Being "BLACK" In Hawaii - This Born & Raised Local Discusses Prejudice In Paradise 

Loved this !...I am a 73yo white chick from Alabama raised by a mom born in 1914. I lived thru the schools being integrated ...the whole thing. My mom always told us that God made people with different colored skin......but we all bleed red and all mama's and daddy's want better for their children that what they had. We never looked at color...we looked the person's heart.......so this Bama girl is married to Korean who was born in Hawaii. For the biggest part Hawaii is colorblind....if you move to Hawaii....leave your Mainland attitude on the Mainland and you will do fine.

Outstanding interview. First, Kenji was an amazing guest. Second, I know Derek is all about real estate but... I absolutely enjoy his non real estate videos.

This conversation could have gotten a lot deeper. I’m 61 and visit Oahu twice a year and love the fact that I don’t have the same feeling of racism there as I do on the mainland! 💯

Being black and growing up in Hawaii, during my teenage years was one of the best experience to date. I lived in Waipahu, Mililani and ended up on Schofield barracks base housing. I didn’t want to leave the place and my parents had to drag me kicking and screaming back to the mainland. Thank you for the open and candid conversation.

I think its great that we can joke about our race. I am 75% hispanic and we would always joke about our Hispanic Heritage. My Grandfather would always say “ son, we Mexicans can’t add or subtract, but we can sure multiply” When you can share that humor I believe it brings peoples defenses down allowing for more engagement.

I first visited Hawaii when I was 14 and then again at 15 and loved it so much that I moved there from the mainland when I was 16. The locals embraced me and saw me as a human first above all else. I made a lot of local friends and still keep in touch with them till this day! I miss my friends, the island and mostly the Aloha. Being black in Hawaii was never an issue for me. I felt free 🌈✨✨☀️

From being black in Hawaii. They are right. black in Hawaii is less toxic than in mainland. Less racism. Just understand local culture anywhere you go have respect and you’ll enjoy life. Would love to give my thoughts and experience from moving here from the Bay Area 6 years ago as a black american. Also mixed

As a popolo/Hawaiian man born and raised Oahu growing up in Kalihi (Kam IV housing) in the 80s 90s lol cuzin I kno all about it💯 To me it boils down to RESPECT. Giving respect and aloha is key. Only time color becomes an issue is if they make it one. Other than that brah just love and respect each other and if it doesn’t come back to you then that’s cool too cuz the intentions were well. It is what you make it. Love u guys 🙏🏾🤙🏾

I am a black man and I grew up in da town and waipahu from 1978-1987 I loved my experience I spent my entire elementary school years between lunolino in Honolulu and August ahrens in waipahu and always was shown love...some ppl may have hated but it's mostly cuz I kicked their butts in sports 😂...I boxed in waipahu under coach Silva and was mentored by Jesus salud on his come up...I still talk to my friends back in the 94...it's been too long and i cant wait to go back...ive been in Connecticut every since

Moved from Los Angeles in 70 (age 5) Waikiki (ILIKAI) parents pilots. Full cracks in school (Ala Wai) and baseball Moiliili until we left in 75. Surfed Ala Moana / Kaisers every day after school. Found my place and respect in the water not on land. No worries will always LOVE the true Aloha of HAWAII & it’s beautiful people.

