What Does It Mean To Be LOCAL In Hawaii? (and why it matters)
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
- What exactly does it mean to be “local” in Hawaii? Do you have to be born and raised in Hawaii? Do you have to live here for so many years? What about Native Hawaiians? And does being local even matter these days?
Determining who is local and who isn’t is kind of an overwhelming task. And so I asked myself what would be the simplest way to make this determination and I came up with the three questions that could help determine whether someone is local or not: Were you born and raised in Hawaii? Did you graduate from a high school in Hawaii? If I were to ask you where you are from, would you say Hawaii? And so I want to talk about why I think determining who is local matters and further unpack these three questions.
And what do you think makes someone local in Hawaii? Please let me know in the comments below.
Intro - 0:00
Does Being Local Matter? - 1:28
Were You Born and Raised in Hawaii? - 2:47
Did You Graduate from a Hawaii High School? - 4:37
Where Are You From? - 6:32
What About Everyone Else? - 7:22
Native Hawaiians and Being Local - 8:50
Closing - 9:07
Sources:
History of “Local” in Hawaii: www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
Social Identity Theory - www.simplypsychology.org/soci...
Filmed using the Canon Vixia G60.
📷 IG - / hello_from_hawaii
I'm a native Hawaiian, born and raised in Hawaii and at one time I would have said being local only meant that you were born and raised in Hawaii but over time that definition has changed. I believe being “local” in Hawaii is a state of mind, it's someone who embraces the people, the culture, and the way of life and makes the experience a part of who they are. You know who they are, you can be anywhere in the world and your paths cross, and without saying a word, you both throw the shaka at each other at the same time as to acknowledge your localness. Now that's being local to me! Now if someone says they're Hawaiian because they were born in Hawaii then in that case, da slippah coming off and we're throwing down, nah just joking, but for real.
m/ \mn/
Bingo
lol. Yes, slippah coming off for that! 😆
Native Hawaiian voice is the one that counts. Locals came originally from everywhere else originally as well.
I’m not born and raised in Hawaii but I’m 17 and learning ur beautiful language on Duolingo and learning about the culture
@@LilyBobtailsame situation)
I'm local born and raised, even though I've been living on the mainland more than half of my life. Once a local always a local!
Always a local 🤙
Das right!
Ya, dats rite ! Yu Local Pualani Vahine!
I no longer live in HI. When I’m asked “where are you from” I answer “Hawaii.” They usually then say “Oh, you’re Hawaiian.” I quickly reply “No, I’m a local of Hawaii. Born and raised. Lived there for 40 years.” I’ll then quickly mention that “Hawaii has a native population known as Hawaiians and I am not a native Hawaiian.”
If some people refer to you as a Hawaiian, they could also mean “local of Hawaiian”. People in the states always do that for their state/city. For Ohio they refer to themselves as Ohioans. Texas is Texans and so on. Just saying the intention may be different than what you think.
@@justabreeze460 Had "Suzanne's" experience and explained to a family friend from Ohio how "(Native) Hawaiian" was different with "We wouldn't call everyone from Indiana, 'Indians' ". The parallel was inexact but worked. Using "local" bypasses the stickiness of cultural expropriation for us guys who aren't Native Hawaiian.
Actually Native Hawaiian is a construct of the USA used to categorize and label. The original people of these islands are Kanaka Maoli or Kanaka 'Oiwi
Hawaiian is the Nationality (not a race) of those born here or trace their ancestral roots to Ko Hawai'i Pae 'Aina before January 16, 1893.
Oh you as well.
Nice Kama Aina
Then what are you native to?
One of my best friends is a local, she was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated high school in Hawaii. Your videos help me understand her better. When I was first getting to know her over 20 years ago she would sometimes say things that would make my eyes roll back in my head. I knew she was well educated and smart but sometimes she would speak what I thought was a weird slang and sometimes she would write words that were spelled wrong but I knew what she meant. Finally, years later I spent several weeks with her at her home in Honolulu and got to meet her friends and family. That's when I realized that the way she spoke and the way she spelled words were accepted in Hawaii. It is part of the culture where she was raised. Now it's fun to hear her speak like she's back in Honolulu.
Mahalo for the comment. Glad you enjoy the videos and they help you understand your friend.
I am a new resident of Hawaii, not local and will never be Hawaiian/Polynesian. Have never been offended by locals or Hawaiians explaining the difference to me, I appreciate the pride they express in being who they are, and hope as the years go by my neighbors continue to teach me the culture they are so proud of
It takes time.
Time is the measure of all things.
And, alas, Change is the only Constant.
There is a point of origin from which we self identify.
Embrace yourself.
It can get and be complicated.
No need worry though.
It time, all things works itself out.
🤙
Hope that last for you!
