People should also be aware of a recent law IMBRA (the International Marriage Broker Act of 2005.) It was written by a radical feminist organization called TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER and its founder Layli Miller-Muro.Under the guise of "protecting" foreign women from American men (portrayed as "serial abusers and premeditated torturers" by Layli) this law was sneaked into the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) renewal with NO public hearings, comment or evidence to back it up except for made-up lies by the TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER to promote their real agenda!Their REAL agenda is to prevent ALL foreign women, especially Asians, from coming into the USA because they feel that these "traditional old-fashioned values" that these ladies have threatens "all the advances made by us feminist groups in the past 30 years."While claiming to be concerned about protecting these ladies, they also refer to them as "prostitutes escaping desperate circumstances." In reality they hate Asian women and feel inferior to them not to mention the competition with American women.Tahirih Justice Center is a radical Iranian religious organization hell bent on a jihad against American freedoms and religions beginning with outlawing American men from being able to contact foreign women (which is what IMBRA is all about.)How does this relate to Hawaii? Tahirih Justice Center labels ALL Asian women to be "mail order brides" even if they are living in their homelands. They label ALL women in Hawaii to be "mail order brides" even though there is no such thing.Google "IMBRA" for more details if you want to see how American freedoms are slowly being taken away by radical feminists groups!

yeah, there's racism alright, but it's intertwined with class bias.

I have vacationed in Hawaii several times and thought of moving there. As I started to look and what it would take to live there, everything looked like a go. Then I started to read story after story of local people’s hate of mainlanders.Forget it. I do not wish to live in a place filled with so much hate. Nor will I visit it again. The world is way too big to have to put up with such BS.

Yes, Hawaii is an Asian country! From luck of eye contact to lots of non-verbal communication and prejudice, all points to Asian roots.

When I read blogs such as this I have to remind myself that everyone is entitled to their own opinion....and truly that is all this is, your opinion...but here's something to think about coming from someone who was born and raised in Hawaii and of Japanese decent...do your research before you make comments and kama'aina does not mean (not a native, but someone who’s lived in Hawaii a long time)

So, local girl, what is your opinion? I'm, not sure what you're getting at, except that there is a wrong definition of a word.I find Harry's comments interesting. It is a very different experience to live in the majority, than to be part of a minority, which is what most mainland Asians face. What is so wrong about asking if a white person visiting Hawai'i has gained perspective on what it's like to be part of the minority?

For a blog written by a journalist, sure are a lot of generalizations and over-simplifications concerning race relations in Hawai'i. Add to list of terms to clarify: local Japanese and other settlers of Asian, Portuguese, Puerto Rican,etc. heritage are not Hawaiian - only native Hawaiians claim this ethnicity. This is an extremely important distinction to make in any discussion concerning ethnicities in Hawai'i. Add to that much discrimination amongst the different Asian peoples, with the newer, mostly low-income immigrants such as the Filipinos, Polynesians and Micronesians as well as native Hawaiians targets of systematic discrimination (especially in education) and derision, often perpetuated (BUT NOT ALWAYS) by local Japanese and Chinese, who dominate the middle and upper-middle classes. You're right about one thing - Hawai'i isn't the "comfortable paradise" for everyone.Not trying to argue for sake of arguing but strongly feel we should move away from being obsessed with what white people think all the time (who the f*!k cares?) and move toward building coalitions within different Asian communities, because we are highly diverse, unlike this pan-ethnic "Asian" label supposes that we share a common general identity.

I was born and lived 30 years in Honolulu. I'm also a fourth-generation Japanese American.This is an issue long-debated in Hawai'i: What do we do about discrimination in the so-called Aloha State? It's real. And it happens to Blacks too. This is an issue worth more space than my little post, but a few points:* Hawai'i's plantation past is part of the reason for this discrimination. Asians and Pacific Islanders who were oppressed in those days passed along their animosity to their children, who later won better equality after the Democratic Revolution of 1954. I'm not saying it's right, but it's helpful to examine root causes.* Discrimination is often not just about skin color, but whether someone is local or a "malihini" or visitor. But it's not unusual for a fifth-generation Caucasian to be discriminated against.* "Kama'aina" is used to describe both people who were born in Hawai'i, but also residents, not matter how long they've lived in the state. And you can still be kama'aina even if you don't live in Hawai'i anymore.* Finally, it's an exageration to say that "all the signs in Waikiki are in Japanese." Sure, many are, but so are the signs in the Detroit International Airport. Signs in Japanese have nothing to do with being competitive in Hawai'i.Bottomline: Harry raises an excellent issue and I hope that this discussion helps us all learn more about why discrimination everywhere needs to be understood and addressed.

