What is your ethnicity?

[kukui_nut]

Me?
Japanese. But, more accurately, Okinawan.
Born and raised here, of course, soooooo.....local? :)

[pzarquon]

Local works for me, although I'm a dysfunctional local... despite being locally born and raised and attending public schools, I have no pidgin ability, and no fondness for haupia or mochi.

For census and survey forms, I go for Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (my grandmother was half Hawaiian) if available, otherwise the catch-all Asian (as I'm mostly Japanese, with a dash of Chinese and Filipino).

[Eric]

Korean-English-German, but adopted and raised by local Okinawan parents. In other words, your typical Hawaiian chop suey. On survey forms, I'll put "Asian" or "other", depending on my mood that day. When pressed, as a kid I used to say "Japanese" but these days I usually choose "Korean".

[Albert]

Dutch-English for me, so even though I'm approaching the 15-year mark as a resident of Oahu, I know I'll never be a "local".

[aleno]

Well what can I say..... I am mostly Filipino and Hawaiian but also got Portuguese, Chinese, japanese, european and tahitian. I usually go for pacific islander/ asian but when offered I prefer other or more than one of the choices they present. Why do they need to know when most people in Hawaii or from Hawaii tend to have more then 3 ethnic back grounds?

[Leimamo]

The ethnicity I identify most with is Hawaiian/Pacific Islander although I'm also Japanese and German. Since I was raised with my mom's family, I didn't learn any traditional Japanese customs which would've served me well now that I live in Japan. ;)

[slickvic]

I am Black,White, and a bit of Filipino. Born in New Jersey.
This is my Home. If I had to idenify with an ethinicity it would definitely be local.


-vic




http://www.artistled.com/images/Hawaii-beach-sunset.jpg

[Hanapaa]

Me...I'm part Filipino, Chinese but mostly Japanese. Most importantly I'm Hawaiian at heart. As far as who I identify with... I say Hawaiian. Love the culture, the language, the people and of course the food! :D

[Glen Miyashiro]

Gee, with a name like Miyashiro, what do you think? Uchinanchu to the core!
(That's Okinawan, for those who don't know. :D )

[Mocha]

Japanese...although married to Chinese. We serve more Japanese dishes at home, one of my sons insisted he was only Japanese when he was younger...funny :D You post wonderful pictures Vic...neato! It's harder for me to write pidgin English...although I think I can speak it pretty good, when I speak to my kids in pidgin they can't always understand it! :confused:

[Mocha]

This has nothing to do with ethnicity but I'm curious to know what gas prices are in Japan where Leimamo is?

[lelei]

Gee, with a name like Miyashiro, what do you think? Uchinanchu to the core!
(That's Okinawan, for those who don't know. :D )


Me too. Well, maybe not too the core since I also have Japanese and Irish mixed in with the Okinawan, but I am a Miyashiro. And, hey, I even have a cousin named Glenn.

[Donna]

Like Glenn Miyashiro, I am 100% Uchinanchu (Okinawan) -- which makes it easy to identify with a single ethnicity.

However, I had a bit of ethnic confusion as a child with people referring to me as "Japanese" although my family was quick to educate me that "Okinawan" is different from "Japanese."

[kukui_nut]

...I had a bit of ethnic confusion as a child with people referring to me as "Japanese" although my family was quick to educate me that "Okinawan" is different from "Japanese."

Yeah, wassup wit dat?
My parents didn't really explain it to me until I was like, in early high school.
I remember feeling totally confused. Like telling me I was adopted or somethin'.

[Melialenalena]

And me........I'm 1/2 Pocho and 1/2 white with little bit American Indian mixed w/ the white. No real Hawaiian blood but born and raised Hawaiian. I love everything about Hawaii. My sons are even part Hawaiian.

[DaFerret]

I'm pseudo-Japanese! My ethnic background is Japanese but I don't speak the language or eat the food (I really mean, seafood). I'm fully "Americanized", bugers and fries, steaks and the like. And I seem more goth white than pale asian. And I don't think I qualify to be local since although I have the pidgin (slightly, not super pronounced), I don't know my way around the island and I love the beach and sun as much as a hobbit is tall.

-added-
Oh yeah, and I'm too lazy to say I'm half Japanese and half Okinawan. I mean come on, all you gotta do is look at the body hair and you know I've got some Okinawan blood in me.

[Mokihana]

Firss would be "local to da max", but nomo dat kine ona census form. Guess foah me, den, mostly Pocho... but wit some Native American an all mix up da ress. Hahd foah ansah wen get so many kine. Should have one box foah check day says, "all hamajang kine koko"! :eek:

[Lisa808]

;) I am 100% Japanese originally from Japan. Born and raised in Japan and went to school up there. My husband is from here and is chop suey. So I enjoy Hawaiian tradition and ohana. I like both Japanese traditional food such as Natto (some of you guys may hate it because of its smell !), miso soup, tohu and Hawaiian food and other local style food here. We eat a lot of Korean food because my husband is Korean-mixed. It's nice meeting you guys ! ;)

[kukui_nut]

Firss would be "local to da max", but nomo dat kine ona census form. Guess foah me, den, mostly Pocho... but wit some Native American an all mix up da ress. Hahd foah ansah wen get so many kine. Should have one box foah check day says, "all hamajang kine koko"! :eek:
Brah. You stay in Oregon and you can still talk (er, write) the lingo, eh. Too good! :)
I can imagine that you going make Boring not boring anymore as you going teach the locals your pidgin to da max! :p

[AbsolutChaos]

I'm Indian, though I'm often mistaken for other ethnicities...Mexican, Hawaiian, Greek, Iranian to name a few...

:eek: :)

[Mokihana]

Brah. You stay in Oregon and you can still talk (er, write) the lingo, eh. Too good! :)
I can imagine that you going make Boring not boring anymore as you going teach the locals your pidgin to da max! :p

Eh! I stay wahine! :)

Jass cuz I stay da mainland now, my firss language stick to me like glue. Talk um, rite um, same kine ting. Can take me from da `âina, but no can take da `âina from me. Jass axe Izzie dem. :D

[BKHale2007]

On my mother's side I'm German-Polish and on my father's, Hawaiian-Caucasian. I consider myself German and Hawaiian, and will specify either that or part-Hawaiian on census forms.

[Krash Kolohe]

I often get asked what race I am.

I often reply: "Human. How about you?"

The question gets rephrased:
"What ethnic are you?"

I reply: "I am very much committed
to good ethics. I feel strong about
karma and how good stuff always
comes back....honesty is always
a good thing...ask Enron's Kenneth Lay!"

