Growing up in a Hawaiian/white family I have always been surrounded by both cultures; from experiencing what it means to be a local in Hawaii, to experiencing a Haole (or white) culture. I have seen it all in regards to how each culture is different, along with how each culture reacts to one another; however, there is one issue, that when observing both sides of these cultural backgrounds, we see repeated over and over again between the two-that issue is racism. “Prejudice and discrimination are not alien to Hawai’i. Attitudinal surveys show definite racial preferences and sensitivity to color differences.” (Schaefer, pg 278)
While a lot of this racism is said to be tied to the migration of the “multicultural nature of the Islands” (pg 278), …show more content…
While the majority of racism is towards Haoles due to the “Aina being stolen,” the other factors of the economy and differences in social characteristics show that racism is a common thing towards other cultures as well. Both of my parents got to experience this fact from both sides of the spectrum; my mom being a victim and my dad being an outcast because he didn’t agree with it. However, even though this is, and continues to be, an ongoing issue in the Islands, the important thing to remember is that judging by these factors it takes two to fight; In other words, not every local is going to treat Haoles with disrespect and not every Haole is going to be stereotypical of the those from the Mainland. While there is no guarantee that racism in Hawaii will end any time soon, it can be said that due to the increasing number of white people migrating to the Islands, the locals are becoming more and more tolerant of the Haoles; which is a promising thing in regards to white people being more socially accepted in Hawaii.
“While you really do have to live there long-term to become accepted with the locals,” Gail Molina said upon our interview, “Today more and more white people are living there, so racism is getting better; which is cool.” (Gail,
While a lot of this racism is said to be tied to the migration of the “multicultural nature of the Islands” (pg 278), …show more content…
While the majority of racism is towards Haoles due to the “Aina being stolen,” the other factors of the economy and differences in social characteristics show that racism is a common thing towards other cultures as well. Both of my parents got to experience this fact from both sides of the spectrum; my mom being a victim and my dad being an outcast because he didn’t agree with it. However, even though this is, and continues to be, an ongoing issue in the Islands, the important thing to remember is that judging by these factors it takes two to fight; In other words, not every local is going to treat Haoles with disrespect and not every Haole is going to be stereotypical of the those from the Mainland. While there is no guarantee that racism in Hawaii will end any time soon, it can be said that due to the increasing number of white people migrating to the Islands, the locals are becoming more and more tolerant of the Haoles; which is a promising thing in regards to white people being more socially accepted in Hawaii.
“While you really do have to live there long-term to become accepted with the locals,” Gail Molina said upon our interview, “Today more and more white people are living there, so racism is getting better; which is cool.” (Gail,