MovieChat Forums > North Shore (1987) Discussion > If you are white and want to experience ...

If you are white and want to experience racism first hand move to Hawaii

posted 11 years ago by PackmanWSU01
13 replies | jump to latest

This film is very accurate in its portrayal of certain local attitudes towards whites (haoles). Technically, haole (Hawaiian word for 'no breath') refers to foreigners, but it is used with a certain disdain to describe or address white people. These attitudes are blocked and censored by hawaii's tourism board. Locals are rarely portrayed negatively in movies or tv shows like hawaii 5-0. It was a breath of fresh air to actually see in this film instances which I have either witnessed or encountered for the sole reason of the color of mine or someone else's skin. The local economy depends on tourism, but many locals despise tourism in general, seeming oblivious to the fact that the island has no local sustainability and the entire economy would sink if not for tourism. So if you ever visit, be wary if you venture away from the fake hospitality of waikiki. I have lived lived on the island for 7 years, and if you have family or co-workers that are local you eventually become accepted by those you are familiar with. Many locals are friendly to everyone, but some think it is their divine right or a local past time to make trouble towards haoles, as if people who are living today are personally responsible for the theft of the islands over 100 years ago.

[–] PackmanWSU01 11 years ago

Come to think of it, that's probably why Dog the Bounty Hunter got run out of town, because he showed too many locals in a negative light.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] PackmanWSU01 11 years ago

It really depends on where you go. Also, if you are traveling with other haoles you post a big target on your back. If you are hanging out with locals, and in the minority, other locals generally assume you are ok and leave you alone. The first instance of racism I encountered was waiting outside a cafe in Haleiwa with some military friends. A group of local kids drove by and yelled "Go home (expletive) haoles! Also, if you go to certain restaraunts and don't have a local with you in your party expect to wait longer to be seated and get your food (Zippy's). The sad thing is there are many people on the island who blame all their problems on haoles and pass it on to their children. By asking around, you would think over half the island is pure Hawaiian, as so many people deny their heritages. Children who are 10 percent HAwaiian or less will often say they are just Hawaiian, as it seems to be some sort of bragging right. If you like to surf, stay away from places like V-land. Locals are very territorial and want ro fight "donkeys" who invade the turf. I heard one story about a fight that almost happened, but when it was discovered the guy was Ron and raised in Tahiti he was given a free pass and welcomed. And don't be fooled by locals who insist on the word haole being harmless. It can be, but often is not...there is actually a "kill haole day" that is somewhat tolerated by the school districts. Any such mention of a day devoted to violence against a race in the mainland would result in scandal, but it goes accepted here.

[–] PackmanWSU01 11 years ago

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2009/fall/prejudice-in-paradise

I also once dated a local girl that told her cousin and his friends went to certain clubs every weekend for the sole purpose of starting fights with haoles.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Toby_gibson002 11 years ago

There are bigots of all colors. As a haole that has lived on the Big Island for nearly twenty years and on oahu for 6, I have rarely encountered racism. Best way to come to Hawaii is with your eyes and ears and mind open and your mouth shut- you need to learn and assimilate to be appreciated or accepted. Most of the instances of racism I have encountered involved white guys trying too hard to be what in their mind is "hawaiian". Occasionally I have run into a banty rooster wannabe primo warrior just looking to pound some haole, but that has been the exception rather than the rule. Also racism is more prevalent on Oahu than on the Big Island, for certain. On Big Island all you have to do is smile and say hello and most local people are pretty welcoming. If you don't smile and say hello, people generally go about their business.

[–] rainofwalrus 10 years ago

Im a born-and-raised Oahu-haole. Leewardside lidat. I went to shows with the notion that every night would be fight-night. Cheeeee'hu!

Good ting I like fo scrap, eh? I didn't care what color you were.

Enjoy these words, for one day they'll be gone... All of them.