I have a very unique situation and perspective. I am Native Hawaiian. When my mother became pregnant at 15, my grandparents shipped her and I to the mainland to have me. I would've been a local but I was given away the day I was born and later adopted. Immediately taken away from my culture. I always felt connected to Hawai'i. I always searched for my truth from a young child to present. I went home to Kaua'i for the first time last year. My body and soul's natural connection to the island and to my ohana made everything clear. My home is Hawai'i. That is where I am from. I belong. It's beautiful to see and feel how strong my bloodline is. As soon as I was in my natural environment, everything was natural, like I had never left. I am in grad school on the mainland. My auntys say you betta finish school and den come home. I can't wait to return home. When that time comes, I hope to become a local. Aloha - Mailerose Miguel Alamea Makanani Mālama Estacio
Mahalo for sharing your story. Good luck in grad school and hope you're able to come back. 🤙
I agree that your situation is unique - I feel you are special because you are actually a Native Hawaiian. And as you mention you have that actual dna/bloodline connection to the Land.
[I am full-blooded Filipino (as far as my Family knows-lol, that’s another topic), but born on Oahu & graduated from Waiakea HS. I have never been to my the Philippines, my native country. I don’t feel that I could call myself a Philippines Local, but I am a Philippines Native because I have a bloodline connection. Feeling that I am a “true” Filipino is something I’ve questioned/grappled with my whole Life because I never lived there/visited. My Aunty actually entered me in a Filipino Pageant when I was a hs senior & I got 1st Runner-Up. I was 18 & despite being still very naive/young - I did feel a tinge of guilt because I felt I did not deserve to be in the pageant because I did not “feel” Filipino.
But, I am finally feeling that I am a Native Filipino, despite not having visited there.]
I wasn't born and raised in Hawai'i. I lived, worked and met people there for 9 very important years. I was a "resident." Pretty proud of that Kamaʻāina identification! I have lived many places in the US and Hawai'i (and I often talk about that as being two very different things) as well as Southeast Asia. If people ask me where I'm from, it's rare that I don't mention that I also lived in Hawai'i. I know it says very different things about who I am and I'm proud of that association. It offers a more complete picture of who I am. I also lived many different places on Oahu, but the fact I lived and taught in Waianae is usually the only community I mention. Best wishes from Cambodia.
Mahalo for sharing. Glad you were able to experience other parts of Oahu and not just Downtown.
Everything that is being said here applies elsewhere, too. I, for example, love Hawaii to bits. I never lived there, I did try at some point pre-covid to get a job and become a "local resident". I felt very welcome and even "at home", but I know being a local is something else entirely. On the contrary, the place where I was born and raised until 17, but that was in the late 80s, I still feel a local of. Even though I have lived away from my country and not returned much to my particular region for a long time. In fact, as I lived and/or worked in Japan for most of my adult life, I feel at home in Japan, but I'm still a local in my hometown, on the other side of the globe. You can't be reborn, you can't re-live the childhood and teenage years that made you who you are, that's all. It isn't a bad thing, it just is, and there is no shame in belonging or not to a community. The years spent learning how to go about life are crucial and determine who we are, and we can't redefine them to please our tastes. So I'd say, you can feel at home anywhere, maybe even in several places in the world, but you'll always be a local where you grew up, no matter what. Thanks Chris for the excellent videos, always. Aloha and happy thanksgiving!
Mahalo for the thoughtful comment. Have a great Thanksgiving! 🤙
I was born and raised and retired in Hawaii but I consider people local if they came here in grade school. All Polynesians I consider local. I hated high school and almost flunked but now I tell people I’m a proud graduate of Leilehua!
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David, Braddah when did you graduate from Leilehua Mules in Wahiawa? Graduated in 1972 and neva looked back since. Mahalo “Go Mules”.
I graduated 1969
being Polynesian doesnt make you local
I consider myself local. Not born, but raised Elementary, Intermediate and high school. Hawai'i will always be home to me. No matter where live I always search for my local people because they get me verse non local people and it helps me feel like home. Go Tigers class of 81🤙
🤙 Go Tigers!
Another great topic Chris! You have such a natural way about discussing your topics. Might need to call you Aloha Sensei.
lol 🤙
Your channel is so amazing and I learned a lot about Hawaii.. Thanks for sharing and keep goin. I'm so fascinating about your country because of it's beauty , diverse culture and foodies. Because on how you explain a "local person " in Hawaii, I definitely found a person is truly local there..
Mahalo
Always on point! Very akamai! So articulate I enjoy your videos!
Mahalo! 🤙
Always love your videos. I seem to always relate to the deepest heart felt feelings you share. And yes, "Everyone deserves Aloha." Aloha to you and your family. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Mahalo! Happy Thanksgiving 🤙
I am not a local but I agree with everything this guy says. He seems like a really nice guy and I meet a lot of nice people in Hawaii.
I’m haole but when I ask people what their ethnic background is like if they’re Chinese or Japanese or Hawaiian or part this and part that I tell them that my dad was from Denmark and my mom’s mom was from French Canada and my mom’s dad was from Bohemia. That’s a lot more interesting than just saying I have a white okole. Even if you’re from Hawaii maybe you grew up in Hilo but graduated from Farrington. There are a lot of subtleties.
I like this guy. Gonna watch more of his videos.
Mahalo. Glad you enjoy the videos.
Born and raised, 100% agree with everything you said in this video!