I’m so happy I stumbled into this channel. This convo was AMAZING. Because I really did want to know the REAL for brown/black people. Because one day I’d love to visit for 3-6months. But I want to be AWARE and self-educate as a brown/black woman while I’m still in CA. And be wise and use my brain while planning to visit one day. Also the way the cameraman handled the situation with his daughter was so PERFECT. I think he did in an amazing job and could only imagine how things will be when I have to one day have convos about the black/brown side with one of my nephews. But I honestly am happy to see how bro(the cameraman) handled it because it honestly helps take some of the edge off. Only difference is my nephew is mixed with Sicilian & black/brown(my brother) & my nephew is an adult now. I can see we’ll have the convo eventually though. He doesn’t say it but I can see sometimes he’s confused about his identity. And as a tt/aunty I’ll fill in the gaps where my brother unfortunately just can’t. But the way bro in this video did with his 6yr old really was so graceful but still real. He did GREAT & little does he know he’s helping take the edge off for me when I have talks like that with my nephew. Because yes he’s a you adult but neither of his parents have been real with him about being biracial and I can see it’s touchy for him even though he’s an entire young man now with a biracial baby of his own. So I’ll do my best and be there for him when he’s ready to have that talk. Thank you so much for this really dope and even funny as hell but still sincere conversation. I LOVE the content you guys put out on this channel so much. This channel is soooo DOPE. And GENUINE but REAL…not a drop of delusion lol. Keep shining! 🔥🧡🙏🏾

Thank yall so much for doing this! I visited Hawaii Twice in the past year and looking to one day move there. Im black and from the south and when we are in Hawaii i feel very welcome by locals and wonder what it would feel like if we lived there

Excellent!!! Thank you Derek for doing this interview with Kenji! I asked you to do a video on this topic when I first reach out to Core Team Hawaii. This was very informative. I'm a Black woman from NJ finishing my doctorate in a couple weeks !nd considering teaching at UH. I love it in Hawaii. Thanks for sharing your experiences Kenji!

I will say been living here now over 6 years. Visited here twice before being stationed here. From day one I have always been embraced by locals 😅. By the way my auntie is from Makaha 😊. She is Puerto Rican and Black.

Great. Now: do women, please!? Men and women experience life differently. Also, mixed people who tussel with racial identity are not like Black people who proudly check their one "box" and stand on their "clarity." LOVE that you used the term "trauma bonding;" I 'd love to see you discuss that more with a guest who can expound upon that bit of truth. Love that you and your guest note that even those who are considered racial minorities on the mainland can take heart in Hawai'i's racial mix that holds space for many shades of melanin, especially in more Hawaiian circles/neighborhoods. Sorry to learn that your guest and his wife didn't prepare their daughter or have good information ready to teach her how proud (vs. sad) she should be. I've noticed that is a BIG difference in Hawai'i vs. the mainland: educated and wonderfully proud Black people are quite easy to find on the mainland. Black parents who are proud of their histories and legacies know that their kids need to be raised with tools and not left defenseless against the world that they live in. I know Hawai'i can be a respite from the race-based horrors of the mainland and a number of Black people enjoy escaping and avoiding the harm of that "box" on-island, especially for their kids. But, the reality remains. So, I hope your guest and his wife seek help to educate themselves and their daughter on how to walk with pride and confidence (vs. being reduced to tears and fearful). Thanks for the content and conversation.

Hi Kenji, sounds like you a great childhood. So did I. I’m half black and half white born on Oahu in 1966. My parents moved to Oahu so they could live together as an interracial couple in the 50s. Funny, I had only two incidents of overt racism as a child. One from a Japanese mother who told my classmate she could not play with me. The other was from a Portuguese grandmother who told me to get away from her door that her granddaughter did not play with kids like me. They both left an impression on me;however, I love Hawaii with all my heart. I love the people, the ocean, the land and the food. I moved to California in my 20s but I go home whenever possible. I wish I had raised my kids in Hawaii. My oldest son is black, white, Hawaiian, Japanese, Portuguese and Puerto Rican. No one can tell what the hell he is over here 😂. All the best!

Great conversation with Kenji being a great guest. Very thought provoking and enjoyed each of your insights.