By this time their eyes are glazed
over and once again made a question
of one's ethnicity as valid as asking
"How regular are you?"
or
"Does your butt ever get really itchy?"

I live in a predominately white neighborhood
and at the local market get questioning
looks: "Now Tiffanny, I wonder is he black,
is he white, is he mullatto, is he creole..what
the hell is he...let's ask.."

At which time...my answer is:
"Human. How about you?"

For the census takers or applications
that give you instructions to fill in
the little circle ...it's Pacific Islander
or "Other".

I am still waiting for
Kanaka Maole
as an option.

I won't hold my breath.

[Serenity]

Well, that's a very good question....
atleast I don't feel to bad...
since some of you are part filipino, also.
I am: swiss,filipino,spanish.
But....
I am still waiting for someone in my
family tree to tell me that....
somewhere along the lines of...
that I am part Chinese, to.
One of my aunties, she lives in tha mainland,
boy, she needs some major tan...lol.
Actually, she is very sensitive to the sun,
though she looks like she's part chinese herself.
When people listen to me speak....
They can't seem to pinpoint my nationality.
so, they ask me,instead.
My age on the other hand....
that's a different story.
When I am asked..
I just make people guess first, just for fun.
My hubby...
Now, I can't even begin to tell you about him...
He is "local", but with sooo much nationality,
& so many "ish & i-ses, etc"...LOL.
That' from the tip of his hair
& down to the end of his toe nail. LOL.
All I can say about that is...
No ask me, jus' ask him, k?.

Aloha & take Care. :)

[makepagirl]

hmmmm...def.hawaiian..my dad is actually 1/2 hawaiian &1/2 filipinno(never spell it right)he says chinese too.but doing genealogy on line all i find are the 1st two.my grandma luka's aunty married into chinese family..my mom tho is german & cherokee indian..but me?? 5'2 and a half.approx.180lbs..(fluffy)and the traditional hawaiian hair to my waist that's my pride & joy!!(after my son of course!!)my mom took us back to hawaii in 81(9th grade)..can u imagine??lookin exactly like everyone else in school,so when teacher had me stand up & introduce myself??course i said "aloha ya'll!" everyone died laughin..they said i talked juss like gomer pyle!!..but growin up here people called us the "N" word.can't stand it!!!thank goodness times have finally changed..my mom couldn't even marry my dad in the local court house('63)..they told her it wasn't right for her to marry a man who wasn't white..so they hopped on over to the next county..an eensy eensy town &were married there..my 1st response tho to "where r u from?" i always say"my mama!!"...........much peace guys...

[Karen]

When asked about my ethnicity, I say I am "Heinz 57" with a lot of things in me, which is true. We need to research our roots a bit more, for I don't know enough about them. I know my mom had a lot of Cherokee in her, as her mom had a lot, but mom's dad was Irish or something, then my mom married Scot/Irish, and so I am light like my dad. My mom's brothers looked even more cherokee than mom, and she was tanned year round. I know we have some "Black Dutch" in us, which I am told is a German type.

I don't think I identify enough with any one race, but when I look at my uncles, a couple which are dark enough to play Cherokee in a tv show, I want to know more about them, and were there various "sects" of them, so then which one am I kin to, etc.

I just know I am proud to know we were some of the original Texans, so I am told.

[kamlost]

It's sad to say. But I haven't really been able to put my finger on which I identify with.

What's the original mix of a Hawaiian?

[hanai]

It's sad to say. But I haven't really been able to put my finger on which I identify with.

What's the original mix of a Hawaiian?

Yeah I think most people who have multiple backgrounds go through different periods of which one to identify with.

Cuz I look Haole people expect that I'm american mainaland transplant or somesuch, dey get one shock i understand da pidgin and get pacific island ancestry also...mo akamai to look into da persons "ha" da life air...who they are,...not da kine externals eh?

So, Personally I try to focus more on being an Individual than identifying with a race and the racial identity stereotypes that go with it.

[Glen Miyashiro]

It's sad to say. But I haven't really been able to put my finger on which I identify with.

What's the original mix of a Hawaiian?
:confused:

kamlost, what did you mean here? Are you asking, what is the ethnic mix of the people who lived in Hawai'i before Captain Cook showed up? They were Polynesians, probably most recently from Tahiti or the Marquesas or both. If you're asking, where did the Polynesians came from, then most scholars think that several thousand years ago they originally came from Southeast Asia somewhere. (If you go by the Kumulipo, though, that's another story.)

If you're mixed, then no need "put your finger" on what one group you identify with. It's like asking whether you feel more like skin or blood or flesh or bones -- they're all in there, and you can't really separate them without a lot of pain. But do some have more importance in your life than others?

[Kalani]

:confused:

kamlost, what did you mean here? Are you asking, what is the ethnic mix of the people who lived in Hawai'i before Captain Cook showed up? They were Polynesians, probably most recently from Tahiti or the Marquesas or both. If you're asking, where did the Polynesians came from, then most scholars think that several thousand years ago they originally came from Southeast Asia somewhere. (If you go by the Kumulipo, though, that's another story.)
Wow, that's too far back. Archeological findings supported by linguistic evidence shows that the islands were first inhabited by Polynesians from the Marquesas area, more specifically southern Marquesas. And then later, more than 300 years later another group of Polynesians from what is now known as the Tahitian islands arrived.

Oral genealogy however points to places known in the Tahitian islands, namely on Ra'iatea and Borabora.

Also, archeology has pinpointed as the Marquesas as the first dispersal point, Tahiti being the second. Prior to that our ancestors came from the west where Samoa/Tonga lies. Even linguists have mapped out a language tree which supports this.
http://webpages.charter.net/motuahina/migrate.gif

But prior to that, more than 7,000 years ago they came from South East Asia.

[EastCoastTropics]

I get Pake, Flip, Spic and Tita...For census and survey forms, I go for mostly Asian, then Pacific Islander. Up here I soemtimes get mistaken for being FOB from Vietnam or Thailand.

[Kalani]

It's sad to say. But I haven't really been able to put my finger on which I identify with.
Identity is one thing. Ancestry/genealogy/ethnicity is another. Then you have cultural affiliation. Culturally, definitely Visayan (Filipino) and Hawaiian as well as Japanese influenced. I am not culturally Portuguese nor Chinese, but I can speak Portuguese. Ethnically I am all those mentioned with the exception of Japanese.

What's the original mix of a Hawaiian?
Polynesian. :D They were known as "kanaka". Ta'ata in Tahiti, Enata in Marquesas, Tangata in Aotearoa (N. Zealand) and who knows what other Polynesians used.

