Frank said:

I just got jumped by five local kids here in Makawao last night. I was just walking down the street at 9pm. As I walked past them, a kid sucker-punched me. Then I think I got kicked in the head a couple times. I did not see his face. I blacked out. Then they tried get me and my friend later in the night. Put a huge dent in my car. Maybe I got called haole. I do not remember anything that happened for about 3 hours. However, it was a huge local guy who came and broke it up. Whoever you are, Thanks. I think it is more about being young and bored than anything else(?)

I have lived in a lot of rough places. Been called a lot of bad things. Stared down or walked away from a lot of fights. I have never been ambushed. Thanks for letting me share.

—03/11/07

ellen said:

I disagree; it is racist to make an unsolicited comment about anyone’s race, whether to say white or haole or (insert other names I would not use). Racist doesn’t have to mean full of hate; it’s racist to look at someone and see their race as a predominant factor rather than see just another human being. (and race and culture aren’t the same thing)

Second, it’s not up to the people who throw these terms at others to decide what is derogatory. The people who are the target get to decide whether it’s acceptable. By Chanel’s logic, I could call someone the “N” word and as long as I didn’t mean it in a derogatory racist fashion that person has no right to get bent out of shape. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way; the ethnic group on the receiving end gets to decide which names are OK and which are not, and that’s been the rule to preserve harmony for a few decades at least, in the parts of this country where people try to get away from racist attitudes.

Third, anytime someone tags haole after f*in or while yelling or beating them up, I’m pretty sure it’s not a compliment.

That said, the wife of that couple acted WAY dumb in the situation, because she should have known it was dangerous.

—03/18/07

Chanel said:

First, You’re race is who you are, no, you shouldn’t be seen predominantly by your race, it’s a feature, just like your hair, your eyes, your personality, your race is a part of you, so no one should be considered a racist for identifying you by who you are, no, they shouldn’t judge you by your race, nor should they judge you by another other way, but it happens in this world. Second, I wasn’t talking about the “n” word, because I believe that to be derogatory because of the history of the word, but then again many blacks say it to other blacks and nothing is meant by it, but when someone who isn’t black says it to someone who is, automatically they’re a racist, but I never said that you could call someone the “n” word because the history has given it such a bad name. But haole is not a derogatory term, it means foreigner, NOT white. Third, if someone damages your property how would you react, you would be angry, some people get too angry and assault people, which is the sad part, but they weren’t saying haole as a bad thing, they identified the couple, the boy needed to swear to express his anger, so he picked the word haole, how else was he going to identify the couple, what, he would ask them oh, what’s your name?, ok, you f*in their name, no, and they wouldn’t say f*in people, I don’t think they should have gotten as angry as they did, but still, they shouldn’t be labeled as racists, if it had been a couple of a different race, then they would have said f*in philipinos, or f*in hawaiians, it doesn’t matter what the race was, they still would have been identified someway, and when people in hawaii are identified by their race, they ignore it, because that’s who they are and why should they be ashamed of it.

To Bob, as long as you use common sense, you’ll be fine here, be respectful to the people who live here. If you do something wrong, APOLOGIZE, because people here get mad when someone screws them over and they will get angry, but if you apologize, they’ll calm down. To any other attacks that are actually racists, like the one that I believe to be racist, on the Big Island, I would say don’t visit there, because I know people (idiots) that will not be friendly, but Oahu is much better and more inviting, but there are idiots in our state, just like there are idiots in every other state in the US. To those who get their stuff stolen on the beach, it’s not only tourists, it’s locals also, but mostly tourists because locals know if you leave your stuff unattended, duh, there will be un-classy people who will steal it, again use common sense. Bob, I hope that you change your mind because majority of the tourists have a fun time.

—03/24/07

BB said:

maybe if you actually do your research you woudnt be so quick to judge. http://starbulletin.com/2007/03/16/news/story02.html read who threw the first punch.

here is a short lession on the word haole

the term HAOLE came from when Captian Cook came into kealakekua bay in 1778.
I found this quote at some page…”
This is fact. The native Hawaiians literally breathed
on each other as they greeted one another. Taking
in that persons breath was a co-mingling with that
person’s spirit. Native American Indians and the
Native Eskimos did a similiar greeting. For the
Eskimos it was rubbing noses while breathing in
the other person’s spirit.

