The Race Card Project
By Michele Norris
Jan Mason
NY
Born and raised in paradise as a Haole (white) person I had more than my share of discrimination but living on the “mainland” where I “fit in” with the white majority(?) my island heritage is invisible. I have taken to checking the box or “Pacific Islander” though I feel guilty about if since all my blood is European. My heart is Hawaiian.
Mark Petersen-Overton,
Mount Laurel, NJ
The loves of my life! When we was stationed in Hawaii, we wanted to adopt a local girl to go along with our three natural born sons. We received huge resistance from local orphanages because we were “Haole”. So I flew to Phnom Pen and brought home our precious little girl, Holly Kaiulani Petersen-Overton. Holly was half Thai and half Cambodian. She completed our family. In SC during school, kids would look at her and literally say: “What are you?, You are not a N****r and you are not a C**nk. Ugh!
Mark Petersen-Overton
Capt, USN (ret)
Lois Ann Knezek,
Sanger, TX.
I was born and raised in Hawai’i to a Hawai’i born Japanese woman and an Irish Bostonian. Luckily, in Hawai’i, everyone is mixed so I didn’t feel any different. Then I married a haole from Texas and moved to a culture where people didn’t know what I was. I wasn’t Black, White or Mexican. What was I? Did I speak English? I am now a teacher at a local university trying to help my undergraduate pre-service teachers become aware of the sea of colors and diversity they will see in their future classrooms. Thank you Race Card Project!
Carolyn Hisako Okinaga,
Honolulu, HI.
I asked this question when I was growing up on Ewa Plantation. Ethnic groups were housed in separate villages on the plantation based on race and position, e.g., Filipinos laborers lived in Fernandez Village, Japanese in B Village, etc. All of the caucasian (“haole”) supervisors/bosses lived in Renton Village; they had their own swimming pool and park. Since my father was a mid-level supervisor but of Japanese ancestry, we lived in Pepper Row which housed other mid-level supervisors of Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian and Portuguese ancestry. We literally lived between the haoles and the other races. I could play with the haole kids on the weekends because of my dad’s position but during the week, they went to Punahou and I went to the public school and spoke “pidgin English” to be accepted by my classmates who spoke the same. One day while playing in the haole park, my playmate was called home by her mother. I stuck around only to see other haole kids armed with birthday presents troop to her house. I went home in tears to ask my mother that question.
Carol Silva
Portland, OR
My step-grandma danced, taught, and had her own hula group who performed during the week on Oahu. Once when she and my grandpa were visiting us on the Mainland, my grandpa suggested that when I got older I could come to Hawaii and dance in the show. This was unlikely to ever happen, but nice of him to say. My step-grandma shook her head and said, “She looks too haole.” Very true, but it hurt to hear her say that I was not welcome. Later on my cousins danced in that group. They were also haps haole, but did not look it. Now when I see photos of me and my cousins I think, “Looks too haole.”
Theresa Nakata,
San Diego,CA
Growing up a “haole” girl in rural Kona, Hawaii, every school year I was bullied for the color of my white skin and the shape of my nose. As I got older and experienced other cultures, the personal shame and pain I felt about being white in Hawaii was replaced with understanding and joy from living in the islands — a melting pot of culture where diversity is ultimately celebrated and valued.
Mackenzie Wasielewski,
Kailua, HI
Living in Hawaii I have always been “discriminated” against because I don’t look the other people. I am always told that I can’t surf or dance hula because I’m a “stupid haole.” What makes me a stupid haole? Many people think that it is impossible to be racist to a white person,, which is not true. People think that because years and years ago white was the dominant race that you can’t discriminate against them. Think before you say something about any race.
Joel,
Honolulu, HI
I live in Hawaii and I’ve always gone back and forth about the word “haole”. I tend to use it but I wonder if it’s considered offensive. Perhaps it depends on the context and why you’re saying the word. I’ve used the word to describe a person; “So and so is hapa-haole” or “She’s married to a haole guy”. But I’ve also heard people add more emotion to the word; “That f-ing Haole!” or “Stupid Haole”. I’m curious as to how this word came about. I’m also curious about the race relations in Hawaii. We are of course a beautiful state with plenty of diversity but I’ve also heard people say some pretty disgraceful and racist remarks. I like to think of Hawaii as a mixed plate, but how do we feel about race relations in Hawaii?