[kimo55]

I am still waiting for
Kanaka Maole
as an option.



Kanaka Maoli is another option, too.

[Sherry]

I'm Indian, though I'm often mistaken for other ethnicities...Mexican, Hawaiian, Greek, Iranian to name a few...

:eek: :)
I can relate to that. People think I am Mexican, Greek, Samoan, Hawaiin, Indian, Iranian, Spanish. But I actually was born in Pakistan.
:)

[ili_g]

i am hawaiian haole-piño (visayan). use your library!

[Nohealani]

What defines me? My cultural composition is Hawaiian, Samoan, Chinese, German, Irish, English, Apachee, Chickasaw and Cherokee. I identify with them all equally...I just happen to practice one more than the others because I live Hawai'i... :D

[akrauth]

I am half German and half British English.

And all of you?

[achow]

I am full blooded chinese... You might get thrown off my first name cause it is in hawaiian.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Previous thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=653)

[blueyecicle]

100% MUTT, german,indian,scandanavian,french, you name it.

[achow]

I am a full-blooded Chinese and I am proud of it, but I am into Hawaiian culture and the language!

[WindwardOahuRN]

Depends. You wanna buy me a green beer?

[*pinao*]

Im a mut... 4 dif kinda heinz 57's in me.. lol
Puerto rican, hawaiian(my granny is a real local and I take pride in that), irish and greek.. but I mostly flow with greek, hawaiian and latina.. I speak spanish and greek and some hawaiian.. so I go with those.. I dunno why I never really mention the irish... if people ask me where the freckles come from... I say Ireland.. but thats it really.. Ive never been there.. so I dont really have the culture in me.. we have latin, and greek and of course hawaiian traditions in our house.. no irish ones really..

[Mike_Lowery]

Filipino, since that's all I got in me. Outside of CA and NJ, I'm mistaken for Hispanic or Black a lot, since I'm about 6'1".

"Wow, someone actually tall enough to use the wooden fork and spoon hanging from their kitchen wall." Best one I've heard yet :D

[MadAzza]

I'm Cherokee, Swedish, Scotch, and all American. Anyway, haven't you heard? "White people have no culture." (Actual quote from a Hawaii teacher to a student of Scottish-English ancestry.)

[craigwatanabe]

Japanese 100% But I can't speak the language and never been to Japan.

Born and raised in Hawaii but not Hawaiian (for those who just don't get it yet)

So basically I'm a man with no terra firma when it comes to ethnic lands, just local. I don't like to call myself Japanese American because I don't consider myself like my Japanese National counterparts nor am I a Native American.

I'm so confused. I'm just local:confused:

[modpirate]

It's funny but when I lived in Hawaii I identified mostly with the Haole side, but now that I'm on the mainland I identify more with the Japanese side. I guess it's my nature to go agaisnt the grain, lol.

[Leo Lakio]

On HT, no one knows you're a dog (to paraphrase a famous cartoon.)

Craig: ethnicity be damned - you're certainly a fascinating individual here, and congratulations on reaching 3400 posts.

[LocoBoy]

Mixed plate hea: American Indian/Irish from dad and Hawaiian/Portugese from mom :).

[Lei K]

I'm mostly Podagee since my father is a pretty much a pure blood. I do have some Spanish in there that came over to O'ahu from Madrid (born in Zaragoza, Spain, though). Mom's side Hawaiian/Chinese (Cantonese) mixed into me. What do I feel and or identify with? All of the above. :D Though I've been learning a lot about my kanaka maoli side lately because tutu (mid 80's now) came from the generation where it was "bad to be kanaka," not allowed to have any pride in it. So the last 10-20 years or so my 'ohana has been doing a lot of "rediscovering" what it means to be who we are. Not that we lost all traditions (tutu had a imu on a shared property and raised pigs), but there's definitely so much more to learn again.

And my keiki, haha, they are what I am plus what I call "Northern European Mutt" as my husband is... *clears throat*... Irish (with family still in Ireland), Scottish, Swedish, Welsh, some English. And now we got people in his 'ohana claiming there is German in there as well. I do genealogy though and so far I haven't found it in there so he doesn't claim it. But that's how we are, we don't claim what we don't know for sure. We got enough to claim as is. :p

[Lei K]

Didn't I just answer this on another thread? :confused: Oh well the looong answer is over there. But simply enough I'm Portuguese (with some Spanish too that I usually just lump in with the Portuguese as to not make mainland peoples head explode by being so many things) and Hawaiian, Chinese (Cantonese). But mainland peoples head still cannot wrap their minds around what a Hawaiian is exactly. Either they think that means I'm Samoan or more Asian. I try explain but gets me all huhu after a while and I just go on with life. Not sure what is so confusing about understanding that native Hawaiians/Kanaka Maoli are Polynesians but are not Samoan. Go figure.

Not saying all mainland folks are like this but I'm sorry to say a good 98% of the ones I talk ethnicity with are. What on earth do people learn in geography and history classes?!!!

[Leo Lakio]

I'm Portuguese (with some Spanish too that I usually just lump in with the Portuguese as to not make mainland peoples head explode by being so many things)My 1/2 Japanese + 1/2 Okinawan (ancestry) Alpha Female goes through something similar.What on earth do people learn in geography and history classes?!!!Whatever the victors & conquerors want to teach.

[admin]

Didn't I just answer this on another thread?Yes you did. I've merged them.

First rule of message boards (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting.php): before you click "New Thread," click "Search." Especially if your topic is just a talkstory survey. Chances are it has come around before... likely more than once!

[Hi Tone]

i'm half filipino and half kanaka maoli, go patriots.. :p

[Fat Jeff]

It's pretty simple with me, 1/2 Polish & 1/2 Slovene. When I was growing up, my family spent most of our weekends with my Mother's (Polish) family. As a result I've always identified with that side inspite of carrying a Slovene name.

My wife is 1/2 Mexican 3/8 Portuegese & 1/8 Hawaiian. She has expressed that she mostly identifies with her Hawaiian heritage. My guess is because she was very close to her (mostly) Hawaiian Tutu.

Now this leaves our son 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Slovene, 1/4 Mexican, 3/16 Portuguese, & 1/16 Hawaiian. I'll leave it to him to pick his identity...

[Kaukura]

I am half Irish and American Indian.

My fathers side is from Ireland. He and his brothers all had black hair, but lighter skin.