I'm a kamaaina and a caucasian with native hawaiian blood. I can tell you that the racism has actually increase over the last decade, partly because of the cost of land and living in Hawaii -- you gotta have someone to blame, right? -- and also because of the influx of first and second generation asians to the islands who know little of the Hawaiian concept of inclusion. Also, Hawaiians themselves are becoming more active, eager to get back land and rights taken illegally in the past. That has somehow transferred to -- and been mistranslated by -- new asians in Hawaii who mistake themselves for Hawaiians. They aren't, but I'm willing to give them the title of Kamaaina if they've live there long enough. But most haven't.Racism is worse on Kauai and Hawaii than it is on Maui and Oahu. Kauai might be the worst. It's a violent island with some savage bruts with little or no education and very little exposure to the outside world. So incoming whites are considered a target if they decide to stay. In places like that, the saying is to come, enjoy, spend money, then leave.

As a relatively recent mainland transplant to Hawai'i (and an Asian American and journalist), I'd like to comment that it's problematic for those who are malihini/visitors to Hawai'i to attempt to make valid assessments of race relations and discrimination, without spending a significant amount of time here and really getting to know the social and political landscape. You can't get a real idea of local politics when you're lounging at the poolside bar at your Waikiki or Waikoloa resort hotel.I vacationed here several times before moving, and looking back on those times when I'd make sweeping, superficial generalzations based on my oh-so-intimate knowledge of Waikiki or Princeville or Lahaina, I now feel ashamed. Simply because I was Asian American, and I "blended" better with the locals than the haole tourists did, I felt comfortable with myself and my "understanding" of Hawai'i.After having lived here, listened in on the locals, gotten to know the distinct communities, a bit about the history (although absorbing this will probably take me more years than I can fathom), I've gained a perspective on racism in a historical context that one simply cannot understand the nuances of, as a tourist -- no matter how much you think you "love Hawai'i."And not to make another sweeping generalization, but many of the haoles I know who vacation here in Hawai'i barely leave that comfort zone of theirs. Just going down to the Diamond Head end of Waikiki doesn't mean you're getting out of the tourist zone.

First, I'd like to reiterate the Hawaii vs. Hawaiian distinction: "Hawaiian" should only be used to describe Native Hawaiian (the AP Stylebook finally just made that an official rule a few months ago: http://hawaiifilmoffice.blogspot.com/2005/11/hawaii-vs-hawaiian.html ). Second, as a quasi-kama'aina who's comfy in both Hawaii & the "mainland," I can say that I've heard from white people who've grown up here that it can be quite difficult to fit in, and there is definitely a certain level of resentment against them. However, Hawaii being the post-colonial place that it is, there are still many white people at the tip-top of institutions and organizations, and Hawaii society is still rife with racial & ethnic tensions that have carried over from decades of plantation rule, unlawful overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom, etc, etc, etc. On a semi-related note, for those interested in keeping abreast of what's happening in Hawaii's film industry, please check out my blog that I write for the Hawaii Film Office: http://hawaiifilmblog.com . It's one of the few Hawaii blogs that address racial issues (in the context of the Hawaii film industry, of course).

Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts on this blog!I'm a new Florida graduate looking to move to Hawaii in the near future, both for the experience of an "island paradise"(anyone will say your islands are beautiful!), and honestly for the experience of being a minority.If any of you are willing to share more, how DOES a haole attempt to fit in? How can I help? What else should we know?Thanks again!

Wow, I didn't think a few personal observations of two weeks in Hawaii would garner such pointed responses. But I guess anytime you talk about race it strikes a nerve.As local girl points out above, I am entitled to my opinion, and yes, I'm a journalist, JM. But this posting not meant to be a researched report on every facet of race relations in Hawaii.Granted, maybe two weeks in Hawaii isn't enough come to any conclusions about race relations there, but I just know what I saw and what I heard and how I reacted to it.There are many complex issues and I merely raised one tiny aspect.

