05-08-2011, 06:56 AM
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.
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.