My mothers side is American Indian. Her father (my grandfather) was an Assinaboine chief in Eastern Montana, her mother (my grandmother) was Sioux from North Dakota. My mother grew up on the Ft. Peck Indian reservation until 1963 when my dad brought her to California before I was born. I was born and raised in Calif., but I often wonder what type of life I would have had had they not married.

I carry around a beaded buckskin baby tomahawk that my grandmother made for me before she died 2 yrs after I was born in 1964.

[MadAzza]

I was born and raised in Calif., but I often wonder what type of life I would have had had they not married.

Would you have been born if they hadn't been married? Or were you born before they were married? Or do you mean, what type of life would you have had if they had had you out of wedlock?

I guess I don't understand the question.

[Kaukura]

MadAzza, my father was stationed in the Air Force in Montana in the 60's. The AF base was just outside of the reservation. That's where he met my mother. They dated etc. and I was conceived before they were married. I was born in Feb 1964, they were married in July 1963. I would guess there could have been the chance that he could have 'left her' pregnant on the reservation (for lack of a better description) and just went back to California, but he bonded with her family, going deer hunting, going to pow wow's, immersing himself in the culture (which was stronger back then than it is now). In all honesty, I have no idea how long they dated before I was conceived. I was born in California, after they were married.

Their marriage only lasted 13 years, so it's natural (for me at least) to wonder how strong it was and if they got married 'due to me'. Life on the reservation back then (as is now I suppose) was very poor. My fathers life in Calfornia was an idyllic middle class life growing up in the suburban farmland Sacramento in the 50's (think Happy Days or Grease) where my mothers life growing up was taking care of 12 brothers and relying on government subsidies.

Anyway, to cut a long story short (and I have a horrible problem with writing too much) I had just always thought to myself, what would my life be like growing up, or even where I would be now had my father not decided to marry my mother and take her back to California. How would I have turned out growing up on the reservation. I honestly cannot say that it would have been a great life.

[MadAzza]

Thanks for the explanation.

I believe it's always best to get off the reservation. My mom's people fared much better that way. For that reason and others, I have an "anti-reservation" bias.

Yes, lots of guys dump their pregnant girlfriends. In general, that's bad for everyone. I'm glad that didn't happen to you and your mom.

Aloha,
Maddie

[SusieMisajon]

Does this ask what the blood is, or what the family is?

My blood is German and Italian-American. The family is a German Mom and a local Filipino Dad.

The culture is US Army brat, USA and Germany, with dashes of Hawaii.

[Pomai]

I'm proudly:

Portuguese - 50% (originally from the Azores & Lisbon)
English 15%* (originally from London)
German 15%* (originally from Hanover)
Hawaiian 20%* (originally from Puanahulu & Kohala)

*Approximate.

[jdub]

Mom's all Irish. Dad's about half-Irish/half-English. Mom's mom came from Ireland. Dad's dad's side goes back to the Mayflower.

[Lorilei]

My dad is 100% Japanese. My mom is 50% Hawaiian and 50% Portuguese

[U'ilani]

Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, German

LeiKaina's kids and mine look like they could be cousins.

[*pinao*]

I love how mixed people in hawaii are.. I only know couple people who are 100% something..

[Lei K]

Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, German

LeiKaina's kids and mine look like they could be cousins.

Great genetics. They must be good lookin little buggahs then. :D

[manoasurfer123]

Half black... What ethnic background of black... sheesh... probably somewhere in Africa... would I know... nope.
Half White.... What ethnic background.... asked my mom... and she didn't have an immediate answer... Eventually she said something about being a mix of a bunch of stuff I can't remember....

I just normally say "Mulatto" is a term of Spanish or Portuguese origin usually describing a person with significant amounts of both African and European ancestry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullato

[Hi Tone]

Mullato comes from the spanish word mula which means mule. I wouldn't use that word anymore to describe yourself.

[manoasurfer123]

Mullato comes from the spanish word mula which means mule. I wouldn't use that word anymore to describe yourself.

Aloha Hi Tone... I haven't had a HT discussion with you before....

I'm not in the mood to go into things... however, I'm very curious to learn about your knowledge of the word mullato and what that does mean to you.

To me... that's what I am... many of us true Mullato's will never know what our black ancestry is truly from....

so Hi Tone??? once again? your knowledge of the word?

[Hi Tone]

actually it was on vh1 Race-O-Rama.

[manoasurfer123]

actually it was on vh1 Race-O-Rama.
so are you justifying an ignorant response to something you heard about with no way to back it up?

I'm just curious?

[Mike_Lowery]

According to Merriam-Webster, the etymology of mulatto shows that it is derived from Sp. and Lat. words for "mule".

However, I feel that the label of mulatto is entirely up to you if it's self-inflicted and there's a reason why you identify with it.

[manoasurfer123]

I was trying to hide that latin part out.. but that's ok....

those that know...know...

hatred and people dumping on people is stupid in general.

[amethyst9]

identify with Chinese and African American (includes Caribbean) but am haole (Czech, Irish, German)... my children are part Chinese, black, Cherokee and look 'local' so that's how we roll --- unless someone asks. Then we tell it like it is and watch attitudes change.

[amethyst9]

identify with Chinese and African American (includes Caribbean) but am haole (Czech, Irish, German)... my children are part Chinese, Black, Cherokee and look 'local' so that's how we roll --- unless someone asks. Then we tell it like it is and watch attitudes change.
Since we moved to the mainland, when someone asks us where is home, it's Hawaii. It's just in our hearts, home can never be anywhere else.

[newroots]

i'm chamoru.



being haole ... its not bad at all... the problem is that... the people in the states ... they dont really have like ... a heritage ... a history... a past ... its not like most other kinds of people... such as the chinese , the egyptions , the kanaka , the japanese , and so on ...


they do have a history , but its like the old country western ..... but people in like new york , or other big cities , cant really identify themselves with that heritage. so thats the down part..

theres an advantage to that though....... since white people are really diverse. they dont get blamed for what their fellow white people do...


for example .... some black people like to boast about drug dealing , murder , and theft. stereo type with black is really bad. they get judged alot. if a white person and a black person where going to be blamed for something thats been stolen ... the white person would have the advantage. (although it really depends on the type of person)) he'd have the advantage becuase well , black mainstream media , like hiphop music and stuff ... like to boast about drug dealing , murder , and theft. Plus ... pimps and hoez. thats how the popular media identifies them.


where-as whites ... their super diverse... you got country people , rock people , christians , nazis , all kinds. so its hard to place a stereo type on just WHITE people ... unlike how easy it is to place a stereo type on BLACK people.


yeah.