Western form of greeting was to extend the
right hand ( the sword hand) to show you were
a friend and did not have a weapon in your
hand. That’s how the “handshake” greeting
started…to show you didn’t have a weapon.

When the Hawaiians saw the Westerners
greeting one another with an out stretched
hand ..

..they said…”eh..these people don’t breath
on each other like we do…they are…non breathers…
HAOLE…

Bottom line is simply this: A different culture.
A different expression. A different perspective.

It was never meant to be disrespectful to the
Western culture. It was never mean to be
derogatory. It was simply an observation.” This sums up the word beter than I can.

This is also a picture of it.http://www6.worldisround.com/photos/0/31/213.jpg)

And let me quote you on something and lets see who is the ignorant one here. You stated “Naturally, all of this troubles me. And there are clearly underlying circumstances. Native Hawaiians have gotten the short end of the stick in Hawaii ever since the Missionaries showed up. They are the poorest, the least educated, the most likely to go to jail, and the most likely to be unemployed of all the ethnic groups in Hawaii and in the United States.”

Maybe if you actually researched hawaiian history you would see that Hawai‘i in the mid-1800’s had one of the highest literacy rates in the world. IN THE WORLD.

And maybe I should add this is because the missionaries came and taught the written word. This is when less than 5% of people on the Mainland could read or write. If you look at our unemployment rate maybe you would notice we have the lowest at around 4.5% and the nation ave is between 8 and 9%.

Like I said in my last long comment that you erased you are making hawaii sound like we are living in hell. Excuse me while I puke but While visiting the mainland a few times I have had many experiences where It scared me to death. While at a theam park, which can I say they advertise for FAMILY, my family and I were caught in the middle of a gunfight. I was called halfbread by so many people and while in Vegas, where they call the 9th Hawaiian island a family member of mine was hit hard by a raciest hotel worker. We were standing in line and It was my mom first, then my dad. The worker looked at my mom and walked over to my dad and helped him. I guess she didn’t know they were married and made remarks to my dad about my mom being a stupid asian. My mom and I just watched this ignorant lady tellmy dad these things while we stood there. My dad was in too much shock and even after this lady helped my dad she still refused to help my mom. Lets just say this caused a little bicker between my parents but just because my dad is part white does it mean that he gets put first? its the same thing. I did’nt go assuming things like you did. Maybe you should go and EDUCATE yourself before you show people how ignorant you are.

FYI this contains profanity whatso ever. .

—04/18/07

cindy said:

I lost my job after moving here, because I am white. I have been treated like crap. I have been told to go home haolie. Before I moved here, I thought Hawaii was beautiful. Now I still think it is beautiful geography-wise, but I think the people are hateful haters. It is a hateful place to live if you are white. I have never experienced such hate before in my life, all because I am white. I stick around whites because I feel unsafe around any others. It is sad. Losing my job because I am white? Is this the 1950 bizarro world?

—07/09/07

JONNY said:

I have been in Hawaii all my life and I would be considered by most people to be White although I am not. I think that at least 50% of the Haole racism thing stems from the mainlanders’ unwillingness to assimilate to local culture and the other 50% is just local punks who would commit the crime regardless of Haole or whatever. The first prong, however, is an issue. While most whites would never dream of going to an all Black, Latino or Italian neighborhood on the mainland and walk around like they owned the place they are willing to do it here in Hawaii. I even have wealthy white business clients that openly admit they think that all locals are just stupid. So, the mainlanders’ cultural inability to be humble is a huge contributing factor in alot of violence against them. I see alot of tourists that think all locals are here to accommodate their vacation whether we are in the tourism industry or not. The other day I had a tourist ask to borrow my surfboard so she could surf while I was in the water teaching my wife to surf on the very same board like I was on her payroll or something. They don’t understand that is the same as me going to their country club at home, walking on the golf course and asking to borrow their clubs, CRAZY. The other 50% prong is I’m sure a factor in everyday life everywhere there are bullys and if you don’t stand up to them they will abuse you. I am mostly white and haven’t been called Haole in probably 20 years because I speak pidgin, I am humble and I don’t take crap from anybody.