Just found your channel Chris... fun to watch and very objective information and discussion with sensitivity. Keep it up. Born and raised in Hawaii, graduated from Kamehameha '90, UH Med '98, Kaiser Permanente Waimea Clinic '01-05. Personally, I've considered myself "local' during the times I've lived there. After moving to Ohio in 2005, I can still identify with and interact within the "local" culture and lifestyle when visiting home, but I do not consider myself "local" anymore. I, too, believe that this should not be a term of divisive inclusiveness or exclusiveness but more of a concept of social identity and modality of establishing connection. Again, keep up the great work Chris.
Mahalo for the comment. Ohio is a long way from home, but glad you can identify with local culture. 🤙
As someone born and raised in Hawaii trying to get back to the island, a lot of people would ask me if my family was still on the island. I always proudly let them know practically my entire Dad’s side of the family is still on the island & it’s been that way since the sugar cane days. Always loved hearing my Dad’s stories about martial law after Pearl Harbor, even being able to fish in the Ala Wai (can’t do that no more) Hawaii has such a rich heritage - to be local means you understand that far beyond the beauty of the land
Mahalo for sharing. I think ties to Hawaii's history are important, although it's getting tougher to have that connection as that generation is getting older.
Braddah..LOVED the way you explained "Local or Not". I agree with everything thing you mentioned. It's a touchy subject but as someone who was " Born & Raised"..lol... in Hawaii ( Leilehua grad ...Go Mules!) but have lived in Cali for 40 yrs, I enjoy hearing peoples stories who always want to share their experiences in the islands. Although these people aren't considered local, I love how they love & respect our island culture. I still have ohana on Oahu and love to speak pidgin whenever I'm home. Keep up the good work on your channel. Much alohas from Cali! Chee! Hoo! 🤙🏻❤
Excellent discussion! I was born in the territory of Hawaii before statehood. Graduated Radford. Move to the mainland for college. I get back home two or three times a year and consider myself local. Interestingly everybody I know at work and socially on the mainland identify me as that guy from Hawaii. So it’s a mainland identifier too. Allows the spread of aloha. Great channel and always interesting discussions!
Mahalo! Hard to imagine that people were born in Hawaii before statehood. We're a young state! 😆
i agree with the 3 questions! i tell everyone online that im from hawaii. it makes me feel special and im almost always the only one from hawaii on any social place i join.
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I am 40% hawaiian by blood. Last of 5 kids, my marine dad moved us to oceanside, ca. I was born and raised there but basically we went to school there and came 'home' every summer. As the hawaiian blood thins, i think it is important to include that blood in this determination.
When I first moved to Honolulu in 1981, I was confused why people kept asking me what high school I graduated from…it was mind-boggling. Eventually, I understood what was going on. Those three questions are good. I feel the term “local haole “ is generally applied to white folk from Hawaii rather than “local.” I wasn’t “from” the area I was raised in (South Carolina), so no matter where I go, I’ve always been somewhat of an “outsider” and that’s fine. I’ve never tried to “be local.” I think the best advice for newcomers to Hawaii is to just be yourself, never try to be something you aren’t, respect the differences in culture here, and I think you’ll find your peace.
Great advice for newcomers! 🤙
Nice work Chris!
(Queen’s medical, Attended Lincoln, Stevenson,Roosevelt&Kalani schools myself)
Grew up mostly lower Punchbowl &upper Makiki areas…(last year and a half spent in Kahala before leaving for Cali @18/19.)
Keep up the good work!
Pono!
🤙
Great review as always👍🏼🤙🏼
Neat channel. In my mind, you nailed the topic. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA…feeling fortunate to afford a house in Hawaii, I feel that when we move, no matter how much time passes, I will always be a Pittsburgher…just like being a local raised in Hawaii is placed in your being…looking forward to moving there soon with my wife and doing something (small farm) positive….yep…Zippys is it!🌈😃🤙
Enjoy Zippy's 😁
I think I know where you're coming from since I was born and raised in LA and it's always interesting seeing YTbers come and record their experiences while not living anywhere near where locals live. Always just moving to the really high end places
People like Bretman Rock are why I don’t pay as much attention to others like those YTbers that are basically transplants from places like LA, but the on the other hand. You can have examples like Ryan Higa, too. The fluidity of social identity is marvelous when it comes to Hawai’i.
Yeah, it's interesting to see travel CZcamsrs and Twitch streamers move around so much. Very different lifestyle.
@@AzaleaChan13 Bretman rock is a local lol and he lives in Waianae…… but I hear you for these other CZcamsrs
I am Alaskan (18 + years) tho I’ve been living other places, Over 10 years in Hawaii, 7 years Samoa, and others. I mostly look to most of my family, 🇳🇴 Norway. Now Hawaii is my home. 🌴🌴Aloha
Mahalo! Glad that Hawaii is home.
I wasn't born in Hawaii, but I lived on the island from 3rd grade till I was 45. So yeah I consider my self a Local 🤙 Moanalua c/o 90
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Late night but...
Wishing You and your family wellness and well-being !
Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!
Thank You for such a great channel.
Happily subscribed!