[achow]

I am pure Chinese and I am proud of it!

[newroots]

N u should be

[Shaun]

Like Glenn Miyashiro, I am 100% Uchinanchu (Okinawan) -- which makes it easy to identify with a single ethnicity.

However, I had a bit of ethnic confusion as a child with people referring to me as "Japanese" although my family was quick to educate me that "Okinawan" is different from "Japanese."

Yes, Okinawa was part of what was known as the Ryu-kyu Islands. During the Tokugawa Shogunate, Okinawa was not part of Japan. I wonder at what time in history was Okinawa made part of Japan?

I wonder if Okinawans understand the feelings of Scottsmen since Okinawans were forced to be part of Japan, like the English made Scottish part of the UK.

[Shaun]

Didn't I just answer this on another thread? :confused: Oh well the looong answer is over there. But simply enough I'm Portuguese (with some Spanish too that I usually just lump in with the Portuguese as to not make mainland peoples head explode by being so many things) and Hawaiian, Chinese (Cantonese). But mainland peoples head still cannot wrap their minds around what a Hawaiian is exactly. Either they think that means I'm Samoan or more Asian. I try explain but gets me all huhu after a while and I just go on with life. Not sure what is so confusing about understanding that native Hawaiians/Kanaka Maoli are Polynesians but are not Samoan. Go figure.

Not saying all mainland folks are like this but I'm sorry to say a good 98% of the ones I talk ethnicity with are. What on earth do people learn in geography and history classes?!!!


About Georgraphy classes, I gotta admit, I too am cofused as a mainlander about Hawaii. I have German and Scottish descent in my blood. (He he. German and Scottish mix is really not a mix since UK is Anglo-Saxon to begin with anyways. By the way, those who are Japanese and Korean mix are not really a mix, since most Japanese except Ainus have Korean blood mixed with them.

[Miulang]

Yes, Okinawa was part of what was known as the Ryu-kyu Islands. During the Tokugawa Shogunate, Okinawa was not part of Japan. I wonder at what time in history was Okinawa made part of Japan?

I wonder if Okinawans understand the feelings of Scottsmen since Okinawans were forced to be part of Japan, like the English made Scottish part of the UK.
Yes, the Okinawans don't like being called Japanese. And they don't like the Americans, either, because of what some US soldiers have done to their women.:mad:

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

Okinawa has a lengthy history of being "part" of another nation, having been occupied repeatedly throughout its history, yet with a distinct culture, language, etc. Japan is just the most recent landlord.

The Alpha Female from Kane`ohe describes her ancestry as half-Japanese/half-Okinawan (she is yonsei nikkeijin); one reason she thinks that many other Asians have trouble identifying her specific background is because it's hard to know what ethnic bloodlines are now part of the Okinawan makeup, as a result of all those occupations.

As to Shaun's question, a simple search resulted in this:Okinawa was once an independent nation known as the Kingdom of the Ryukyu Islands. However, in 1609 Okinawa was conquered by force and occupied by the Japanese clan Satsuma. Yet they remained the Kingdom of the Ryukyu Islands until the Meiji Restoration took place and formed the Government of Japan. In 1879 the islands were officially recognized as the Japanese prefecture, Okinawa. The US military presence in Japan and on Okinawa began at the end of World War II. Although the US occupation in Japan ended in 1952, US administration continued on Okinawa until 1972. In 1951, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty was officially recognized, Okinawa legally became a possession of the United States. In 1972, control of Okinawa was reverted to Japan.

[Shaun]

Yes, the Okinawans don't like being called Japanese. And they don't like the Americans, either, because of what some US soldiers have done to their women.:mad:

Miulang

Hey, speaking of Japanese soliders, Miulang, what would they think of an AJA second lieutenant serving in Okinawa be looked upon by Okinawans? Please explain how this would be seen upon by Okinawans with the officer's identity being "Japanese mainlander" and "Okinawan".

How would you AJA's in Hawaii feel about doing that to your land of ancestoral origins? Is there issues regarding honor, or do you guys feel American enough that it doesnt matter? Or is it something you fellas are willing to do all the more out of you fella's need to prove your Americanness?

[sinjin]

I wonder at what time in history was Okinawa made part of Japan?"In 1879 Japan abolished the Okinawan royalty and formally annexed Okinawa as a Japanese prefecture. Suppression of Okinawan language, customs, and culture followed, and in response to a ban on Okinawans owning weapons they invented the martial art of karate."

http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=357&pID=1157

[Miulang]

Hey, speaking of Japanese soliders, Miulang, what would they think of an AJA second lieutenant serving in Okinawa be looked upon by Okinawans? Please explain how this would be seen upon by Okinawans with the officer's identity being "Japanese mainlander" and "Okinawan".

How would you AJA's in Hawaii feel about doing that to your land of ancestoral origins? Is there issues regarding honor, or do you guys feel American enough that it doesnt matter? Or is it something you fellas are willing to do all the more out of you fella's need to prove your Americanness?
As long as that 2nd Lt. didn't rape or murder their women, I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of an issue (except for the fact that Okinawa really doesn't want to host our base there anymore).

He wouldn't be a "Japanese mainlander" if he was AJA. As far as people from all other countries go, they look at us as Americans first. It's only Americans who like to discuss their individual ethnicities.

Miulang

[joshuatree]

Yes, the Okinawans don't like being called Japanese. And they don't like the Americans, either, because of what some US soldiers have done to their women.:mad:

Miulang

That and the fact that half of their island is off limits to them because the US uses it as permanent forward base.

[Shaun]

As long as that 2nd Lt. didn't rape or murder their women, I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of an issue (except for the fact that Okinawa really doesn't want to host our base there anymore).

He wouldn't be a "Japanese mainlander" if he was AJA. As far as people from all other countries go, they look at us as Americans first. It's only Americans who like to discuss their individual ethnicities.

Miulang

It is possible Miulang. An Issei can become American, and do such a thing. Or if he was a dual citizen. (I know this is not allowed on paper, but many do have dual).

I wonder if there were Isseis who were sent back to Japan during the WWII who then had to become Japanese soliders, who then had to fight Americans. I know the Americans were humane enough to make Nisseis who did fight to go to Europe, so they didnt have to shoot their own, but I dont believe that was the case with Japan. I heard that in Japan, they would have them fight in Midway to prove that they are truly going to be Japanese and not American again! And often, they would be used as interpreters. Imagine helping naval ships to shoot targets of ships knowing that your friends back in USA would be on board. Because believe me, fitting into WWII Japanese culture would be harder than for a Japanese who wanted to leave to come to USA to adapt here. I bet it was in some ways tougher on the Isseis who were forced to return, especially if they came to USA as youngsters returning as Kikokushijos. How they would have to learn Japanese quickly, as speaking Japanese was forbidden back then. It was known as Tekiseiyogo, or a.k.a. "language of the enemy". Pre-War Japanese customs were harder to fit back into going for Emperor Warship after being influenced by Western democratic way of thought. Holy cow. I wonder how they felt.