ALOHA

—08/11/07

Michelle said:

I have been coming to Kauai for the past seven years during the summers. My husband and I are teachers so we are able to have the summers off to do this. We are fortunate to be able to come here and stay because we own vacation property that my husband received with an inheritance. He has been coming here for over thirty years and attended University of Hawaii in the eighties before I knew him. We love Kauai and want to see the land remain rural and a place of peace and Aloha. My husband is not native Hawaiian but has some Native American blood so he gets very brown whereas I am blond and look like a true Haole girl. I have noticed that sometimes if I am by myself I am not treated as respectfully as when my husband is with me. However, people must remember that racism occurs everywhere. Back on the mainland my husband is sometimes treated rudely, and my daughter (whose husband is African American), whereas she is blond like me is really treated rudely. As for the Native Hawaiian people I respect what is theirs but would like them to know that not all Haoles are against them. You should not judge a book by its cover. Incidentally, my heritage is of the following: French, German, Italian, Irish, Dutch and West Indian. To look at me you see blue eyed blond Haole girl. Just try talking to people and look for their spirit within. We are all brothers and sisters if we share Aloha, aren’t we?

—08/20/07

Nuff Bull said:

According to witnesses, Paakaula punched Dawn Dussell in the face and slammed her to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness.

Paakaula then struck Dussell’s husband in the face and head, causing him to fall to the ground and also lose consciousness.

As Dussell lay on the ground, Paakaula’s son and Paakaula allegedly took a turn kicking him, causing one of Dussell’s teeth to fly out. Witnesses said Dussell began to convulse and stiffen as he lay on the ground.

Paakaula allegedly made threatening remarks to bystanders who stuck around and gave statements to police, Pacarro said.

From the outset, prosecutors said that although there were racial remarks directed at the couple by Paakaula’s son, the assault was not a hate crime and the resulting charges were based on the facts of the case. The fender-bender is what precipitated the violence, prosecutors said.

————————————————————————————-

Who cares about the word Haole.
This was obviously a hate crime and the so-called upholders of justice were too weak or overcome by pressure to charge it as it is, afraid of opening a pandora’s box. When you spend decades covering something up, such as racism in hawaii, you cant just all of a sudden give it heed.
People dont beat each other into unconsciousness over a fender bender.

—10/17/07

Mapuana said:

Nuff Bull…you seem to have forgotten to include the part where
Mrs. Dussell instigated the violence by hitting Paakaula’s son first, so don’t try to twist the true nature of the crime to suit your own argument. The thing is, you can’t know for a fact this is or isn’t a hate crime because we don’t know what really happened.

Does racism exist in Hawaii? Of course. Just like it exist everywhere you go. I lived in the mainland for 2 yrs and have seen the same attitudes from the people who are from there. And Jonny got it right. Most of the hating stems from a lot of the mainlander’s attitudes who come here and act like they own the place. I go running at Kapiolani park and see a lot of them walking 2 or 3 abreast, blocking the sidewalk and refuse to give you way, expecting you to go around them instead. If you want to be treated with respect, show some respect yourself. Don’t come here acting like everyone who’s from here have to cater to you.

—11/09/07

HaoleBoy1976 said:

ALOHA, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE WORD “HAOLE” CAN MEAN MANY THINGS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY A WORD USED TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE WITH WHITE SKIN, AND THEN DEVELOPED TO MEAN “OUTSIDER”. I AM A HAOLE AND HAVE LIVED IN OAHU (WINDWARD)FOR YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER EVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THOSE MENTIONED HERE IN THE ARTICLE OR COMMENTS. I AM SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN AND FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE ON THE MAINLAND, EUROPE, ASIA, AND AROUND THE WORLD AND YOU WILL HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO HOLD HATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT!! TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD. MOST HAWAIIANS WELCOME ANYONE WHO SHOWS THAT THEY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE ALOHA SPIRIT AND LIFESTYLE OF HAWAII!! MAHALO!

