He didn't use those words exactly but Oahu's top radio drive-time host (Larry Price, who is part of the Perry & Price Duo on KSSK) essentially told the President of the Hawaii State Senate Gary Hooser that he didn't trust him because he is white, has blue eyes and is from the Mainland. Here's the quote from conversation.

Price: "You keep using the word 'honest' senator; where you from?"
Hooser: "Where am I from? Kapa'a."
Price: "Yeah, where were you born and raised?"
Hooser: "I was born in California. I graduated high school at Radford High School."
Price: "You got blue eyes?"
Hooser: "(Laughs) I do. Does that matter?"
Price: "Yes, to us it does. Because when local people hear somebody from the Mainland talk about how honest everything is that means that something's wrong. You know when they say 'frankly' or 'honestly' we did a lot of things, you know and stuff like that, that sounds suspicious."
Hooser: "You know, I don't really appreciate a reference to where I'm from, from California, or my blue eyes, Mr. Price."
Price: "Well I don't care what you think."

Whoa! Of course, Hooser has lived in Hawaii for 37 years and graduated from high school here but hey, he's still a white guy from Cali, right? What's more, a poll later taken by a local news organization (as reported by fellow blogger Ian Lind on his spanking new site) found that 39% of respondents believed Price shouldn't have to apologize to Hooser -- in other words, they agreed with Price's line of questioning and over-the-top comments. Now, several days after the on-air racial putdowns, Price has yet to apologize. Larry, you like your job much?

In a broader sense. its seems like the lipstick is coming off the pig of Hawaii's much ballyhooed interacial melting pot. Kinda reminds me of Europe. When you choose not to deal with you ethnic demons and instead paint a picture of everyone joining hands together and singing "Kumbaya", the demons come back to bite you. Witness the shocking string of crimes of late that have highlighted interracial tensions in Hawaii.

Then again, is that really surprising when the state's top radio host is a closet racist? When someone in such a prominent position as Price comes out with a line like this, he should be fired. Point blank. Fire the man. You do not want someone like this serving as a media celeb, regardless of their popularity. You didn't hear Imus' fans say much when he got fired, because, deep down, they know he deserved it. Don Imus got canned. Fire Larry. Yesterday.

(Note to readers: sorry for the political diatribe -- back to place blogging in the next entry)

—Alex, 05/06/07