[Miulang]

It is possible Miulang. An Issei can become American, and do such a thing. Or if he was a dual citizen. (I know this is not allowed on paper, but many do have dual).
A naturalized American issei would, when signing up to join the military, have to swear allegiance to America. So his presence in an American military uniform would signify to an Okinawan that that guy was American, not Japanese.

Miulang

[Shaun]

A naturalized American issei would, when signing up to join the military, have to swear allegiance to America. So his presence in an American military uniform would signify to an Okinawan that that guy was American, not Japanese.

Miulang

Yes, but if they got to have conversations, wouldnt people be asking why he would do such a thing? A sense of shame and loss of honour? I think the AJA's wouldnt think this way, but Isseis would still retain that shame/honour mindset.

[christa]

germans and italians made me. all jews.

[Leo Lakio]

but Isseis would still retain thatI wonder if there were Isseis who were ... to make Nisseis who did fight ... tougher on the Isseis who were forcedAs a student of Japanese language, you should be aware that terms like "Issei" & "Nissei" can be used as plurals without needing to add an "s" at the end - that's an English-language pluralization that should not be used for Nihongo terminology.

[Miulang]

Yes, but if they got to have conversations, wouldnt people be asking why he would do such a thing? A sense of shame and loss of honour? I think the AJA's wouldnt think this way, but Isseis would still retain that shame/honour mindset.
Most people (especially Americans) don't give a rat's patootie what others might think or do...so long as it doesn't impinge on them personally.

If Issei move to America, it's because they want to move here, which would give them no reason to question why a person who looked like them would want to "shame" his/her ancestors by refusing an order. They realize that in America, people tend to be more outspoken than in old-school Japan. The current case of Lt. Ehren Watada, who refused to deploy with his troops on the grounds that the Iraq war is illegal, has some AJAs in a tizzy, but it's only because they believe that he should follow orders and if he doesn't, he should go to jail, and not because he's AJA himself. AJAs who served in WWII think that Lt. Watada is not being a good soldier, and not that he's disgracing people of his ethnic background. Sansei and yonsei only have an opinion about whether or not he should be court martialed.

Miulang

[softbaby]

As a student of Japanese language, you should be aware that terms like "Issei" & "Nissei" can be used as plurals without needing to add an "s" at the end - that's an English-language pluralization that should not be used for Nihongo terminology.

Now this is getting really ridiculous. I nominate Shaun as the thread commedian of the year!!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Now this is getting really ridiculous. I nominate Shaun as the thread commedian of the year!!

Before you nominate anyone for anything, how about introducing yourself first.

[Peshkwe]

Me = Amerind (Ojibwe, Odawa, Potowatomi, with a dash of Cree and Mohawk) French (Canadian type), Scot-Irish.

Yer basic fur trade Metis.

[softbaby]

My ethnicity is German and Scottish mix as with my younger brother Shaun. We lived in Shikokuken for 4 years while our parents were on a business trip from the time I was 14. I just returned from Kochi pefecture on the 31st of August taking a plane from Kansai Airport. We currently live in Seattle Washington. We stayed over at Tokushima Prefecture for 2 years, and Kochi for 2 years. I am currently 18 years old, just finished grade 12, and am taking a year off, and my brother is a 16 year old grade 10 student.

[manoasurfer123]

and I'm beginning to wonder if your a family of bots?

[Kelly0040]

I'm calling shens

[Shaun]

I'm calling shens

Wow kelly, is that u when u were little? Youre so cute! Show me how you look now. I am open to meeting up half way. (Do you like the Joke, no insult intended). You are really really cute. What is shens?

[Jonah K]

My ethnicity is German and Scottish mix as with my younger brother Shaun. We lived in Shikokuken for 4 years while our parents were on a business trip from the time I was 14. I just returned from Kochi pefecture on the 31st of August taking a plane from Kansai Airport. We currently live in Seattle Washington. We stayed over at Tokushima Prefecture for 2 years, and Kochi for 2 years. I am currently 18 years old, just finished grade 12, and am taking a year off, and my brother is a 16 year old grade 10 student.
Hmm. That explains quite a bit.... :cool:

Unfortunately, it's a little sad that after spending four years in Japan, you and your brother lack native levels of proficiency in both English and Japanese. :(

[softbaby]

Hmm. That explains quite a bit.... :cool:

Unfortunately, it's a little sad that after spending four years in Japan, you and your brother lack native levels of proficiency in both English and Japanese. :(

Yeah, we are getting half baked in both. I am writing with only my grade 8 English skills that got messed up learning Japanese. Product of being moved around half way through my teen years. And my Japanese is far from natural as I've been there for only 4 years, as an American kid. I wanted to know if AJA's have similar plight as I do. We have yet to go to university. I was thinking of taking some Japanese language courses right from beginners to get the grades to go to an IVY league university or at least get into UH. My english is horrible, but if I take a Japanese language course from scratch, I should be able to gain enough A+'s to go to university.

Now this scheme doesnt work for native born Japanese, but for a Hakujin like myself, who have far from perfect accent, and have not even a single ounce of Japanese blood in me, would be allowed to do this.

I am hoping to take all Japanese courses, then take the difficult courses at University. I then want to go into Theology and become a Pastor in Japan, and work for a wedding company, since they are in dire need for Christian ministers to marry Japanese.

[joshuatree]

Wow kelly, is that u when u were little? Youre so cute! Show me how you look now. I am open to meeting up half way. (Do you like the Joke, no insult intended). You are really really cute. What is shens?

Shaun, so you're 16? Yet you're thinking of having kids by next year? Have you thought this through or is this sorta like your current flavor of the month whim?

[nachodaddy]

Softbaby;

I almost believe you and your brother are for reals, almost.

I will talk to you cuz your brother creeps me out. When his other ball drops, perhaps I will throw him a scrap or two but no self respecting 16 year old that I know talks like he does. He would be missing teeth if he talked like that face to face.

Couple of questions....

What was the purpose of your stay in Japan? Don't say business. What does you parents do for a living?

Where did you get your screen name?

Why would a Japanese guy change his name to "Hoffman"?