Mahalo! Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I'm still recovering from the pies. 😆
I like the shelving unit behind you and all the stuff on the shelf
Aloha! You took me back to Kaimuki High. My time social clubs was big! Puka & Paper shells kept alot of us at the beach! I have over 50 club cards in my annuals! Wishing you & yours a Blessed Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Wow......the social clubs...
Unreal dat! Slow dance togedda with da Adult chaperones hangin out watchin us! 😆😁
Kalapana, Cecilio and Kapono music softly playing with smooth R&B and Soul music gettn us all hot fo each otha....Oh, no!🤭
🤙
Those were the days! Go Bulldogs!😁
I was born and raised in Hawaii. In my intermediate and high school days the big thing were boys and girls clubs. It was a big deal back then and a lot of fun.
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I lived in TN for 40 years and there is a term 'from off' that refers to anyone who was not 'born and raised' in the area...and it takes DECADES to shake the 'from off' label....and they say it to your face, with a smile when they try to figure out 'who your people are '..also said with a smile to your face. The smaller your town the longer it takes to not be from off
Born and raised on Oahu, class of 07 Kaimuki just recently moved to Florida. I will always be a local, always gotta have my rice with everything lol. It’s alittle rough here on the mainland, I do miss that Aloha spirit.
🤙 Hope you still get to visit.
love the topic! i am not a local, but each times i visit hawaii since my days in the navy... even this past summer, people told me i am a local (told them, i am not a local, but loco-like crazy and they laughs) and always disappoint them.
You must look local 😆
@@HelloFromHawaiimahalo... you know what, i had never thought about that. interesting!
Too good, you. Nailed it wit those 3 ?s 🤙🏽 an den ders kamaʻāina, eh? 😊
My born and raised daughter is even more specific, proudly saying "Kane'ohe" which brings greater acceptance to a Haole since it is considered "local" as opposed to Kailua which is considered "Haole."
lol. 96744! 🤙
Born n raised in papakolea, I was a "local" of Dat community, den moved n lived in kaneohe I was a "local" of Dat community n now I live in Waterford, CA . So now I'm a "local" of Dat community, to me being "local" is learning to adapt, respect , being friendly, being helpful, being kind n seeking to learn of Dat culture in Dat community n all of wat da Aloha spirit is about. N yes those 3 questions I always ask wen I first meet someone cause I wanto find out bout Dat person's identity n to c how we can make a connection of calling ourselves "local" to where we r at Dat place n time
🤙
For me, it helps people identify you. If you are Asian and or brown ( I can’t tell what you are! ). When I lived in the mainland people want to put you in a box. Telling them I was from Hawaii automatically put out positive Hawaii stereotypes about you. It was an automatic ice breaker / topic with people.
Totally agree! It makes them think of all the beautiful things they love about Hawaii and all of a sudden they love you too 🏝
Great point. Ice breaker for sure.
@@HelloFromHawaii love your channel bruddah! Keep up the good work.
YAASSSS to all 3 questions! 4th gen, homegrown from Palolo. One important one that tells me if someone local is they laugh their okole off at the local kine jokes. Locals know who Frank DeLima is and grew up with him and other local comedians that told such jokes. Not to mention the songs: Peanut Butter and Jelly Song, Titarella, Glen Yamashiro song, etc. Someone who isn't local would get offended by them, even just a little bit. There's a BIG difference between local jokes and the racism on the mainland. What occurs on the mainland attempts to strip another group's power/dignity. Local jokes are akin to brothers and sisters picking on each other and is more often self-depreciating, but at the same time induces pride. At the end of the day locals all have a meal with one another and love on each other because ohana daz why. We still tease, though. I hapa-Yobo and all the jokes I crack... like I'm not fond of Korean drama because I get the real ting in my life. 😆 Proud to be Yobo, though!
Miss those Frank DeLima tapes 😆
I’m making my way through most of your videos, and you say “talking story” quite a bit. Have you done a video on that phrase? I’d love to hear more about it.
I haven't talked about "talk story", but it's a good topic. Thanks.
This video gave me so much nostalgia of the days before becoming an adult 😭
🤙 The good ol' days
One "sign" that one is Local Hawai'i Islander is if organic deep pidgin speech (Now recognized as a genuine Creole tongue) is imbedded in the psyche.
From this "place" of expression can pour out a magnitude of "Self".
If, say, you spoke it at home, with your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, your relatives, your classmates...strangers in situ.
Even when we subdue it on purpose to "turn it off".
Love that H3 scene.😍
Love your description of "locals," and as a kupuna (81, now) Hawaiian from multiple "B & R" Hawaiian generations, I just have to add that beyond the "born and raised," plus "what school you grad?" questions is ALWAYS the silent but serious attention paid to the "Pigin" sound, however subtle, that is 99% a primary identifying local characteristic, along with more subtle physiological, unconscious body moves beyond "shaka," like raised eyebrows as a "howzit" greeting, and the more obvious cheek (NEVER on lips!) aloha kiss, even when meeting for the first time. Traveling internationally in airports I've been able to "spaahk" multiple locals just watching body language and hearing accents, it's wonderful! You raise eyebrows, ask B&R and school grad questions and often end up spending time touring the place together! Because if you're both locals, you belong to a rare, extremely valued and beloved exclusive and eternally blessed small population in this world today! I'm actually sorry that so many good people I know were not raised there, in that VERY special blessed place of unconditional and incredible aloha!