When I first read the title I was like, “Oh man how are the comments going to be”? But so glad Derek put this video together!! I’m like Kenji, Black & Japanese, military father. Born & raised in OC California but from an earlier pre “woke” 70’s & 80’s era. In all honesty I really didn’t encounter much overt racism until around the “dating” teen age but even then it wasn’t like it was anything to worry about. My first trip to Hawaii though I did feel like, “Oh wow I sort of blend in”? 😆

This was such an incredibly enlightening conversation! I really enjoyed listening to both your perspectives and experiences and I feel like I learned something important today, just by listening to you guys. Great job for bringing this discussion to the table❤

This was a very good conversation. I wasn’t expecting this much insight and depth. Heavily considering Hawaii and I greatly appreciate this information and perspective on being black in Hawaii.

Great conversation, fellas! Thanks for sharing your experiences, and broaching such a complex and difficult topic. Very insightful perspectives …

Love all your content but this one was small kind mo' bettah! Loved it! Born & raised on O`ahu, Japanee tita that often passed for Filipina, Iwas always jealous that I didn't have more ethnicity. Love how many kama`aina are all chop suey! I never really saw color or ethnic growing up in the HI state. The world would be a better place if everyone was all mix up because.... how you gonna discriminate then?!? Thank you both for a great interview / conversation!! 💯🤙🌺

Thanks so much for doing this interview. I'm from the south (Charleston, SC but grew up in Atlanta) and looking to move. It's corny but EVERY time I've visited the island I feel accepted and at ease like no other place on the mainland.

I was so excited to see this video. I’m half black half Puerto Rican and born and raised in Hawaii. I was always one of the few black kids in my class and didn’t really realize it was unusual until I moved to the mainland. This is such an important discussion. Thank you for this!

Great interview, I loved this one. Kenji is awesome! Would love to see more stuff like this, I learn a lot from it

This was a good discussion. Being black and being stationed there back in the day was different also. It had advantages and disadvantages. The locals would treat some of the Soldiers different because they were Soldiers. But if you became friends with a local and respected the island, living there was easy. That's when you learned about the best places to eat.

I feel like moving to Hawaii from the Mainland as a mixed person in general is a positive experience. The fact that you don't have to explain what you are or show allegiance to any particular group is the way it should be.

Great interview!! It is the light and the spirit in us that matters, nothing else!! HAWAII is for everybody! Just keep smiling every day!!!!

This is beautiful, thank you!!

Great conversation. My family and I visited Hawaii for the first time in October, and we fell in love with the people and culture. We, too, are from NorCal, I from Oakland, and my wife is from Stockton but currently living in Lodi. Since visiting, my wife and I have been thinking about relocating because it feels like a perfect place to raise our kids.

good takeaway: "they are so similar but they can't see each other.."

Great conversation, some thoughtful points.....as a mixed race person (part AA) I loved it.

My son worked out in Kauai Hawaii and being born and raised in the South as well for him, he was prepared for anything. My children are well rounded growing up in the salvation army , around so many cultures. He said that there were actually some decent people that he met. He also got to meet a few locals, homeless and tourists the same. He makes the best out of everything he can. Im so proud of my children and who they are.❤. WOW this channel is awesome 💯

This is so refreshing for me to hear. I grew up in L.A. looking so different with a Lebanese Mother and Western European Father in the 60's. I relate to the curiosity folks had about me as a strength in an era when people lived in their own neighborhoods of similar ethnicity. I got very lucky to start working early as a young woman in the Hollywood real estate industry of the early 1970's. iI was the first female in my family to move from a parental home to her own place, not a husband's home. I can look back now and see the racism and discrimination I experienced. Growing up in South Central L.A. , having an "ethnic" look and being female to boot was a challenge. I never regarded my experiences as racist until I was well into my fifties. I really found my peace and self acceptance here on Oahu where I oddly enough do not feel I am on the arc of my life looking into it. We need more open conversations like this gentlemen. We need more understanding, love , self awareness and openess to the true intent others have when they use specific language rather than judging them as PC incorrect. You both give me much hope for the future of society. Seriously, we need this. I finally just got back to Ewa and feel this community is my real home. I am more at ease here in my golden years to live in this more accepting diversity of Hawaii despite looking more like a haoli grandma type. The wealth of being multicultural is more celebrated here. The Aloha is real. I hope you have a holiday gathering your uTube fans are welcome at. I will happily bring as few hulihuli chickens or pumpkin pies from Costco. I have been blessed to meet princes, paupers and popes, all of whom I have equally respect for. It would just be an honor to meet you young men in person. You both are truly honorable gentlemen. Your children are fortunate. Mahalo.

