Re: Racism
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11/30/2008
Generally speaking, outsiders view Hawaii as a melting pot of different races living in harmony - the "aloha state". I was born and raised in Hawaii (I am mixed race - white mom, asian dad) and I lived there until I graduated from high school. I can tell you that Hawaii can be a very racist place, especially toward white mainland people (aka "haoles"). My mom faced many difficulties running her business as a white woman, and my fiance and I would encounter public comments from "local boys" about him being a f*ing haole and having no right to date a local girl - we run into similar comments almost every time that we go out. We have since moved to the mainland and have lived in California, New York, Texas, and DC - each place that we lived has been far less racist than Hawaii.
Keep in mind that upon first impression, you may experience racism. However, even if you blend in based on your appearance, there is another type of discrimination against anyone from the "mainland" without local ties. I do not want to scare anyone off, but I just want to put my perspective out there.
MH | Sterling, VA