Mahalo for the comment. Great insight on the mannerisms of being local. It's how you can tell who is local in a place like Vegas without anyone saying a word. It's those intangibles 😆
Great video series. I enjoy them and feel for the plights and anxiety of the people of Hawaii. I can absolutely answer yes! to all three questions. For Florida. We obviously are a bigger state but share common situations. I’ve lived here my entire life and can’t even imagine living anywhere else. With that said I’ve visited four islands in your state and found it to be a mesmerizing and beautiful place. I would love to come back for another visit. I would love for you to visit here as well. Some things we share are our love for the state. It’s water fish agriculture heritage and other related things. We are also living with a crush of people moving here from elsewhere who seem to mostly fit in but with the problems associated with rampant growth. People growth exceeds the ability to build fast enough to accommodate them all. I’ve seen and lived this my whole life. It’s nothing new. I wish all well over there. Just know that there are those who can understand and have empathy towards you.
The last thing I will say is that if, a very big if, I had to move to another state I’d consider Hawaii only because it reminds me the most of home. But I know also that is a huge stretch for all kinds of practical reasons. Aloha friend. May your homeland find some solace in the future.
Mahalo for the comment. I'm glad you've been to four of the islands. I'm sure Florida and Hawaii share many things, like weather. 🤙
@@HelloFromHawaii Yes Sir. The weather. After a tropical upraising in southern Florida (subtropical actually) I simply can’t do cold.
Shoots🤙🏽 Mo betta way ta put it!
Many of the things you say about Hawaii are also true about St Louis, MO! and is described as one of our “peculiarities” we often ask what high school you went to in St Louis. That one question could give somebody a good idea of your income, religion, political values, and even your race, if they knew nothing else about you at all.
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Yes. Yes. and Yes. However, I cannot consider myself full "local." Maybe twenty years ago. After graduating from St. Louis High, I moved to the SF Bay Area 40 years ago for college ... and stayed. I am still local in that I let cars merge/change lanes in front of me or I wave to other drivers that let me merge/change lanes in front of them. But, I feel a bit out of touch when I visit. Seems at some point in the last 20 years, everyone consciously decided to pronounce the Hawaiian words correctly. Simple example: Manoa. Aloha.
How would you pronounce Manoa? Hard to imagine someone saying that incorrectly.
Ya, complicated.
We always get dat worry:
What if too much happen to me abroad?
What if my life all dis and dat from being away long time?
Like dem dere in Jamaica seh,
"Da bottom all gon drop out"
But in da end, no can change da Local in Yu.
@@HelloFromHawaii Ask your parents if they think news anchors changed how they pronounce Hawaiian words/names from when they were in high school.
@@edrictong1350 Yup...probably due to the revival of teaching Hawaiian during the late 1970-80's....a good thing. Prior to that, some folks think the language might have died off if not for the efforts of Larry Kimura and others like St. Louis's own, John Keola Lake. Eh, What year you wen grad? '71 here!
@@robertmoritsugu4658 1980. Mr. Lake, as I called him, was one of my homeroom teachers.
I’ve lived here for 35 years (both Oahu & Maui ). I don’t call myself local! Now both keiki ages 31 & 28, I consider local! Maybe because I’m from NY. 🌺
35 years??! Your kids Local?!
Dat means YU Local!!
Aloha Chris! I'm also Chris lives in Hawaii...grad from Mililani High. I enjoy watching your videos. Shoots!
Hey, thanks! 🤙
This topic of "local" is a culture that everyone was brought up with in life. Your "local" definition is the umbrella of many types of local living. It is a group identification from childhood. Yes, being attached to a group to feel belonged. You create friendship in the classroom from Elementary school. When entering middle school, you identify yourself from the Elementary school. When entering high school, you identify yourself from the middle school you were from. In high school, you join various clubs with similar interests.
The athletes, band members, academic students, and clubs all have their common interests and feel local to their groups.
The "locals" divide. Then when entering college, you identify by the high school attended... private or public. The same with the town you live in and grew up with in the community. It is the relationships established. So even if people moved to Hawaii, they interact with the community and thus become a local. They belong to a group.
Only outside of Hawaii, you generalize from being from Hawaii with a knowledge of living in Hawaii.
To me if your comfortable with with wearing shorts and slippers where ever you go your local LOL. I have mainland friends who didn't grow up here or where born here but they have gotten use to wearing slippers and shorts where ever they go even to dinner and I consider them local LOL! I rarely wear long pants or shoes LOL unless I have to. I wear shorts and slippers every where I go.
@@pkodani72 I wore slippers in snow
Hawaii is Home. I can't wait to go back home.
'Really loved (and value) your commentary here. A related (i.e., "identity in Hawaii") topic, which would make a great subject for a future YT segment, would be your perspective on the usage of the descriptive "hapa". For context, back in the day, I was routinely asked (invariably preceded by a friendly upward head nod) "hapa?" by older surfers in the line-up (I am, and look, "hafu").