As black woman who was in the military and spend a lot of time in Hawaii, it is less toxic than the mainland for black folks. Coming to visit in July.

I'm Black, white, Hawaiian and Samoan grew up on the west side of Oahu. Really good interview with Kenji. I've had similar experiences. When i go to the mainland i feel like a spotlight on me when I'm at home i don't even notice things even though like at work i'm the only "Black" girl working in my department sometimes the only black person period. Great topic on this one!!

Super nuanced but helpful nuggets of information, not to show personality until there’s an understanding right around 35:00

Dope interview... I've been here since 96 and call this home... I married a local girl and had a kid... in my opinion this is the best place to live and raise a family... 🤙🏿I wore Tims to the beach many times in the beginning 🤣

Love the content! I hope you guys can make a “Hispanic living in Hawaii” video!

Great video 👍🏼🤙🏼

Thank you guys for doing this subject, I am planning to move to Maui to retire. I know racism exist everywhere but I love how I have been treated every time I visit Hawaii. The mainland has not been so kind to me over the years. I had my first racist experience in kindergarten and have survived from racist act to racist act ever since.

I was in Hawaii for a few days back in the early nineties while in the Navy. All I can say is that it was the first time in my life that I felt like I blended in and was just like everyone else, without that seemingly blaring neon sign on my forehead flashing *** WARNING *** BLACK GIRL *** WARNING*** Tho.... While on West Pac (Hawaii was our first stop) people kept asking me if I was Guamanian or Indonesian... What the chocolate fudge sundae was up with that? Lol! Anyway, I really loved it there; but truth be told, I really prefer the Pacific Northwest and cooler temps...must be that Viking gene overriding my Sub Saharan genes! Meanwhile my other ethnicities are like: Dudette! Ditch the rain and snow and let's hit some waves! 🌊🏄🏾‍♀️ And of course, I've never surfed, but I've seen it done, so I'm quite sure that I can do it, easy peasy! 🌊🌊🌊 Um, call 911! I think I just broke something!!! 😫 Soooo...😳 😸 I hope that I'll be able to go back for a visit one day, before I turn sixty in a couple of years. 🙏🏽👍🏽

Since 2012, we’ve vacationed in Maui a handful of times and I swear it’s the ONLY place we’ve visited where we’re not constantly reminded that we’re black. I would love to retire there, but I’ll need to win the lottery. I’m originally from Miami but have lived in Atlanta for 25 years. 51 years old….

Excellent discussion.

Great topic. 👍🏾

Thank you thank you thank you! This was an amazing conversation, and one we were desperately looking for. My older keiki are Hawaiian but appear white, and my younger are Black Alaska Native. We had this feeling like the younger keiki will fit in more naturally and the older ones will have a more difficult experience when we move. This conversation definitely seems to acknowledge this. While I am glad that the younger ones may find themselves in a better space than they have here on the mainland…I am worried for the older ones. Here in WA, the older keiki are in AAPI clubs where they stand out but still fit in. Any recommendations on how to get them involved more at the High School level on Oahu to where they can fit in as Kanaka Maoli? I think this is their biggest fear about the move.

