Naturally, this is going to vary from the perspective you occupy, but what groups do you perceive in our hot little 'melting pot,' and (if you can) why.
My most recent take on this includes the following groups:
Hawaiians: Anyone with any Hawaiian blood at all, down to 1/32nd quantum, by their own (individual, not group) definition.
Locals: People born and bred in the islands, brought up in the local culture, may or may not have Hawaiian blood. Often includes immigrant groups brought in for plantation labor, such as Portuguese and Filipino.
Ha`ole: Originally intended to represent all non-Hawaiians, has lately been restricted to descendants of Caucasians, no matter if they fit into the 'local' description. Currently used as an indication of descendants of European with fair (light) skin color. Evidently, Portuguese consider themselves excluded from this group, for reasons that are unclear.
Oriental: Depending on who you talk to. Some group all Orientals together, others separate Chinese, Japanese and Koreans into separate groups, as they do among themselves.
OPI: Other Pacific Islanders, which include other Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians. In most cases a very minority group, semi-accepted into Hawaiian/Local culture because of cultural ties.
Popolo: People with some quantum of African descent. In the islands, many are military but a significant number are permanent residents (kama`aina).
Kama`aina: People not necessarily, but sometimes grouped into one of the above groups. Membership is not rigid, but it is generally expected that one has lived most of their lives in Hawai`i, or were born in Hawai`i. (Lit: "Child of the Land.")
Please inform me of any errors I have made (from your perspective - this is not for a professional paper for publication - and opinions are valuable), or additions you wish to make which I may have missed.
Note: This information may some day make it into a professional journal, though this is not my intention, so please strive not to be flippant and give accurate perceptions of the groups - for the sake of posterity.
Ka`onohi - Cultural Anthropologist
My most recent take on this includes the following groups:
Hawaiians: Anyone with any Hawaiian blood at all, down to 1/32nd quantum, by their own (individual, not group) definition.
Locals: People born and bred in the islands, brought up in the local culture, may or may not have Hawaiian blood. Often includes immigrant groups brought in for plantation labor, such as Portuguese and Filipino.
Ha`ole: Originally intended to represent all non-Hawaiians, has lately been restricted to descendants of Caucasians, no matter if they fit into the 'local' description. Currently used as an indication of descendants of European with fair (light) skin color. Evidently, Portuguese consider themselves excluded from this group, for reasons that are unclear.
Oriental: Depending on who you talk to. Some group all Orientals together, others separate Chinese, Japanese and Koreans into separate groups, as they do among themselves.
OPI: Other Pacific Islanders, which include other Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians. In most cases a very minority group, semi-accepted into Hawaiian/Local culture because of cultural ties.
Popolo: People with some quantum of African descent. In the islands, many are military but a significant number are permanent residents (kama`aina).
Kama`aina: People not necessarily, but sometimes grouped into one of the above groups. Membership is not rigid, but it is generally expected that one has lived most of their lives in Hawai`i, or were born in Hawai`i. (Lit: "Child of the Land.")
Please inform me of any errors I have made (from your perspective - this is not for a professional paper for publication - and opinions are valuable), or additions you wish to make which I may have missed.
Note: This information may some day make it into a professional journal, though this is not my intention, so please strive not to be flippant and give accurate perceptions of the groups - for the sake of posterity.
Ka`onohi - Cultural Anthropologist
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