[–] DACHokie 10 years ago

I'm reading Chas Smith's "Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell" and it pretty much summarizes the North Shore attitude toward outsiders is not necessarily racial, but a simple disdain for all outsiders, mostly mainlanders. The book puts a highlight on "local"(mainland imported, by the way) thug Eddie Rothman, who is revered, feared and white. He is an integral part of Da Hui (represented by Gerry Lopez in the movie) and seems to be the Michael Corleone of the North Shore surfing community (with a penchant for heavy-handing anyone who he deems being "disrespectful"). Many blonde-haired, blue-eyed surfers have made the North Shore their home and are portrayed in the book as heroes by the community. Not saying racism doesn't exist there, just noting that the surfing community there is rather protective of its home turf and seems to hate all outsiders in general.

[–] rainofwalrus 10 years ago

This Oahu-born Haole would rather fight a surfer from the North Shore than a football player from Waipahu. Having played football against Waipahu, I've never seen our team get back on the bus so quickly.

Enjoy these words, for one day they'll be gone... All of them.

[–] Arien_78 9 years ago

Lmao! Yes, cuz us Waipahu Marauders are known for having huge Samoans on the Team. Make Sked!

[–] ben-thayer 8 years ago

Lived in San Diego in the late 80s, and I learned to surf there. It was tough...surfers are not particularly friendly folks, especially towards a novice. It's one of the reasons I typically paddled out with friends, at least until I could hold my own.

One evening we rented a surf video, and at the end was a commentary by Corky Carroll: "What to do if you want to take a surf trip to Hawaii"...where he gave surfers *stern* advice about making a trip to Hawaii to surf, especially at famous breaks such as Pipe, Sunset, Waimea, etc. I'm paraphrasing of course (it's been 25 years), but maybe some of you folks who actually have surfed Hawaii can elaborate. Personally I've never been so I don't have firsthand knowledge as some folks here. But this was Corky's clip, and as I recall he had definite opinions about attempting to surf in Hawaii.

BTW, I'm no authority in any way...but again, this was Corky's advice.

His first piece of advice was pick a different place to go than Hawaii...he said there were tons of places where a person could go for a *lot* less money and they could surf without being hassled.

But then Corky said if you're *determined* go to Hawaii, here's a few pieces of advice:

1- Avoid the famous breaks, find somewhere less well known. They'e typically very crowded, and even if you've been surfing your whole life these places can still be pretty dangerous, and the crowd can elevate the danger level on bigger days.

2- Don't try to be "cool"...Corky said it was best to keep to yourself while in the water and don't try to talk or buddy up to any locals, especially don't attempt to be "cool" and try to use local slang or hand gestures (he said "y'know, like shaka brah" with the hand signal). If someone says something to you, it's best to paddle away.

3- Don't take a really flashy, colorful board. It'll only get stolen, or worse - broken over your head. (I remember this one vividly, Corky imitated someone smashing a board down on a head.)

4- Don't drive up to a beach in a rental car with boards on top. You could come back to find all the tires slashed and windows broken.

And Corky's most important advice:

5- Don't be a WAVE HOG. Corky said there are surfers in Hawaii who take great pleasure in targeting mainlanders who come to their local breaks and are wave hogs, and he said they can snake you in just the right moment to watch you go over the falls and get ground into sand.

I've searched for this video clip for some years, unsuccessfully. Sure would like to see it again!

[–] Zando777 8 years ago

I've certainly heard and read about this tendency myself.

On my only 10-day trip to (Oahu) Hawaii (so far), I did not notice any racism. I spent a couple days in Waikiki, and the rest on the North Shore, in a surf hostel. I guess I didn't interact with locals that much, but my one interaction was a very positive one, where a local warned me against going deeper into the water on the North Shore, due to strong tides, guided me back in, and then chatted with me in a friendly manner when I got back in.

I think, as another posted noted, it's mainly about being quiet and respectful. Racism and nativism will always flare up if you're being obnoxious, or a source of conflict. Avoid that, and you'll usually be fine.

[–] ben-thayer 8 years ago

It's good to hear a positive story such as yours...for many decades I've heard lots of negative things about surfing there.