—07/11/08

Raja Star said:

What we are witnessing here is the reaping of fruits of what has been sown over the ages and is the direct result of years of marginalization of the indigenous population by Europeans and Americans. I am from India and have observed that this sentiment is not just confined to Hawaii but the world over. The British, the French and the Dutch in Asia and Africa and the non-native Americans in the mainland and in Hawaii, all of whom destroyed the local way of life, exploited the resources and the people of the lands they controlled and took over. As a result the people of non-European descent have developed a good reason to distrust and dislike a people who subjugated and treated them as second class citizens in their own home land. I don’t believe the Americans or the Europeans would feel any different had they had been culled and driven out of their homes and exploited by other nations. The British, the French and the Dutch were all reviled and are stilled reviled by nations they once exploited for their selfish interests, but they were all given the boot. Today, it’s the Americans who are not welcome in most places of the world - and you know which American’s I am talking about. Trust me it is not just in Hawaii, the Haole’s are disliked the world over. So, to Haoles: Don’t complain about getting a taste of your own medicine because what goes around finally comes around.

—08/07/08

pamela said:

Haven’t you ever heard the expression it’s not what you say, it is how you say it? You want to say haeole is not meant to be racist or derrogatory, fine, i will give you that. On the other hand, be fair back to say when it is said in a derrogatory manor it IS meant to be racist. One thing i am confused about is how these mainlanders act like they own the place. unless you have actual facts, that is pure speculation which is entirely unfair and ignorant. americans are naturally confident and loud-spoken. this is nothing new. So it is not okay for mainlanders to walk around acting “arrogant” yet, because this is “your land” it is okay for you. i do not believe i understand how that is okay. hawaii IS indeed a part of America which makes it just as much theirs as yours. the only people that are arrogant are the ones that declare anywhere as “their land” and are not welcoming to others that come visit. i live in kailua and i have been downtown many times and every time i saw a tourist they walked around acting like they are in awe or just completely lost. the ones i would assume to act arrogant are the very wealthy ones who act like that every where they go. if you dont support tourism they why is it whenever mainlanders land at the airport, sure enough, there are locals presenting them with leis and performing at luaus for them? why sell out for something you do not agree with? tourists are not going to think about the people that live where they are visiting when they are waiting on them hand and foot. renting surfboards, vendors on the street. how dare anyone see someone on the street, assume they are arrogant and then judge an entire race by their “actions”. hopefully, one day everyone will come to accept that hawaii is indeed a part of america. a country that has been culturaly diverse for years and is surprised when hawaiians are so blatantly rude to their fellow americans for no apparent reason. stop judging and segregating. the people that sit around and make excuses for the racist and impolite comments are only helping to keep racism alive. just drop it and accept everyone.

—08/25/08

Raja Star said:

Dear Moloa. It appears you have missed my point. I do not disagree with you on the point that wars are not the sole domain of any particular race. My point is that the imperialists did not just target one nation - the fingerprints of their misadventures and interventionism are in far-flung countries across the globe. If there is one common and rallying sentiment shared by the nations of the world, it is against their exploiter, the imperialists. The sun has set on the union jack and the European imperialists - it is now the U.S.’s turn. The U.S. has made more enemies since it’s inception than any nation in the world today - please refer to U.S.’s illustrious record of exploitation around the world. The U.S. annexed Hawaii and made it a part of the U.S. How would you like it if one fine day I show up at your door and forcibly take over your home and call it my own? Heck, the first thing most Americans would do is exercise the 2nd ammendment. Hawaii belongs to the Hawaiians, the Polynesians - it is up to them to welcome whomsoever they please, whether it is for their economic benefit or out of a spirit of friendship and hospitality. I think as far as the locals are concerned Hawaii is a part of the U.S. only in the U.S.’s imagination. Americans are welcome no where in the world!