Kim Kime,
Hilo, HI.
People seem to think, at least where I live in Hilo Hawaii, that white means money and a background with out hurt. They forget that many whom came to america came here to get away from racism, abuse, war, and or fame. I am Irish, I know my peoples pasts. It was filled with the theft of a culture, a language and an entire belief system. Willful starvation, rape, theft, death and even slavery and this, all fairly recently. But mos never hear about it. Because the Irish are white. White people can’t be hurt or have had bad things happen to them.
I know Irish are not the only race that has been hurt badly. I know that this happens to all people, so why can we not just see people for whom they are today? What THEY do. How THEY treat people?
Steve Harris,
Honolulu, HI.
As a Caucasian looking individual in Hawai`i many people make assumptions about who I am, what I’m about and where I’m from. It’s taken me years to fully acknowledge my identity as a secular Ashkenazi Jew. I grew up with much anti-Semitism and the tendency to hide behind my “White” exterior. Even though I have evolved a long way toward embracing my Jewish identity, I still do not feel comfortable putting a mezuzah on the front door of my rented house for fear of what our “Haole=Caucasian” landlords would think. I was raised by parents and grandparents who expressed to me it is okay to be Jewish in the house and at synagogue but not out in society. It is very difficult being Jewish in American society for 1) the assumption that we are all assimilated “White” people and 2) that as assimilated “White” people we adhere to the customs of a very Christian nation. My Jewish identity is based on pride in my cultural heritage and traditions and is not religious in nature. My Jewish values and identity are very important to me and differ greatly from what are often considered common values or cultural norms in American culture. But due to my appearance, many assumptions are made about me. In Hawai`i, Caucasians (Haole) are often linked with the missionaries and corporate barons who came here in the 19th century and proceeded to illegally take over the kingdom, eventually leading to US annexation. As a member of a minority who has experienced much covert discrimination in all aspects of my life and who’s ancestors experienced much oppression, I bristle at any suggestion that I am “Haole”.
Rachel in Honolulu
I have encountered this many times dating other races. I have white (well really pinkish) skin. I’m attracted to all ‘races’. Many times when I have dated other races, I have been told that they are afraid to introduce me to their parents because their parents don’t approve of them dating white girls. “Why don’t you date black/filipino/your own race girls ?? ” They tell him. They seem personally offended. I haven’t met anyones parents yet from another race of a guy I’ve been dating. We haven’t gotten that far 🙁 If my parents said anything negative about me dating other races, I would stop talking to them. I don’t understand why so many brown and black skinned people are so afraid to date outside their race and upset their friends and family. Why so much pressure to only date your same race ? We aren’t all evil (white people) !! I love other races, I’m attracted to men that look different than me. I wish more people were accepting of inter racial dating. Its stupid to tell people only to date within their own race. Its a big issue here in Hawaii too, its acceptable to talk bad about dating white people but if anyone said it the other way around, its a big deal. White people have feelings too 🙁 And yes I’m aware of the long entrenched history of racism of white against other races and yes I know what the concept of white privilege means. Me being upset that others don’t accept my white skin does not mean I am ignorant of these things. Everyone is eager to call out when white people are acting racist but when other races do it, its like the elephant in the room. Everyone makes excuses for it or accuses the ones of calling it out as being insensitive and trying to change the subject. All racism is wrong. Lets end this b.s. !
Madge Walls,
Wilsonville, OR.
After a lifetime in Hawaii, I now live on Oregon. As much as I love Hawaii, I enjoy the novelty of being in the racial majority for the first time in my life.
Claire Iveson
Kaunakakai, HI
My blonde Anglo son was raised and educated on Molokai, before going to the Berkley College of Music at 17. He was aware from kindergarten that he was a “haole” but didn’t understand that he wasn’t also Hawaiian. Adult Hawaiian friends assured them that he was a keiki o ka’aina, a child of the land. And this he shares with Barack Obama!
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