Point taken Harry - don't want you to feel like I'm jumping down your throat for posting your observations. I have to remind myself how incredibly naive I was when I moved to Honolulu two years ago, thinking I knew so much about race relations as an LA native and SF resident, and how humbling it has been to just begin to learn about the complicated place that is Hawaii.BUT let's not feign complete naivete here: the point that everyone is entitled to their own opinion is an unstated premise that blog readers already agree upon, and of course you meant to solicit pointed comments when you write about white tourists and ask questions about if they feel uncomfortable once they experience not being in the "majority" (nevermind that white people can experience class, gender, and sexuality-based discrimination as well, and on the flip side of the coin many Asians can count themselves in the "majority" especially economically when compared to the rest of the country; some Asian Americans are so economically privileged that this thought doesn't even occur to them!). Hence my critique of sweeping generalizations is not aimed at any lack of research regarding race relations, but at comments like this.I strongly feel those of us who identify with Asian American communities need to move away from placing ourselves as the "oppressed" and white people as the "oppressors" when there are so many pressing, complex situations that warrant our attention, such as discrimination within Asian communities and, as Keith the 4th gen Japanese from hawaii pointed out - discrimination from Asians directed toward other ethnic/racial groups such as blacks.By always feeling insulted by petty comments from white people, like what some obviously unintelligent tourist said in a hot spring, we give "white people" too much power over our lives and misdirect our activitst and creative energies away from more progressive actions toward building economically and socially sustaining communities for all.

But Harry, I big up's to you for posting your observations and starting a really interesting conversation.

Fascinating and informative discussion. Thanks, Harry for getting it going, and Keith for sharing.Mynette Louie points out a few things that most people are reluctant to look at or think about for fear of spoiling "paradise."I don't profess to know anymore than casual observation based on a few trips there. However, I have begun to see Hawai'i, asides from its natural wonders, as a tourist destination that is over-hyped, over-rated, over-priced and over-romaticized by mainlanders and the tourism industry.Blame it on Japan Air Lines and All Nippon Airways too, for overhyping Hawai'i and making it a cheap destination.I don't know about white people feeling or being descriminated against, however, Kailua and the North Shore on Oahu have a red-necky feel to it. Love the Big Island but Kona looks and feels like what I say about the windward side of Oahu.These areas resemble Santa Cruz/Santa Monica. Lots of white people, together with recently arrived Asian immigrants, own most of everything.The red-necky nature of the areas I mention here include the horrible but expensive food, the Chunking Express'ed of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese food, loud and tacky bars with, again, bad food and expensive drinks, lound revving motorcycles with bleached and leathery-looking riders straddled.I should stop.As I was saying, it is difficult to ignore those things once you get a chance to stay in Kona, Kailua or the North Shore areas.Despite persons of Asian descent and Native Hawai'ians being the majority, like Mynette Louie says in her post, Hawai'i is part of America and is still evolving from its colonial past.Thanks.

In response to the several people who have asked how a newcomer haole should behave to “blend in,” after being here since the 70’s, I can only offer this: With respect. Really, the only times I have ever seen “island attitude” in action is when somebody new from the mainland gave off the “we do it better at home” thing, or worse, considered a local to be beneath them, probably because s/he spoke with some pidgin influence. To those who have asked “why locals don’t learn to speak better English,” I usually ask if they would feel the same way about the locals in France speaking English with a French accent.I know locals who speak perfect Pidgin amongst themselves and perfect English when the need arises. They are, as far as I’m concerned, bi-lingual, which a lot more that can be said for most Americans.Coming to Hawaii from the mainland is very much like visiting a foreign country. A very special foreign country, and in my humble opinion, a good test of whether or not one should even consider living here might be as simple as being able to feel, in her/his heart, that special-ness. To our friends and even relatives who have talked about moving here, we say that if to them Hawaii is “just another place,” don’t even think about it.I’ve lived windward Oahu and mostly Hilo-side Big Island. I love the Big Island, especially Hilo and Puna. The ethnic mix here is beautiful and everyone just seems to get along. Better than just getting along, I see a healthy respect between cultures and have (so far) never, ever experienced any discrimination from anyone.Over-simplified? Naïve? Maybe, but then, we each create our own reality, and this is only mine.Aloha Nui!

I was raised a Jersey Asian. My Taioan-bred uncle lived in Hawai'i for ten years and told me that the social networks are shut off to newcomers. (Don't know how true that is.)I support the efforts of ethnic Hawai'ians and born-and-bred Hawai'ians to stand their ground. At the same time, more power to outsiders who want in. If Japanese becomes more useful than English on O'ahu at some point in this century, then so be it.