Mahalo for the suggestion. I've heard "hapa" used generally and also as "hapa haole" over the years.
Born and raised in Hawaii and wen grad from Roosevelts. living on the mainland for more than 20+ yrs now but still say that I’m a local from Hawaii wherever I go. :-)
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Really solid grounded something that you self identify from or out of......I would say.
In other example, kids born on da mainland & their parents are Locals; they themselves are Locals, too.
However automatically if you're 1st Gen through 4th Gen diaspora from original old countries
(i.e. China, Japan, Phillipines,
Azores/Madeira Portuguese, Korea, Puerto Rico, Samoa).
Then of *course* Native Hawaiian.
I agree much, I think if you spent a major amount of your K-12 schooling in Hawai'i then this would be very strong. (These are seriously totally Local poplolo & haole Locals).
Also, if you marry a Local Islander and your Life condition undergoes transformation and becoming Local evolves rather quickly!
Hmmmm, what else is significantly "grounding" one...
If Yu solidly Hawai'i grounded by some mechanism or other, and your self identify has connectedness, ...what else Yu gonna be? Yu can't fake something else!
I’m a simpleton. This is what it means to be local in Hawaii of what I’ve observed.
1. Take your shoes off when you enter a house.
2. You understand the context when people use the term “da kine”
3. You refer to flip lips as slippahs and don’t bat an eye when people wear them to formal occasions regardless if it’s not appropriate.
4. Your highschool matters more than the college you went to.
5. Your Costco and Sams club membership gets used regularly.
I was born on the mainland because my dad was going to school at the time. But we moved back to Hawaii when I was about 13 months. Now I have lived in California since the '70s when I came here to go to college and graduate school and then stayed. BUT when I say "home," in my head, I always mean Hawaii despite having now lived longer in No. Cal. than in Hawaii.
One day, I actually met two Asian people at a school sports event who were walking in the opposite direction. The wife gave me the "local" head nod and greeting..."howzit." Took me a few steps for her comment to sink in and realize that she had a Kauai cap on. My mind was slowly registering...what, what someone from "home?!" I then whirled around and asked if she and her husband were "local." They actually weren't but and were from the Bay Area. They had been staying on Kauai. We had a good laugh when I explained that I couldn't just let someone, who I thought was from Hawaii, just walk by without asking all the required questions!
Mahalo for sharing. Always great to run into locals on the mainland. Those quick talk story sessions are great.
I wonder if your viewers would be interested to know about how the local identity was forged back on the plantations, and that's why Portuguese aren't considered haole. (Kaiser '80, UHM '85).
That would be interesting, considering they are a European ethnicity.
Your right that these days it's not a big deal if you aren't, too many ppl here from the mainland and Asia. Now 10-20 years ago it felt like a really, really big deal. So the older population might care. I just asked my McKinley son about this he just dhugged and said "doesn't matter" where ppl are from, good and bad everywhere.
🤙 How is McKinley these days?
@@HelloFromHawaii it's a really good school!
In California, I can’t ask someone “where are you from” because it has gang connotations.
Interesting
I wasn't born here but I came here when I was two years old. I consider myself local because I graduated from Mililani High school. To me being local means that you like to wear slippers and Tee shirts rather than shoes and long pants when going out like to dinner. LOL. It also means that you take off your shoes and slippers before you enter your house or some one elses house. When ever I go to the mainland and I wear shorts and slippers to go out to dinner people look at me weird LOL. I usually tell people I'm from Hawaii and this is how we dress when we go out casual LOL!
BEING A LOCAL IN HAWAII MEANS LOVING THIS ISLAND LIFE AND PUTTING DOWN ROOTS THAT LAST GENERATIONS STRONG IN ALOHA,KULEANA,KAPU.ALSO,REMEMBER TO SMILE&SHAKA BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU LIVE IN LIKE THE TOP 5 OF MOST EXPENSIVE STATES IN AMERICA,"YOU LUCKY YOU LIVE HAWAII"!!!
Born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Moved to da mainland at 19 and living in SoCal almost 42 years, but still consider myself "local". You can take da local-boy out of da island, but you no can take da island out of the local-boy! ALOHA!
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I did graduated in High School in Radford High School.
So true
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Soo Akamai u---too good!
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What is a Local from the Islands? Well Hawai’i has definitely changed in the last 68 years of my life during certain years while growing up in the Islands and graduated from Leilehua High School in 1972. Yeah you did notice that I’m a Senior local guy from Hawai’i and especially since I’ve been retired now from the Marine Corps since 1994 and also retired from the County of San Diego Veterans Service the last 12 years. But hey it’s what Braddah IZ said many moons ago it’s about coming to know yourself and your family and the Aloha in your heart. I left Hawai’i right after high school and though I had occasionally came back to the Islands it was always in a state of constant flux. Not only that I was married in the Islands, Wahiawa folks, but to a local girl with a great family and well known at Leilehua but our oldest son was born there too. Just like his parents. I guess God had planned my journey since leaving Hawai’i in 1972 and we not only traveled back and forth from home, but also to be stationed at Okinawa, Japan during 1986 through 1989 with my family. Yes, it was quite interesting to say the least, especially living in the Okinawa community and not on military housing. So the question is I’m I or my wife and son’s local. Boy you betta believe it Braddah or my Ohana’s in the Islands from both sides of the families will hunt you guys and gals down. Mahalo’s to everyone who is local from Hawai’i Nei!