You are ue no musuko so I will treat you like that for the time being.

Here is a scrap for you. "shibai" is a word used in Japan to describe a type of Noh drama. In Hawaii it has another meaning altogether.

I got this thing called "work" with encompasses significant "road time" so I GTG, might be able to catch you later today.......

[1stwahine]

I just caught up with this thread.

OMG!!! Both brothers are babies!heheheh

Wet behind da ears.

Dunno wat is Life and wat dey going to do!

(scratches my okole ~ itchy):o

hmmmm...digs my nose.

Oh! No!!!! Da bugga wen bleed!:eek:

Dang! Sayonara!:p

Auntie Lynn

[Jonah K]

Yeah, we are getting half baked in both. I am writing with only my grade 8 English skills that got messed up learning Japanese. Product of being moved around half way through my teen years. And my Japanese is far from natural as I've been there for only 4 years, as an American kid. I wanted to know if AJA's have similar plight as I do. We have yet to go to university. I was thinking of taking some Japanese language courses right from beginners to get the grades to go to an IVY league university or at least get into UH. My english is horrible, but if I take a Japanese language course from scratch, I should be able to gain enough A+'s to go to university.

Now this scheme doesnt work for native born Japanese, but for a Hakujin like myself, who have far from perfect accent, and have not even a single ounce of Japanese blood in me, would be allowed to do this.

I am hoping to take all Japanese courses, then take the difficult courses at University. I then want to go into Theology and become a Pastor in Japan, and work for a wedding company, since they are in dire need for Christian ministers to marry Japanese.
English is the native language of most Japanese Americans. While some Japanese Americans have near-native fluency in the Japanese language, many others know only a few words. So for the most part, the plight of Japanese Americans is different from that of an expat who has spent four years in Japan. :cool:

In terms of taking Japanese courses in the U.S., you might be able to "sneak into" a lower level Japanese course without taking a placement test; however, that strategy is only successful if the class size is relatively large and you keep a low profile. I have no Japanese ancestry whatsoever and I enrolled in a beginning Japanese class that had 200 students when I first started college. When I got a perfect score on the first exam, the instructor summoned me to the departmental office and had me take a Japanese language proficiency test. I scored quite high on the proficiency test as well and I was immediately "bumped up" to the advanced Japanese class, where we spent our time reading, translating, and discussing the works of writers like Kawabata Yasunari. Unfortunately, I was the only non-Asian student in the class and the only one not majoring in Japanese. While I ended up getting good grades in my advanced Japanese classes, I had to work a little harder to earn them than I would have liked. :p

If I were in your situation, I'd work on improving my English language skills before trying to attend a good college or "Ivy League" university. Many college-aged expats that have recently repatriated attend a community college for a year or two and then transfer to a 4-year college or university later on. Community colleges are usually less "intense" than a 4-year college or university and many of the credits that you earn there are transferrable. Since most of the theology courses that you'll end up taking at a 4-year college or university in the United States will be in English, it would probably be a waste of time for you to try to take beginning Japanese courses just to get good grades.

Cheers,

Jonah K

[Jonah K]

Why would a Japanese guy change his name to "Hoffman"?
When the name "Hoffman" came up in a Japanese thread on a Hawai'i-themed board, I was a little suspicious. A few years ago back, there was a Japanese drama by NHK called "Sakura (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sakura)" about a Hawai'i-born Nikkei that became an English teacher in Japan. While I found it a little strange that the main character (Elizabeth "Sakura" Matsushita, played by Japanese actress Takano Shiho) and her family spoke perfect Japanese and virtually no Pidgin, Sakura's haole boyfriend just happened to be named "Robert Hoffman." Perhaps, he was so impressed by the "Robert Hoffman" character in "Sakura" that he decided to change his surname to "Hoffman." ;)

Here's a link to a detailed analysis of "Sakura" and how Nikkei are portrayed in Japanese dramas....
http://www.jamco.or.jp/2004_symposium/en/yano/

[1stwahine]

This thread is getting to be something like a Yobo Soap Opera.:confused:

So much twist and turns!:p

Auntie Lynn

[admin]

Please keep all musings about what exactly Shaun, softbaby, and whoever else is up to in the original "Learning Japanese (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=11042)" thread, and keep this topic to sharing your ethnic ties.

[808shooter]

100% angry japanese monster

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2880/grantzillaar15bv5.jpg

[Whitepoint3rchum]

Part German, Swedish, and Irish. Perhaps a sliver of German Jew, however that isn't concrete and would probably require a test of my mtDNA.

[Whitepoint3rchum]

100% angry japanese monster

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2880/grantzillaar15bv5.jpg


Hey is that a CAR-15? Doesn't look like an M4...

[craigwatanabe]

100% angry japanese monster

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2880/grantzillaar15bv5.jpg

Man I hope your kids take on your Wife's side for looks cuz das one ugly nipponese:D

[Pua'i Mana'o]

yeah, but look how buff da body is! Throw a bag over and its alllll good. :D

[craigwatanabe]

yeah, but look how buff da body is! Throw a bag over and its alllll good. :D


One BIG bag:D

[1stwahine]

I wen go doctor. No make laugh....plezzzzz. My arm hurts. It's not suppose to hurt.:confused:

Big Bag.

Bhahahahahahahaha.:p

Auntie Lynn

[Pomai]

808shooter, do you have the rest of the rubber Godzilla suit? the body, legs, tail, etc.? That would be cool. Hot to wear, but cool lookin'.

If I ever got into acting, that's what I'd like to do. Be the stunt man in the godzilla or ultraman suit, knocking down miniature scale model cities. :D

[1stwahine]

And I want to play MOTHRA!:p

http://tinyurl.com/abfoy/

Auntie Lynn

[craigwatanabe]

And I want to play MOTHRA!:p

http://tinyurl.com/abfoy/

Auntie Lynn

That's Auntie Mothra:D

[808shooter]

Hey is that a CAR-15? Doesn't look like an M4...
Colt ar15 preban a2.

Man I hope your kids take on your Wife's side for looks cuz das one ugly nipponese:D
haha you one funny guy. one looks like me, one looks like wifey. lucky foa baby #2 :-D

yeah, but look how buff da body is! Throw a bag over and its alllll good. :D
haha you funny too. too bad i get hauna breath.

808shooter, do you have the rest of the rubber Godzilla suit? the body, legs, tail, etc.? That would be cool. Hot to wear, but cool lookin'.

