Honolulu Archives - The Race Card Project

$200 cordblood storage; few hapa donors

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 cordblood, donor, Gianna Crosetti Bickson, Hapa, HI, Honolulu, storage

Gianna Crosetti Bickson,
Honolulu, HI.

“Hapa” is the Hawaiian work for mixed and usually refers to someone of mixed race who is at least part Asian or Pacific Islander. My husband is of Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino & Japanese ancestry and my family is Italian, Russian English. This makes our kids “Hapa Haole”. While slang, the term is not derogatory, President Obama could be called Hapa Haole on his mom’s side.

The worst thing about being hapa is the challenge in finding a donor match if you need a transplant. Time Magazine quoted the rate of three out of four people will find a donor match if they are Caucasian. This goes down to 1/4 if you are a single minority ethnicity and shrinks even lower the more mixed race you are.

My beautiful hapa kids have very difficult odds if they ever face needing a marrow or organ transplant. For cultural reasons. Asians have very low rates of donation and small numbers in the data bases. I work in the surgical device industry and was aware of this. I banked my children’s umbilical cord blood for their use if the need should ever arise. I pay $200 annually for this service. I am glad I can pay it, but wish it wasn’t necessary

Caucasian in Hawaii, treated as outsider

October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 Annie H, caucasian, health care, HI, Home, Honolulu, husband, job, majority, neighborhood, outsider, tables turned, visitor

Annie H,
Honolulu, HI

Even after living in Hawaii over 25 years (moved for employment – my husband was recruited for a hard to fill position in health care, and I have worked for two prominent Hawaii organizations), I still encounter people assuming I do not live here, and asking, “How are you enjoying your visit?” Also other examples of being seen as an outsider, when using the local park where we live 2 blocks away, we often experience the vibe, “Why are you using our public spaces?” from other folks who drive in from other neighborhoods. It has been very eye opening with the tables turned from when we lived on the East Coast as part of the majority. Have honed my humility and empathy.

DNA 99.9% same. Humans are dumb.

November 4, 2021 99%, diversity, DNA, HI, Honolulu, human, Lars Olsen, racism, viking, white

Lars Olsen,
Honolulu, HI

I am white, Viking white… yet I have experienced racism. We humans are strange creatures. It’s great that we all want to express our individuality, our uniqueness. It’s also great that we want to belong, to something, some group. What I find sad is that in doing this great things, somehow, someway, it becomes about one being better than another. Why can’t we just accept each other and celebrate the diversity. Black and white is boring, color is amazing.

I have been alone among many

October 20, 2021January 9, 2022 14 years old, 1959, albeit minority, alone, anxiety, CA, clear, economically dominant, ethnic group, first experience, foreign language, French, Gordon Lee Pattison, HI, High School, Honolulu, hostle, isolation, jr. hugh, Los Angeles, principal, privileged, school, society, vulnerable

Gordon Lee Pattison,
Los Angeles, CA.

In 1959, when I was 14 years old, I moved from Los Angeles to Honolulu. I had just started taking French as a foreign language at my junior high school in Los Angeles and wanted to continue. However, there was only one junior high school in Honolulu at that time offering French in the 9th grade, so I got permission from the Honolulu school district to enroll there even though it was not located where we lived. I don’t think we realized it at the time, but I came to find later that it was located in one of the rougher parts of the city. When I enrolled, I met with the principal who warned me that because I would be one of only two haole students at the school, I might encounter trouble from the other students because of my race. What he was telling me was to watch my back, at the same time making it clear to me that I was on my own. I was about to have an experience that every white person in America should have. I know what it is like to be subjected to the mostly curious, sometimes mocking, and occasionally hostile stares and harassment that minorities often endure. I know the feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and anxiety that comes with that. I also know as a minority member what it is like to walk into a room of people and find myself instinctively looking around the room to see if there is anyone who looks like me. I do realize, however, that my experience had one major difference from that of many other minorities in our society. I was a member of an economically dominant, privileged, albeit minority, ethnic group in Hawaii. Nonetheless, it was a very instructive experience. It shaped my life and social outlook ever afterward and gave me empathy for the minority experience in America, and for that I have always been grateful.

No really what are you?

April 1, 2021 Asian, darker, HI, Honolulu, Japanese, Mia, skin, what are you

Mia,
Honolulu, HI

I grew up in Hawaii which was a very diverse place. Coming to the mainland I had a lot of people ask me what I was. When I would answer with “Japanese” they wouldn’t believe me. I admit my skin tone is darker than the average Asian person but no matter how many times I answered with “Japanese” no one seemed to believe me. I would constantly get the “But you’re from Hawaii so that means you’re Hawaiian right” and even “You’re really dark for an Asian” which was straight disrespectful in my opinion. Personally, I struggle with whether or not I am “Japanese enough” which makes these comments hit a little close to home. But I am proud to be from Hawaii and that I have a darker skin tone. But just because I am from a different place or look a little different shouldn’t mean that someone can question who I am.