—08/27/08

jeff said:

Good points Raja…I grew up in Hawaii and left when I was 20…I grew up in the very low class areas of Hawaii..my stepfather/brother are Hawaiian (very much Hawaiian and more so then most genetically)it is true the white man has destroyed the cultures of others (bury my heart at wounded knee) but where does it end!!….my family didn’t have their hands in any of this??….white people were owned by kings and were themselves slaves….royalty were killed from within their own families…you can find suffering inflicted on every race of people from within their own ranks…the problem is not all peoples can acclimate into the white mans system…its disgusting how man lives these days…some Indians,Hawaiians (other peoples) etc don’t want the new kind of lifestyle…

lets just put it in simple terms…Hawaii is the land of the Hawaiians…so everyone is a guest who goes there and has to accept the risks involved…many many good people in the islands but it only takes a couple bad experiences a year when you run across the wrong people to ruin it for you…if I wrote a book about my life there people would be shocked….we lived with squatters on the beach in makaha for 2 years…so for those of you that know makaha side you know what that means for a white family…I left the islands when I was 20 because I wanted to broaden my horizons and wanted to see what it would be like in a place where I was accepted…I haved lived in Europe now for the last 7 years…here I am still a foreigner as I have been most of my life even in my own country…but the Czech people are a lot less confrontational…

the legal system in Hawaii is no different then that of other places…imagine a few country folk beating a Hawaiian to death cause he bumped his pickup truck…those people from that village would be sympathetic with the white guys just as the locals were with the locals..look at Russians beating to death any person of color for fun and almost noone gets punished..just the world we live in…only go where your welcome or take the risk and deal with the consequences…Jeff m

—08/31/08

buddyHaole said:

Ever shred a perfect wave? Smoke unbelievable leaf? Enjoy a mango or pear? It is the nature here that is special, it is the bond between man and nature. The bond between man and man here is different.I didn’t come here for the conversation, I came here for everything else. I wanted to share with each of you that we all are special and all are apart of a very very very special place. When I get called hoale in any tone, I say buddyholly, oh oh, and offer to buy that dude a drink to maybe become friends. When racism is shown, deflect with a generous response and kind offer. If that does not work, you must try with the next one. Turn the other cheek, and smoke another… Whatever it is you smoke. And remember angry bloggers, we all share the same air, but do not have the same breath ( or blood ) we can show respect and we can partake on this great land, or we can blog and bitch and moan and try to change minds. Or we can accept it and try to be the best people we can be, and others will catch on. Back to the beach. Aloha

—09/19/08

Haole gurl said:

I DO NOT think Haole is racists name. I am what I am, I would rather be called a Haole than a white. Infact my daughter is half Samoan and I call her my little hapa haole girl. Hawaii is rich with culture, Thats why I love it. Not many places on the mainland have such a pride and unity. Sure if your a haole you might feel a little left out or not sure of everything being said. But get in there, talk to people, learn the culture. I’ve noticed that most Hawaiian peole will gladly help you and teach you about the ways of Hawaiian peole. ( To Tyler) Speaking pidgin does not mean you are uneducated. Pidgin is unique.Tyler you said above….”the phrase “da kine” is used to fill a gap in a weak vocabulary “da kine” Wow Tyler that ws pretty low. Thats what makes my angry as a “white” person. You make us sound so stuck up, and stupid! Sure Da kine can mean a lot of things. But so, who are you to judge how others want to speak? Like any language (other than english) it is different to the ear, but listen to what is being said, you might just like it. Would you know how to speak it if you tried or is that why your affraid of it, because you cant? To all the other haole’s with bad experiences in Hawaii, sorry, Im not saying what happend to you wasnt bad or wrong, but anywhere you go there will be hate and stupid people. Remember though by you saying all Hawaiians are racist makes you more racist! Its the person, not the race. My experience in Hawaii has been wonderful!!! No complaints! I have felt Much Aloha from everyone. I’m wondering if maybe I was treated better because my time spent there was always with my Boyfriend who is a local Hawaiian boy (blood, born and raised). But even when I would walk around without him I was still treated very friendly by everyone. I honestly think Hawaiian peole are one of the most loving peolpe. They do have the true spirt of Aloha. Now that I am back in the mainland, I never felt as much warmth as I did from the people of Hawaii. I stay involved with a Hula group here in WA and go to many Hawaiian events. Those are the places I have the most fun and feel the most welcomed, and I am pure Haole. Hmmmmm? call me what you like but i prefer Haole.

—10/05/08