The reason why us loco has a habit in asking this to everyone is because we live in a small island and its a way to id someone. Our islands has so many asians and Polynesians mix match that this grows in us.
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Sociological kine! But true! Respect, aloha, culture, etc. This goes for any place. Here in Seattle area, "locals" never use umbrellas, wear shorts when it gets above 50F, among other things. To get along: don't be afraid to try "local" food, be polite, and be ready to learn.
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@@HelloFromHawaii Raja dat!
This might seem off topic. Growing up I was thinking all Hawaiians who grow up and live there speak the Hawaiian language. Also, thought they had the Polynesian skin texture or something like it. Surfing 🏄♀️ culture and a lot of Hula Dance performances . When I visited Hawaii and talked to others prior. The population seemed more Asian and no one appeared to speak the Hawaiian language. If they did then it was not spoken in public or officially. I apologize I forgot your name. Do you speak Hawaiian 🌺? Was it taught when you went school? Did you ever do a video on the amount of people speaking Hawaiian 🌺 and where people will most likely commonly speak it?
Mahalo for sharing. I think your view of Hawaii and locals is pretty common. The population here is mostly Asian and while some Hawaiian is spoken in everyday talk, it's not that common, even though it's an official language of the State. I don't know how many people can speak Hawaiian, especially fluidly. I know that there are Hawaiian immersion schools where they teach Hawaiian to children.
Hawaii does appear to be unique in regards to the native language not being commonly spoken. It could be considered special because of that. If there is another place in the world where the native language is not common. I don’t know about it. In mainland USA, people could say Native American Indians but does. It seem like the same thing. It sounds cool if Hawaii is trying to revive their language. I heard at one time the island of Nihau only speaks the Hawaiian 🌺 language.
Whoa🌸🌴 I totally relate💗 All this also applies to Victoria, BC where I'm a local on a Canadian Pacific island🏝
Aloha Nephew, Please do one talk on being Hawaiian. Talk about living aloha. Maybe about kama aina. Maybe about hanai children. Could be that being Hawaiian is different from being Local. Maybe it is being Kanaka Maoli, but it could be something else now. Can talk the talk, dance the hula, still no Hawaiian?
Mahalo for the suggestion. I'll have to find someone I can interview who is Kanaka Maoli.
Chris you went socials?
I grew up Big Island. 81-99 born in St. Louis MO in 80. I am local.
What would you say about Puakea Nogelmeir, from Wisconsin, but he is like the foreign born who wanted to be part of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the 19th century. He is the guy that everyone turns to for language stuff. He started the project to digitize the Hawaiian language newspapers. How about Mark Keali'i ho'omalu who lives in San Leandro CA long time now, but was raised in Ewa? I've lived in Oakland CA for 50 years but I barely consider myself an Oaklander.
Tough call. Again, I think it comes down to where they think they are from.
I'M A HAPA , PART WHITE AND HAWAIIAN CHINESE. BORN AND RAISED ON HAWAII, I IDENTIFY WITH MY HAWAIIAN LOCAL HERTIAGE.
So what do you think makes someone a "local" in Hawaii? 🤙
BTW, I would consider President Obama and Bruno Mars locals. Sorry, Rock. (Go Tigers!)
I agree with you: Obama and Bruno Mars ARE locals of your beautiful state.
Local, in Hawai'i, goes waaaay back.
Over there, one has to be much more immersed in the culture, to be considered to be a local than say, anywhere on the mainland, I think.
I could be wrong, but, this is my opinion.
Here, on the mainland, you can NOT have gone to school in the city where you live, yet still be considered to be a local.
You just have to have lived on the mainland for a number of years, usually 20 or so.
@@SuiGenerisAbbie Obama is a CIA plant.
Yeah, The Rock ain't local. He wish lol even though he went to the best high school in Hawaii!
I think to be local in Hawaii is a unique cultural attitude. Even if someone wasn't born here, but grew up here from small kid time to adulthood. I think most people would call that person local. I have a friend who was born and raised on the mainland, but spent almost his entire adult life here. When people ask him what school he grad from, it blows their minds that he's not originally from here. I think It's an attitude with cultural awareness.
It's the same on the mainland. However, after 10+ years and well adapted into the area they are considered local.
Chris- your pronunciation of “local” comes across as “Loco” !!
And you repeat it so much that it becomes comical 😎
Queens Medical Center, went to Pearlridge Elem, Aiea Inter, MPI grad.. My dad went to KHS .. Local All da way! ❤️Plus my grandparents worked the sugar cane fields ... NiSei
🤙 Queens!
