01-07-2014, 02:24 PM
If you want to know if racism is in Hawaii just read seventhreads comments. That should sufficient to answer your questions.
Referring to white people as Haole (this person means it in a derogatory fashion as you can tell from other comments)
This individual finds it hilarious that a white person is discriminated against. You know because only a black person can actually feel discriminated against. I actually find this particular statement very disheartening in the simple fact that it is coming from a person who supposedly experienced racism themselves. I would think that someone who experienced racism would not find it funny at all, let alone hilarious, when someone else is experiencing racism.
Pay rent to a white person(because you all know only white people can own anything)
I could throw derogatory terms around as well but that would be considered racist but it's OK for a black person I guess, right seventhreads??
To answer your question, yes it does exist here. Same as anywhere else. Any where you go there are assholes and it's no different here. However, there are a lot less here than any other place I have been. Some people (seventhreads) have blatant racism that they display even on an internet forum.
Here is something I wrote on another forum about five years ago:
As I do not currently live on the island take my advice/experience over the past eight years with a grain of salt or as the gospel...your choice.
Here is some quick background information. We are currently in the process of moving to Hawaii. We were married on the islands eight years ago and have returned every year since. From the moment I stepped off the airplane I knew I was home even though I had never been there. The islands truly do call to you. You know if you belong there or not. If you have no idea what I am talking about...you don’t belong. Yes, I am sure I will have numerous people tell me I have no clue what I am talking about as I do not currently live there full time. I will tell those people they are wrong. I know I belong there, I know the islands are calling to me; I know that Hawaii is home and I know I will make it there.
Why do I not live there now? We have been very careful in planning our move to our new home. My wife has gone back to college to get her Clinical Nurse Leader (Masters). I know that does not guarantee her a job but I have confidence she will find one. I will be leaving a very comfortable and well paying job here on the mainland to move “home”. We are making sure that our “I’s” are dotted and our “T’s” are crossed. Getting everything in order to make the transition as smooth as possible. I want to make a contribution to the islands, to the people and to “Aloha”. I don’t want to just move there with no plan and “see what happens”. I am shocked at the amount of people who say they have never visited the islands, they are about to lose everything they own and file bankruptcy but they are going to move to Hawaii and everything will be OK. I will NEVER understand that but I digress. OK, now that is out of the way let me get to my point...
Hawaii is an extremely diverse place in both locale and ethnicity. Yes it is part of the United States but it is a foreign country at the same time. However, in all of its diversity it is no different then any other place in the world in the fact that your interaction with people is what you make of it. For the MOST part you are treated as you treat others. I have had NOTHING but positive experience with everyone I have ran into on the islands. It doesn’t matter if they have been White, Polynesian, Asian, Hawaiian or whatever. We have been to a locals beach and been invited to join them in their pick nick. That DOES NOT happen back in the mainland.
Of course, there is always an exception to every rule. I have received the “stink eye” twice in the eight years we have been going to the islands. Both times it was by a very young local. (Teens to extremely early 20’s). They seem to be mad for no reason. The older locals and everyone else we have ran into are MUCH friendlier then ANY PLACE I have been on the mainland. It is the interaction that you have with those people and the response you give them that determines your outcome and experience.
I do not think it is so much being white as it is being American. Let’s face it, nobody likes Americans. Even Americans hate Americans. We are brash, arrogant and NEVER wrong. It has nothing to do with our attitudes because we are NEVER wrong. It is ALWAYS the people that we are interacting with and their issues NEVER EVER our attitudes, NEVER EVER because we are always right!
For the most part, of the American people that visit the islands, they are white. That is the interaction that the people of Hawaii have is with White American Tourists. If you are dealing with that level of arrogance everyday of your life...you’re going to be stand-offish as well.
I was at the Home Depot purchasing a door for our house as a White American Tourist was giving a local boy working at the Home Depot hell. He was screaming about how back in the states they carry this and they have that and Blah Blah Blah. The boy stood there being humiliated for no reason. I stepped in, informed the arrogant white tourist that at his age I would expect him to be more educated and be familiar enough with geography to know two things. One Hawaii is part of the United States and two he is not back home. He game me an extremely evil look and walked away. The clerk whispered “Thank you” we joked a little and I went about my business. How can you deal with that every day and still keep a positive attitude? It is no wonder we occasionally get the stink eye.
With all the tourists visiting the islands, screaming, shouting, letting everyone know they pay for everything, no one would be able to live there if it wasn’t for them, telling them how backwards they are, so forth and so on its a wonder that ANYONE who lives on the islands full time can even interact with the tourists. Remember, if you are white you are a tourist until you get to know people, understand them and get accepted by them. None of which will ever happen if you take your American attitude to the islands. People come and go constantly on Hawaii. Why does someone really want to take the time to get to know you when statistically, you are going to be gone in a year or so?
I believe the islands have a way of letting the people in that belong and chewing up and spitting the rest out. Yes, I am white.