If I ever got into acting, that's what I'd like to do. Be the stunt man in the godzilla or ultraman suit, knocking down miniature scale model cities. :D
Woo woo! Feeling pretty good about myself right now. You a webmaster/graphic artist? That was photoshopped. Not my best work but at first fast glance, good enough to pass I guess... huh?

[Pomai]

Woo woo! Feeling pretty good about myself right now. You a webmaster/graphic artist? That was photoshopped. Not my best work but at first fast glance, good enough to pass I guess... huh?and highly unobservant. I shoulda' noticed the glow effect on the paths' edges around the mask. So much for you being Godzilla (angry Japanese) by ethnicity. Can you at least "aaaaaaahhhhhhhgggaaaa-ummmmmm" to sound like him? :p

Regardless, Kikaida would kick Godzilla's @ss any day (speaking like a geek). lol

[ewatada]

I am Einosuke Watada. You can call me Eino. I am Japanse 15 years old male from Juso, Osaka. I am Kitano Junior High school student. I want to be English teacher in Japan. I want to do oversea travel to Hawaii next summer or this summer.

[808shooter]

and highly unobservant. I shoulda' noticed the glow effect on the paths' edges around the mask. So much for you being Godzilla (angry Japanese) by ethnicity. Can you at least "aaaaaaahhhhhhhgggaaaa-ummmmmm" to sound like him? :p

Regardless, Kikaida would kick Godzilla's @ss any day (speaking like a geek). lol

actually I am 100% yonsei.

and I do like Kikaida but some of the other lesser known heros would give him some cracks... like the one in my avatar, Inazuman.

[Pomai]

and I do like Kikaida but some of the other lesser known heros would give him some cracks... like the one in my avatar, Inazuman.Have you ever seen Layne Luna's Inazuman costume (http://hawaiiangamefish.bizland.com/photofx1.chtml)? Awesome. He's accurately fabricated costumes of just about every popular Tokusatsu character from the 70's, including almost the entire family of classic Kamen Rider (which I guess you can is an "ethnicity").

[808shooter]

Have you ever seen Layne Luna's Inazuman costume (http://hawaiiangamefish.bizland.com/photofx1.chtml)? Awesome. He's accurately fabricated costumes of just about every popular Tokusatsu character from the 70's, including almost the entire family of classic Kamen Rider (which I guess you can is an "ethnicity").
:eek: :eek: :eek:

WOW.

That is impressive! That guy is into it. Too bad there isn't a larger market for his skills. Maybe he could team up with a local production company to make live action tv shows here locally. It'd be a smash hit! Well at least here.

[DannyWilliams]

Swings the thread back into course ;)

I am 3/4 Hawaiian from my mom who is 100% which is a RARITY now and da odah 1/4 is Filipino which comes from my father.

I often get mistaken for SAMOAN cuz I look rugged. Mus be da Pacific Islander features dat tro people off. :D

I mentioned in another thread that I also get mistaken for MEXICAN.........

HELLO!:rolleyes:

[PoiBoy]

sole, what kind of rugged?

rugged like you can be thrown off a cliff and be alright
or...
rugged like you are homeless. :D

[DannyWilliams]

sole, what kind of rugged?

rugged like you can be thrown off a cliff and be alright
or...
rugged like you are homeless. :D



mo like no mess wit me kine rugged :rolleyes:

[PoiBoy]

Ok Danny. Me fefe of you. :D

[kalihibow]

The majority of people who are raised in Hawaii, or have lived there for some time, view others of mixed ancestry as common place. I have friends here in Washington who have difficulty understanding it. This is confusing to me because some of them are of mixed ancestry. So what is the difference between a Russian/Swedish/Polish and a Kanaka/Portagee/Pake? So what is the difference...both have mixed ancestry. Ok...Ok...I know, one is european and the other is...not. Many people in the CONUS are curious about island people of mixed ancestry. For some, we are "strange." The idea that people of contrasting cultural backgrounds can come together is odd. Not everyone thinks like that, but enough of them to make life interesting.
When people get to know me they eventually ask me "what am I." When I tell them I am half Hawaiian, Danish and Spanish, their eyes glaze over with a blank look...like someone watching a spaceship land from Mars. If I told them my Danish grandfather also had some swedish and french, and my Spanish ancestors who migrated from the Philippines had some filipino...I probably would have to dial 911.
Anyway...I try to maintain a sense of humor about it, and it works 99% of the time. When it does'nt, I just walk away. Most of the time I have fun with it...the look on some peoples faces are priceless.

[Ecntrc]

Samoan, Italian, East Indian, American Indian, French and Irish
I usually get 'you look very exotic' or latin or something like that.. never would guess that im half samoan. i dont think theres alot of 4'11" samoans in the world. My friend calls me a half pint samoan. lol.

[Keith H.]

Okinawan on my dad's side (so I bear the name), diluted by 50% with regular garden-variety mainland Japanese on my mom's (so I have half the hair :rolleyes:). That said, I don't eat andagi (or, for that matter, mochi). Can't believe I'm the only O-J mix on this thread to date (other than Leo's "alpha female").

I declare myself as Japanese on forms and such.

Not that I'm not proud of my Okinawan heritage, but (1) by the time I was born my paternal grandpa was dead 10 years, and my paternal grandma died when I was 7, and (2) I saw my mom's family much more growing up than I saw my dad's (her side is much larger and traces back farther). So I never really had much exposure to my Okinawan side.

As a product of such a mix, I sometimes wonder how the historical tensions between Okinawan ethnic pride and Japanese prejudice played out during my parents' time. I know that my uncle and aunties all married Okinawans, and my dad was youngest and last to marry. So I wonder whether my dad's marriage to my mom raised a few eyebrows back in 1970.

[anapuni808]

When people get to know me they eventually ask me "what am I." When I tell them I am half Hawaiian, Danish and Spanish, their eyes glaze over with a blank look...like someone watching a spaceship land from Mars. If I told them my Danish grandfather also had some swedish and french, and my Spanish ancestors who migrated from the Philippines had some filipino...I probably would have to dial 911.
Anyway...I try to maintain a sense of humor about it, and it works 99% of the time. When it does'nt, I just walk away. Most of the time I have fun with it...the look on some peoples faces are priceless.

what you are describing are "Nationalities", not "Ethnicities". I really wish folks could understand the difference. Ethnically, what you are seems to be Hawaiian, Asian & Caucasian. and you're right - it's fun to see the look on people's faces as they try to figure it all out.

I always have to laugh when my daughter describes her "Hawaiian" side & her "haole" side - she keeps them pretty separate. Right now, living on the continent - she is enjoying being with the haole side.