I don’t know how to act

November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 biracial, culture, different, Eryne Tinajero, Explore Identity, HI, Honolulu, language, tradition

Eryne Tinajero,
Honolulu, HI.

I am biracial. I wasn’t raised with much knowledge of either culture. It’s always tough to visit the two different sides of my family. I feel as if they don’t see me as one of them. I feel like an outsider because I don’t know the cultures. I don’t know the languages. I don’t know the traditions. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be. Sometimes I feel as if I’m missing a big part of my identity.

How come I was not invited?

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 Carolyn Hisako Okinaga, Ewa Plantation, filipino, haole, HI, Honolulu, pidgin English

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.

If I’m Filipino, Am I Asian?

October 23, 2018 Asian, background, Danicka Sailer, ethnic, father, filipino, grandmother, HI, Honolulu, look white, Philipines, South Asia

Danicka Sailer,
Honolulu, HI

I am 25% Filipino. My Father was 50%, and my grandmother was full. Although I look white and most of my ethnic background is “white” I am still Filipino. I have always considered myself technically Asian. Whenever I try to explain this to people they tell me that I am not Asian and I never will be but I am! The Philipines are in South Asia so I am Asian! I may not look it but I am it. Even though I do not look Filipino at all I still feel it. I often brag about being Filipino and I am very proud of it. I like being diverse and not just one race.

Spam, Eggs and Rice… with chopsticks

October 11, 2018October 12, 2018 chopsticks, eggs, food, HI, Honolulu, Noah Oyler, rice, spam

Noah Oyler,
Honolulu, HI.

Is the word “Haole” racist?

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 haole, hapa-haole, HI, Honolulu, Joel, mixed, racial slur, Racist

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?

Either respect existence or expect resistance.

October 6, 2017October 6, 2017 celebrate, Danielle Guevarra, existence, HI, Honolulu, norm, resissstance, respect

Danielle Guevarra,
Honolulu, HI.

Everyone has different cultural beliefs and norms and they should be celebrated.

Life is rich with different colors

October 11, 2016 barriers, break down, colors, ethnicities, Grant Malec, HI, Honolulu, life, rich

Grant Malec,
Honolulu, HI.

I am taking a course that talks a lot about race and different ethnicities and I think this project is a great way to break down the barriers.

Getting our assumptions from the media.

October 8, 2016 assume, HI, Honolulu, Media, Vanessa

Vanessa,
Honolulu, HI.

I not haole, I’m a Jew.

December 17, 2015September 20, 2020 anti-Semitism, Ashkenazi Jew, corporate barons, haole, HI, Honolulu, identity, Jew, Jewish, missionaries, Steve Harris

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”.

I’m here to change your stereotypes

November 20, 2015November 20, 2015 better, change, Denali Lukacinsky, different, HI, Honolulu, life up, offensive, put down, stereotypes

Denali Lukacinsky,
Honolulu, HI.

People look at me and assume all kinds of offensive things about what black people are supposed to be like, they come up to me and explain all the ways that I’m “different”, and “better” and “not like them.” Well guess what, I am like them. Don’t lift me up by putting my fellow beautiful black folks down.

Mixed and feeling like I’m voiceless.

November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 100%, Charlie J., heritage, HI, Honolulu, ignored, mixed, monoracial, multiracial, Race, visibility, voice, voiceless

Charlie J.,
Honolulu, HI.

People who are mixed race (and identify with both/all sides of their heritage) are expected to sit quietly in a corner while white people and poc duke it out. For example, I’m always ‘too white’ or ‘too hispanic’ to have an opinion when racist things are being said around me, and it makes me feel like I’m a sellout when I try to argue against whatever the popular opinion is that day. There are a lot of multiracial individuals have a foot in both worlds, where they can see the good and bad in both sides of the argument, but no one wants to hear them. I’ve seen fights about white privilege and reverse racism in the comments section of blog posts, but the second that someone says, “Hey! I’m mixed. I don’t 100% agree with any of you but I do agree with a few key points from either side, here’s why… ” it’s largely ignored. I hope that multiracial people gain more visibility soon, because our voices deserve to be taken as seriously as any monoracial person’s does.

His Parents don’t like white girls

July 16, 2015June 25, 2016 haole, HI, Honolulu, interracial dating, Native, parents, White girl

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. !

Fear and reconciliation: oil and water

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 Anger, contempt, conversation, criticism, defensiveness, dialogue, Dirk Elting, fear, HI, Honolulu, John Gottman, mix, oil and water, psychologist, reconciliation, safe, scare, stonewalling

Dirk Elting,
Honolulu, HI.

People cannot reconcile their differences when they do not feel safe. We scare (and anger) one another not only through our acts, but through our criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling and contempt. What psychologist John Gottman has shown to be true for couples, I believe to be true for race relations. I have no answers for how race cards can be replaced with constructive dialogue. But I am sure that “fear and reconciliation” mix as well as “oil and water.”

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