The Hawaiian word haole literally means without breath, without life. Cuz, you know, pale. But the usage of haole these days is very complex - it can be all over the map on connotation. Sometimes it's used derogatorily, most times it's just a statement of fact.

All my siblings married non-Japanese (except for my bro's second wife), so all my nieces and nephews are mixed. Hapa. Although I think the four girls that are Japanese/Hawaiian/Chinese just say all that when they are asked to describe themselves.

My nephew's email is jigboy, for Japanese/Irish/German. Also, way taller than my sister - ha!

Sometimes it's used derogatorily, most times it's just a statement of fact.

My Hawaain (of Japanese heritage) Bronzer friend uses it factually, but has noted the same thing.

Wrong thread, btw, not deleted response.

Then again, there is a lot of racism directed towards the villages up there.

There were a few incidents with paintballs a few years ago. The incidents were bad, but they have had the positive impact of making a lot of people aware of the issues. There is now a dialog that at least I (as a white urban Alaskan who is somewhat involved in racism/social justice issues) find positive. I think it's getting better.

Also, the current budget issues are, I think, making urban Alaskans more aware of the issues that face bush Alaskans. Of course, I may be biased because so many of my friends and colleagues are in or from the bush. It certainly is true that many in urban areas just complain because they don't think that they get enough of the money. I think you'll find that everywhere when money is involved though!

Sorry, libkitty. I should have said 'was'. I truly didn't recognize how prevalent the prejudice was until I went to live Outside and only came home to visit. Now that I don't even go socialize when I'm up there, I'm completely out of touch.

I think it's getting better.

This is good to hear.

No big. It finally dawned on me that I wasn't in Natter, and probably shouldn't have gone on like that. Sorry!

Thus, I hearby stop.

for now.

Huh. Fascinating. Thanks, Rick for the information. I had no idea, and that really is interesting and compelling to me.

Our family says haole, of course, and generally means it factually or at least playfully. They say it about us, too, though, when we do something stupid like forget to take our slippers off at the door. I think there's a real distinction between mainlanders and Hawaii residents that goes beyond race. My SO tends to interpret it as derogatory, though, but he's never really been there and spent time there, so it's hard for him to gauge.

I didn't know the etymology, though, Lori, so that's interesting, too. And yeah, my sister and pretty much my whole generation of cousins has married outside of the race in one way or another (Filipino being the most controversial) so all the next generation are hapa. But this was the first generation to do so, in my family, and it was a pretty big to-do when it started. I'm on the youngest end of my family, so by the time it got to me, everyone was like, eh, okay, let's have a party.

Our family says haole, of course, and generally means it factually or at least playfully. They say it about us, too, though, when we do something stupid like forget to take our slippers off at the door.

Yeah, this was the usage that I am most familiar with (outside fo the regular identification of what you are). When I'm doing something stupid or thoughtless or not the way it's done in Hawaii (haole rice, for example, I'm assuming that's converted rice or instant rice) I get told that's my haole side.

I think there's a real distinction between mainlanders and Hawaii residents that goes beyond race.

So very true. Sure, haole is used factually, but there's also a derogatory (even if playful) usage that is used to show that distinction.

(haole rice, for example, I'm assuming that's converted rice or instant rice

Katie's reference to haole rice came when we were describing the rice in the University cafeteria as sticky and gloppy mess with lots of starch, instead of individual grains. She said, that's the way I like it, not haole rice.