Again, that is just my personal experience and my two cents worth...
Referring to white people as Haole (this person means it in a derogatory fashion as you can tell from other comments)
This individual finds it hilarious that a white person is discriminated against. You know because only a black person can actually feel discriminated against. I actually find this particular statement very disheartening in the simple fact that it is coming from a person who supposedly experienced racism themselves. I would think that someone who experienced racism would not find it funny at all, let alone hilarious, when someone else is experiencing racism.
Pay rent to a white person(because you all know only white people can own anything)
I could throw derogatory terms around as well but that would be considered racist but it's OK for a black person I guess, right seventhreads??
To answer your question, yes it does exist here. Same as anywhere else. Any where you go there are assholes and it's no different here. However, there are a lot less here than any other place I have been. Some people (seventhreads) have blatant racism that they display even on an internet forum.
Here is something I wrote on another forum about five years ago:
As I do not currently live on the island take my advice/experience over the past eight years with a grain of salt or as the gospel...your choice.
Here is some quick background information. We are currently in the process of moving to Hawaii. We were married on the islands eight years ago and have returned every year since. From the moment I stepped off the airplane I knew I was home even though I had never been there. The islands truly do call to you. You know if you belong there or not. If you have no idea what I am talking about...you don’t belong. Yes, I am sure I will have numerous people tell me I have no clue what I am talking about as I do not currently live there full time. I will tell those people they are wrong. I know I belong there, I know the islands are calling to me; I know that Hawaii is home and I know I will make it there.
Why do I not live there now? We have been very careful in planning our move to our new home. My wife has gone back to college to get her Clinical Nurse Leader (Masters). I know that does not guarantee her a job but I have confidence she will find one. I will be leaving a very comfortable and well paying job here on the mainland to move “home”. We are making sure that our “I’s” are dotted and our “T’s” are crossed. Getting everything in order to make the transition as smooth as possible. I want to make a contribution to the islands, to the people and to “Aloha”. I don’t want to just move there with no plan and “see what happens”. I am shocked at the amount of people who say they have never visited the islands, they are about to lose everything they own and file bankruptcy but they are going to move to Hawaii and everything will be OK. I will NEVER understand that but I digress. OK, now that is out of the way let me get to my point...
Hawaii is an extremely diverse place in both locale and ethnicity. Yes it is part of the United States but it is a foreign country at the same time. However, in all of its diversity it is no different then any other place in the world in the fact that your interaction with people is what you make of it. For the MOST part you are treated as you treat others. I have had NOTHING but positive experience with everyone I have ran into on the islands. It doesn’t matter if they have been White, Polynesian, Asian, Hawaiian or whatever. We have been to a locals beach and been invited to join them in their pick nick. That DOES NOT happen back in the mainland.
Of course, there is always an exception to every rule. I have received the “stink eye” twice in the eight years we have been going to the islands. Both times it was by a very young local. (Teens to extremely early 20’s). They seem to be mad for no reason. The older locals and everyone else we have ran into are MUCH friendlier then ANY PLACE I have been on the mainland. It is the interaction that you have with those people and the response you give them that determines your outcome and experience.
I do not think it is so much being white as it is being American. Let’s face it, nobody likes Americans. Even Americans hate Americans. We are brash, arrogant and NEVER wrong. It has nothing to do with our attitudes because we are NEVER wrong. It is ALWAYS the people that we are interacting with and their issues NEVER EVER our attitudes, NEVER EVER because we are always right!
For the most part, of the American people that visit the islands, they are white. That is the interaction that the people of Hawaii have is with White American Tourists. If you are dealing with that level of arrogance everyday of your life...you’re going to be stand-offish as well.
I was at the Home Depot purchasing a door for our house as a White American Tourist was giving a local boy working at the Home Depot hell. He was screaming about how back in the states they carry this and they have that and Blah Blah Blah. The boy stood there being humiliated for no reason. I stepped in, informed the arrogant white tourist that at his age I would expect him to be more educated and be familiar enough with geography to know two things. One Hawaii is part of the United States and two he is not back home. He game me an extremely evil look and walked away. The clerk whispered “Thank you” we joked a little and I went about my business. How can you deal with that every day and still keep a positive attitude? It is no wonder we occasionally get the stink eye.
With all the tourists visiting the islands, screaming, shouting, letting everyone know they pay for everything, no one would be able to live there if it wasn’t for them, telling them how backwards they are, so forth and so on its a wonder that ANYONE who lives on the islands full time can even interact with the tourists. Remember, if you are white you are a tourist until you get to know people, understand them and get accepted by them. None of which will ever happen if you take your American attitude to the islands. People come and go constantly on Hawaii. Why does someone really want to take the time to get to know you when statistically, you are going to be gone in a year or so?
I believe the islands have a way of letting the people in that belong and chewing up and spitting the rest out. Yes, I am white.
Again, that is just my personal experience and my two cents worth...