Kama'aina as a long time resident truly is a hijacking of it's original meaning - Hawai'i born.

O'ahu and others commenting about the use or misuse of terms will enjoy or be enraged by a story about the term "hapa" Hyphen plans for Issue 13 in the fall.

I my whole life have dreamed of moving to beautiful Hawaii. Finally after years of dreaming I was hired by a company that not only wanted me to work in Hawaii but was going to pay for me and my family to move here. The first 10 months were great, my neighbors, job just everything.So in May I get new neighbors above me. I bought my home because I had no intention of leaving my dream life. So they are loud but thats to be expected sometimes. However it crossed the line when the ladies 17 yr old son threaten to beat and kill me. I call the cops (not 911) and after the cop showed up he told me in a very rude tone not to call anymore. Later I was told by a neighbor that she heard the lady above me say that I was a racist. Which if you knew me and my diverse family would be rediculous.So I contact the condo association and after the next meeting is cancelled I finally get my say in and was told, whoops there is nothing we can do. I also talked to the owner who told me my only recourse is to call the cops he cannot do anything. So I end up back at the police station and they tell me to file a TRO, which I find out is a Restraining Order. So I file the restraining order and was told to take it to the Wahiawa station to be issued. It has been a week and it still has yet to be issued. But starngely since the day I turned the restraining order in the family leaves the house early morning and returns very late. This is a family that was always home always banging, always there to threaten me. Coincidentally all of a sudden nothing.So at work discussing the situation a co-worker tells me, "You wasted your money and you will continue to waste your money. He explains that they are local (not hawaiian) and since they are they will never be served I will waste my time going downtown to try and get it extended until I give up. As far as the policec is concerned why should they care about someone passing through. They have to take care of there own and that is exactly what they will do. I have been gong through the same issue for 16mos back in 2002. I even went so far as to hire my own server and even though I saw him walk up to the man."So yeah, I believe there is racism in Hawaii. I worked hard to be able to save enough money to buy a home and the first place I purchased has to be in a place that even though I have worked hard all my life and saved for years I am nothing because I am not a local. The craziest part is the lady has a German accent so she is not Hawaiian. But that doesn't matter because she's a local that moved here because she had to. I moved here because it was a dream come true.Honestly I would rather be in back on the mainland than deal with such obviously blatant racism.

Racism exists everywhere, hawaii has reverse racism towards whites. I think it's partly due to a hawaiiana curriculum taught in the public school system teaching that whites to be those that took the land from the hawaiians, spoken in literature with hatred racism, quite shocking actually. Nothing is said about forgiveness and doing good to our fellow man in the present. The true full blooded to half blooded hawaiians are beautiful people. Today, you don't find much real hawaiians. They have been so intermixed they have lost the true hawaiian culture and they look nowhere near what they use to look like... it sad.It is not just the hawaiians or locals of hawaii to blame. There are racist, controlling whites, blacks, and asian immigrants who come with a preconceived notion that locals are inferior. I see whites trying to domineer locals, unneccessary road rage... ever heard of courtesy driving. Don't honk the horn, use courtesy and be gracious. Politeness and courtesy go a long way.Ending racism starts from all of us loving and helping others. The key is... even if someone insults you, forgive and ignore it and keep loving other people no matter what. Bury the uptightness and scorn and just "hang loose" (a term used in the old days to act in a laid back manner, with love and aloha).