Boy I am confused now. I’m not too sure if I’m a local or just a transplant from the mainland? I was born in San Diego California and we moved here to Hawaii back in 1961 on Kapiolani Blvd which I was only 7 years old and went to Ala Wai elementary for 2nd grade. Then we moved to Young Street and I went to Lunalilo elementary for 3rd grade. Then we moved to Queen Emma Gardens by the Pali and Vineyard Ave and went to Royal elementary. We moved after that to Kaneohe and I went to Kapunahala elementary. Then I went to King Intermediate and Castle High School. We wasn’t a military family, I guess my parents liked moving around until they found a town that they liked and we are still in Kaneohe 55+ years later. I worked on this island and now I’m retired but again, IDK what I am? I’m not Native Hawaii by a far shot, not a Local (I think not?) Maybe I’m just a resident of Hawaii although I lived here for 60+ years. IDK or remember too much of anything in San Diego, practically nothing. Well I guess I feel local so maybe that’s it? I wear Slippers 95% of the time and love Spam Musubi, I must be kinda local? Well the bottom line is, does it really matter? When you think about it, nope just glad I'm living here in Hawaii.
Yu SO Local !!
From elementary up? Definitely local 🤙🏽
Local 🤙
I lived in Honolulu Hawaii for 6 years. Went to highschool, got married and had my first child there. She was born in tripler army medical center.
Military?
@@HelloFromHawaii yes my Dad is now Retired Air Force
You should start a podcast!
I thought about a podcast, but I just don't have the time. Would be fun though.
This also applies to Alaska
I m 36 years old. Moved to hawaii from Korea at 11. 5th grade, middle school and grad high school here. I always tell people i am from Korea if someone asks me where i am from. I NEVER say i am from here in hawaii even after 25 years. It is just the way it is
Same here I came to Hawaii when I was two from Thailand. I tell people I am originally from Thailand but grew up in Hawaii. I've lived here almost my whole life.
I graduated from Roosevelt HS in makiki now I live in montana
I read that it's the #1 public school now 😆
I guess “transplant” would be a good term for someone not born and raised somewhere but who lives there now? They may not be *from* there, but they consider it home now and have a vested interest in the place.
It's still a strange term. I get it, but still strange to me.
Just by talking to a local, your "pigeon-english" comes out if you're a local, no matter
what school you went, A local would know when you speak to them
I was born and raised in Waihiwa and raised until 13 years old.
I go back home for the last 50 years and still speak pigeon.
Good point on the Pidgin coming out. Happened so many times on the mainland. 😆
I've been thinking about what it means to be local. Born and raised on the big island, but I've been in in the mainland for 10 years now. So now I sound haole, which makes me not feel like a local when I visit home now.
Try speaking Pidgin with someone else. The localness will come back 😆
@@HelloFromHawaii I do that everyone in a while lol. Not going to lie, watching CZcamsrs from Hawaii, such as yourself, helps me feel connected with locals 🤙
I’ve had this discussion for years. We locals need to clarify “local”. Like years being equivalent to ranks. Obviously if your folks were born here too in the 30’s or 40’s you definitely local. Folks moving here and living 25 yrs plus, I feel may have reached “local” status BUT is “local” the definition of speaking pidgin, eating mix plate, calling it slippahs not flip flops. AND if you move away for 20 + years, are you still local? Cuz plenny wen change since high school daze…
Yeah, I like the discussion. Always good fun to have.
@@HelloFromHawaii it truly is about what culture people make it. I come from the plantation days culture, while others come from the paniolo. Some have a more upperclass high maka maka culture and some malahini make hawaii there own kind of culture, more ritzy and postcardish. So which is a true “local” all of them would claim to be the truest form right?
My mom was born in Wailuku. Half of my cousins are local. We come back every 2 or 3 years because uncles and aunties are getting old now. My brother and i are from New Hampshire. We look local. My name is Keoki and my brother is Kimo. Everyone in New Hampshire call use by our Hawaiian names, no one calls me Seth. But we are not local.
Mahalo. Appreciate you sharing 🤙
Aloha Nephew, What difference between "Haole" and "Local Haole"? Different question, but worth your attention. Shootz
My daughter was born on the 9th island, does that count as being born in Hawai'i?
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There’s a Local Hawaiian Tic Toc guy that states in his video that only real native Hawaiian’s should only get Hawaiian tattoos. I’m not from Hawaii but now I’m really thinking hard about not getting them. What are your thoughts about this? Hawaiian Tattoos are only for the Hawaiian people?
I think it depends. I think it comes down to intent.
#1 Ae, yes #2 yes #3 yes, even though I wen move to mainland several years ago....I'm always from Hawai'i (Kaneohe originally) oh and wife and I both grad UH Manoa.
You still have the walk?
@@HelloFromHawaii Absolutely!
I was born and raised in Hawaii. Joined the Marines and went back to Hawaii after my tour. Got married and divorced to 2 haole wahines and moved away from Hawaii a few times. Every time I go back to Hawaii the local people automatically speak to me in pidgin unless it’s in a professional setting. I’ve been living in California for over 20 years now and I still consider myself a local guy from Hawaii. My family and friends consider me as a local too.
The pidgin always comes back 😆
@@HelloFromHawaii yes, it’s a part of who we are.
Did you say Loco or local ?
do past lives there count?? :)
lol
Fourth question, "When you are going home where is "home"?