
I've the had exact opposite experience. I have worked with many state agencies, and actually that is where I became sensitize to the use of "neighbor" instead of "outer". Many of the state agencies that have a presence (ie staffing) in neighbor island offices are quite aware that there is offense taken to the concept that since Oahu is the "center" of the population base it should lead to "Oahu centric" decision making. Neighbor Island folks (and state office staff) want their voice heard, too, including in decision making and planning, especially when it involves matters that affect their lives/work/environment.
Well, the people I'm working with only have mainland or Oahu people in the room so nobody is getting offended. Maybe they switch it up when the "neighbors" drop by.
Well, the people I'm working with only have mainland or Oahu people in the room so nobody is getting offended. Maybe they switch it up when the "neighbors" drop by.
Until 1893, the "mainland" of Hawaiʻi was the Big Island, which happens to be larger than all of the other islands in Hawaiʻi combined and lends its name to the archipelago and state (among other things). Some people in Hawaiʻi take offense when folks refer to the "continental United States" as the "mainland."
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