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+--- Thread: kama'aina or a local (/showthread.php?tid=8300)
kama'aina or a local - lavalinda - 05-08-2011
Justed wondered if anyone could enlighten me. What is the difference between the the two.
My husband is looking for a job and was told by one prospective employer not to feel bad because because they try to hire locals only(off the record of course)
Well we do feel bad. We have our drivers licenses in hawaii, own our own house here and pay taxes. We get kama'aina discount.... when will we be considered a least a resident? I feel like we are still considered tourists.
Mahalo in advance
RE: kama'aina or a local - JerryCarr - 05-08-2011
Linda, your frustration is understandable, and your husband's experience is far from unique. What is unique is an employer willing to admit, even off the record, that discrimination of some sort is being practiced. I am probably oversimplifying here, but there are two rationales generally given for employers hiring only "locals." One is that it is discrimination. Some call it racial discrimination, but it isn't always white folks who get this treatment. Some African-Americans and Latinos get it, too. The other rationale is that recently arrived mainlanders have a propensity to move back after they discover that they don't really fit in here. Having known a number of people who have done exactly that, I can understand how an employer might be reluctant to hire and train someone only to have them leave for non-job related reasons about the time they are hitting their stride in the workplace.
Is this fair? Not entirely, unless the employer has some sort of ESP that lets him know what people will do in the future. There are some opportunities, though. Mainland based companies and big-box type places tend to be more broad and open minded in their hiring. Take a look at Home Depot, for example, and you will see a much more diverse work force than at a lot of locally owned companies. I have also been told that the longer one is here, the less likely the employer is to assume that a prospective worker will bail in a year. Of course, if your financial situation calls for a job right now, that is of little comfort.
When my partner and I moved here, a lovely "local" neighbor lady who has since become a very close friend said, "I'm glad you two have your financial situation sorted out because it would be very hard for two fellows as white as you to find jobs any time soon." And that was at the height of the real estate bubble boom times. It can only be harder now. I truly wish your husband luck and hope he finds something soon.
RE: kama'aina or a local - KeaauRich - 05-08-2011
I think those of us born elsewhere have to accept the fact that while we may own property, pay taxes, and perhaps even contribute to the community in other ways, we will never be "locals" although we may earn kaima'aina status over time (and not in the "discount" connotation). Given Hawaii's history, I think it's only natural that true "locals" (those whose families have been here for generations) would tend to look more favorably on other "locals". It's no different than, say, the owners of a family business employing siblings, cousins, etc. over others who may be equally (or even more) qualified. Jimmy Carter said it best: "Life isn't fair..."
Here's my two cents on your question about "when will we be considered at least a resident." I think that's something that happens on a different time schedule for all of us, and is based, to a large degree, on our personal attitude, behavior, background, interests, etc. I think it's analogous to the adage that love will find you when you stop looking for it. If you live a life respectful of the Islands, their culture, and their people, you'll increasingly get known and welcomed as someone who "gets it". Instead of going with the flow, you'll become part of it. But some people take longer to adjust than others, and their efforts to make life here fit a preconceived notion of what it "should be" prevent them from experiencing and relating to what it really is (good and bad...).
I don't mean to be critical, and I'll apologize in advance if my next statement makes me appear so. In your note, all the examples you gave to demonstrate your full-time Hawaii status ("We have our drivers licenses in hawaii, own our own house here and pay taxes. We get kama'aina discount...") were all things that can be bought with money, not unlike tourists do. It's possible to be kama'aina without owning a home, having a drivers license or paying taxes-- just look around you. I'm guessing "real" kama'aina (and I'm not there yet either...) would mention other primary examples to justify their case -- things like "I'm an active member of my church, I have a wide base of friends of all ages and nationalities, the local librarian knows me and recommends books she thinks I'd like, I volunteer at the hospital, I live off the land," etc.
The plants that flourish here are the ones that are able to put down deep roots in even the hardest lava. The ones that only have surface roots eventually get blown away.
RE: kama'aina or a local - Carey - 05-08-2011
Linda, This is probably more to the fact that the communities here are older established agriculturally based places where you do know most everyone (it really hit home to me when I realized that if you play a sport here as a child, you have most likely played that sport with most of the kids around the island, more than a few times.... you really do get to know one another after growing up here...) but this is not an isolated thing that only happens on these islands.
Employers here can ask around easily to find the scoop on a potential new hire that has lived on the islands. For those that moved here, our reputations are totally clean slates.... for both good & bad, and our references are, for the most part, as good as foreign; most likely no one knows any of your references.
For anyone looking to get hired, ask yourself, how am I creating my reputation? What am I doing that will build up my reputation in the community I want to be hired into? This is not something that will happen overnight. It can take years to get known... but this happens in many areas that have a long-standing population that has lived & worked & suffered together.
We moved from a smaller midwestern neighborhood, much like some of the ag lots around Puna. We were still the 'new neighbors' when we moved out after almost a quarter of a century in the same house. just like there, it took about three years for our neighbors here to start to get to know us...
For your question of Kama`aina, it is a child of the land.... so my question to you, how does your drivers license reflect that you are a child of this land?
For a thread that covered much of this:
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11822
RE: kama'aina or a local - Kapohocat - 05-08-2011
I would also suggest you find somewhere to volunteer where the skills you would use at a job would fit.
I think KR's take on it is perfect. It isnt about taxes or DL's.... it is about being a real part of the community. Plenty of vacation rental owners pay property taxes but they live on the mainland.
Now it also happens the other way - a friend was applying for a dept manager job at Target opening soon. She said they seem to be hiring all haoles - she is local. Maybe they are maybe they aren't. It's all in the perception.
Also when our unemployment rate is so high, it is natural to want to look for those you have an affinity with - went to school with, knows your auntie, etc. Think of it as if you were a military spouse trying to get a job somewhere that you were just transferred to. My friends wives in the military have just as hard a time because of the transient nature of military families.
RE: kama'aina or a local - dmbwest - 05-08-2011
I know easier said than done, but if one can create their own niche / business and not be competing with established (local) ones, I opine you will be well supported.
Hi Kat,
After seeing a bunch of the new Target hires recently, I've got to agree with your friend. They 'look' like imports.
aloha,
pog
RE: kama'aina or a local - macuu222 - 05-08-2011
Well they might be hiring "imports"....but what about seniors? I applied for every job there (part time and full time)....and never even got an interview. I must be either underqualified....or just too old at 55.
RE: kama'aina or a local - macuu222 - 05-08-2011
I do remember when Target opened in Kona. Almost half of the original hirees failed the mandatory drug test and they had to reinterview. So I may still get lucky....
RE: kama'aina or a local - dlnragent - 05-11-2011
quote:
Originally posted by macuu222
Well they might be hiring "imports"....but what about seniors? I applied for every job there (part time and full time)....and never even got an interview. I must be either underqualified....or just too old at 55.
Did you get notified of the Target interviews that will be held tomorrow through Sunday? If you applied on line, you should have gotten an email.
RE: kama'aina or a local - macuu222 - 05-11-2011
I applied on-line....Nope...no email. Like I said...I'm either under-qualified...or too old or both.