Hawaii Archives - The Race Card Project

I am not a MAIL-IN-BRIDE

January 10, 2025January 23, 2025 active Duty, American, assume, CA, domestic worker, filipino, FOOTHILL COLLEGE, Hawaii, ICE, Kristal Vanessa Baradi, main in bride, military, Milpitas, veteran

Kristal Vanessa Baradi,
Milpitas, CA

…or Domestic Helper. I am a Filipino- American, I was born in Hawaii. My husband is white, we meet in the Army (yes, I served for 8 years Active Duty). Everywhere we go people ask me where I was from of how long did it take for my husband to petition me or people will joke around and say ” I will call ICE on you” or ” is this your first time in America?”

White in Hawaii; Black in Alabama

January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 Alabama, attack, AZ, Black, Chandler, hate, Hawaii, Patrick Lawrence, white

Patrick Lawrence,
Chandler, AZ.

Growing up white in Hawaii during the seventy’s the color of my skin gave 85% of the population an excuse to hate and attack me daily.

No B’s in an Asian Family

July 15, 2022July 15, 2022 @caitlinchris, CA, diverse, Family, Hawaii, HI, Jessie Blakely, Los Angeles, stereotype

Jessie Blakely
Los Angeles, CA

I was raised in Hawaii, where there really isn’t such thing as a racial stereotype. Hawaii kids tend to be so ethnically diverse, that any stereotype today may apply to up to 1/2 of their bloodline, but rarely more. When I moved to the mainland to go to college, I was faced with a multitude of ethnic stereotypes, none of which I was previously aware of. It made me realize how little color matters in Hawaii. I saw how some people on the mainland claim not to care about race, but race is the first thing they notice. Bit of a contradiction, I think.

You’re the African American of Indians.

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 African American, CA, ethnicity, Fijian, Hawaii, Indians, Nikolette Joseph, Pacific Islander, Union City

Nikolette Joseph
Union City, CA

People always ask me what is my ethnicity. I respond saying Fijian and they look at me like what the heck is that. I explain to them that its an small island next to Hawaii. ”Ohhh okay” as they say. The Fiji water , that’s where you come from? So “you’re the African American of Indians? Yes I say the “Fiji water” is where I come from. I am not the African American of Indians. I’m Fijian if you don’t know what that is then call me Pacific Islander . They said they always thought I was Indian and Black. I didn’t like being called Indian or Black because that wasn’t who I am. I don’t mind being called Pacific Islander. Fijian is not a known ethnicity but being called ” the African American of Indians” is something I get offended by.

Three White Eagles and a Brownie

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 briwnie, haole, Hawaii, HI, Mark Petersen-Overton, military, Mount Laurel, n-word, Navy, NJ, orphanages, Phnom Pen, what are you, white eagles

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)

Haole is a very racist word.

June 23, 2020September 20, 2020 CA, haole, Hawaii, HI, Kona, San Diego, skin color, Theresa Nakata

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.

I am only Asian to non-Asians.

October 1, 2013 Asian, CA, check the box, Chinese, Hawaii, Irvine, Japanese, Korean, non-Asian, Pacific Islander, Vietnamese

Karina
Irvine, CA

I live in an area that has many distinct Asian groups who are first generation Americans: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. My grandmother was first generation Filipino and my Grandfather and father are both Caucasian. That makes me part-Asian. But to my Asian friends who are first generation, they see me as White – or mixed at best. My Filipino friends acknowledge that I am Filipino. And my White friends see the Asian traits and consider me Asian. But the box for Filipinos is usually “Pacific Islander” – yet Japan (very close to the Philippines- much closer than Hawaii… ) chooses Asian. Very confusing. So, it is only to non-Asians am I seen as Asian.

When checking “white,” I am diminished.

June 21, 2013June 21, 2013 Adelia Dozier, atlanta, caucasion, check the box, diminished, GA, Hawaii, HI, Japan, white

Adelia Dozier
Atlanta, GA

Every time I have to check my race as “white” or “Caucasian” my stomach turns and I feel diminished. I search all boxes to see if there is a better representative word. I am more than “white” or Caucasian. I am a composite of those whose lives I have shared. Born in Hawaii, growing up in Japan, traveling widely, and settling finally in Georgia, I am a composite of all who have been a part of my life. My skin does not define me or any other person I know.

Born in Hawaii, minority white girl.

May 25, 2013 economic minority, Hawaii, Lael Weyenberg, Minority, OH, White girl, Worthington

Lael Weyenberg
Worthington, OH

Growing up white in Hawaii is a unique experience in race – you’re a minority in number but not an “economic minority”. You watch yourself and don’t act better than others. I was beat up twice for being in the wrong place but didn’t feel unsafe in my home. It is the most gentle place I’ve ever lived, as long as you follow the rules.

Hawaiians? Did you swim to school?

May 19, 2013 Hawaii, Hawaiian, John Book, mainland, multi-ethnic, Pasco, stereotypes, swimming, WA

John Book
Pasco, WA

In my experience as someone who is part-Hawaiian, I’ve found that the stereotypes of what I am and where I’m from were very misinformed, yet seemed endless at the time. Sadly, those who were in error often did not want to know anymore than the stereotype they presented to me. It came off like the special Hawai’i episode of any sitcom, where people cared for two episodes and lived with their lives. I lived amongst a fairly multi-ethnic community, so I learned tolerance at an early age, along with a need to know more about the people around me, be it at school, in my neighborhood, or down the street. I moved to the mainland, and it seemed as if there was an “ever man for himself” attitude. It was a rude awakening, and I had found it hard to adjust because of someones unease of me.