I am a member of the US Navy and have lived on Oahu for quite some time. I wish to cut through all the red tape and simply state that there is a great deal of racism in this state. It is unfortunate but true. The only way to address and correct the problem is to first admit that it does exist. With that being said, it is important to consider all sides of the story.First I will address my own. To the members of the US military....you are all collectively guilty of making complete jack asses of yourselves on a regular basis. All too often I see younger members of all branches in a drunken stupor out in town looking for hookers and more booze. In the process you are making yourself unwelcome and making all who visit look bad. You are not in a trailer park in Oklahoma anymore and you are a grown adult. Act like it. To the senior personnel and leaders, make this happen. Not only are they not replresenting the military in a professional maner, they are feeding the fire. If all your men have to talk about is alcohol and easy women, you have the responsibility to help rectify that.Now onto the "locals". Time to get your facts straight. It is admirable to respect ones roots. However, you can discrace your ancestors by dooming future generations of your own by racial and cultural intollerance. Lets first clear one thing up. Your land was not taken from you. If you think it was, think again. It was actually King Kameha Mea who potitioned the US Senate to become a state. And the government of Hawaii kept the idea alive. For all the anti US talk I hear on the islands, no one here seems to mind the benefits of Constitutional rights and capitalism.All too often the "haole" is blamed for all of the island problems. Tired of hearing that.You have schools and Universities here so that means you have opportunity. However, in the global economy of today, you will be shocked to learn that making ends meet will grow more difficult unless you step up to the plate. Spare me the tough guy wanna be cage fighter and gangster crap. Instead of worrying about the next cage fight at the Blasedale arena, getting drunk and putting rims on your car and having bling bling, worry about getting an education and doing your families and anscestors proud! IZ wrote a song that asked "What would your king say?" Well what would he say if he saw the drop out rate and increase in the crime rate in the state. What would he say to the locals acting like thugs? What would he say to those skipping out on an education who gets involved with gangs and drugs and those that are victims of hate? Would your King want to see the hatred any more than he would want to see the beauty of the islands dissappearing?And to all of us.....These islands are a gift from heaven. Iz was right. Respect the land. If we keep trying to fit more and more people here, it will no longer be a paradise. Visit the islands, but leave it at that. There is enough economy here. There are enough malls. The island does not need anymore growth. RESPECT the islands and those who live here. We dont need a Starbucks on every corner.

As a Filipino/Chinese/Hawaiian born in Hawaii, but for the most part raised on the Mainland, I have to agree with Skip Thomsen on his observations. I've lived in many places - from Ewa Beach to Boston, SF to LA, Miami to Baton Rouge.I am in the process of relocating back to Oahu and have a few observations to share. Also, a Caucasian friend with a black wife recently moved to Oahu and have shared some of their experiences with me.Reality check: If you look at the statistics, caucasians are NOT a minority group if you compare them with other ethnic groups(reference the latest demographic info). The trap that many of us fall into is to classify "Asians" or "API" as a seperate entity, then compare those numbers with caucasians. The fact is that when you look at the "API" groups individually - Filipinos, Native Hawaiians, Koreans, Japanese, Tongans, etc. - they are not more numerous than caucasians. In speaking with many caucasians, both kama'aina and malakini, the perception that they are in the minority is based on this white vs. brown mentality. "API" is a catch all category that ignores vast differences in many cultures and is only useful in a caucasian ethnocentric analysis of Hawaii's demographics.My black friend and caucasian friend who recently moved to Manoa both agree: there is prejudice in Hawaii. However, they told me it was easy for them (and others)to assimilate. Just bring the same openness, respect and "aloha spirit" that already exists here. Slow down, talk story, don't spread bad mana, respect the land, etc. etc. My white friend, being a Russian Jewish immigrant, and his black wife say that they are already used to discrimination on the Mainland, and Hawaii was actually more accepting than even California. If you are caucasian and have never experienced prejudice, then welcome to the club!I was discriminated against when I lived in the deep south. My black friends in California are followed by security guards in Nordstrom's. When I first moved to Huntington Beach, CA my neightbor told me not to go to certain areas because it was "too dark" (referring to Mexicans). "Stay away from South Central LA", I was told. I strongly agree with the last sentence of JM's 7/14 post "...we give 'white people' too much power" The main reason that Hawaii is perceived as having a lot of prejudice (over ALL other US states) is that it is largely directed against a group that doesn't have any experience with being on the receiving end of it -- caucasians. Remember, in Hawaii, a corporate white male in a BMW 740i is NOT top dog. A white blond woman is NOT the gold standard of beauty. This concept is more often felt than overtly communicated, and is why caucasians sometimes feel "uncomfortable" in local places in Hawaii.I assert that Hawaii does not have as many racial problems as most Mainland US cities. Being in LA right now, I challenge a caucasian to take a midnight stroll down the streets of Compton or Long Beach or East LA, etc. Or in Hunter's Point in San Francisco. Or any other low-income, minority neighborhood. The difference for people is that you don't go to those places to vacation...Lastly, like Skip, I feel a "specialness" as soon as I get off the plane in Hawaii. If you can't feel it, then I would consider visiting as often as you wish, but think seriously about making a move here. If you feel "at home" here, regardless of your ethnicity, you may never leave this place.I met an old haole man in the Diamond Head dog park last week. He told me, "I didn't come to Hawaii 25 years ago to become rich. Or to become famous. Or for any other reason except that I love this place, I love the people, I love the land."