It's been a while since coming to your site bra, but I thought I would chime in on this being that I actually grew up in hawaii, went to Punahou school(my mother is native hawaiian and father is a black man from Lafayette, Louisiana but was an airforce pilot during several wars many years ago, retired from the airforce after 27 years of service and taught, for another 12 years, other pilots on how to fly fighter jets for the airforce), and now live in Virginia for a few years now; actually I was in Virginia just as Covid was breaking out. My cousins sent me pictures of Hotel street and China Town and how all the businesses were literally closed down while the homeless had a field day with 'side walk' real estate...lol....Being that there's less than 2% blacks in the 'normal' population there's no true representation of political power or financial power that would allow any blacks to gain any kind of recognizable power on the islands. That pretty much belongs to haoles and japanese 🥴. But, here in Virginia, especially northern Virginia, it's the total opposite !! We have every known food and restaurant on planet earth; from Russian & Ukrainian foods to African foods and restaurants to Hawaiian foods(plenty of hawaiians here in northern Virginia & Somoans) and everything in between; making it virtually more diverse, on a huge scale, compared to Hawaii. So, if anyone understand's this brotha and his comments, it would be me ! As a side note, I have a friend, who still lives in Waikiki. He's black and looks almost exactly like Carlton, from the show that Will Smith was on way back in the day(Fresh Prince of BelAir). He is married to a Japanese women, who used to be a model in Japan many years ago(she was considered the Tyra Banks of Japan; as her father owned the second largest trucking company in Japan). They have 2 beautiful kids who are teenagers by now. He used to own a security firm. I won't name his name for privacy reasons. But, I hope he is still doing well...

Well the original Hawaiians weren’t as watered down as they are now. African-Americans themselves are also people of mixed race. When Hawaii was taken, they would make mainland jokes about the Queen calling her an “angry black woman” in the news papers when she was fighting to get Hawaii back. They had darker skin and Afro hair…. Many of them. Makes me wonder what qualifies someone as “black” …even though blacks are brown too. What is black? I know blacks more lighter than Derek. Blacks come in over 20 different shades of brown. Blacks don’t always have darker skin than their “brown” cousins. For example, there are cultures that are darker skinned than African Americans but yet say they’re not black. So again, what qualifies a person as black? Hmmm 🤔

I lived on the North Shore for 3 years (military). I'm a white, country boy whole grew up outside of Atlanta and while I knew I was a minority on Oahu, I never felt like an outsider. Aloha and southern hospitality are 2 sides of the same coin and we (my family) completed embraced everything Oahu had to offer but what we miss the most are the people and the ohana we left behind. Hawaii will forever be our home.

Thank you for this video. This topic is definitely different. I’m used to you guys talking about real estate but thank you for this video. I am back-and-forth from Los Angeles to the big island we live in HPP. By me being black on the island I really don’t have any problems on the north east side of the big island but I definitely feel a difference when I go to Kona And I’m not talking about the locals. I’m talking about the tourist that come in on the Kona side the tourist that comes and visits on the Hilo side they’re different. They’re more nice compared to the west side if this makes any sense and ask for your island Oahu I’ve been there a couple of times other than flying into the airport, but it’s a bunch of tourist everywhere and everybody just having fun I guess but I have no idea what it’s like to live on Oahu. But as for your gas being black and Japanese, I understand where he’s coming from totally. Because I am half white and black and I cannot say oh I’m white because I don’t look white I look black. Or some type of Hispanic so I guess I better move to Puerto Rico or Cuba because then I would definitely fit in.😂😂😂😂 well guys thank you for this video. I know this one is four weeks old but waiting for your next video on the real estate.

Obama, Usain Bolt, and LeBron all at once is crazy. 😂

Italians were not allowed to use White restrooms, restaurants, etc. when they first started migrating to the U.S.

Love seeing two men discussing race and beyond 🤙🏽😊

Another great episode- if you want the perspective of being Latino in Hawaii - let me know. Being a business owner like yourselves and having a family makes it interesting in comparison to Cali. I would love to chat - Aloha 🤙🏽

You can’t be black and not black you are black and something else and that’s okay! It’s the people that have a problem with your ethnicity is the problem. You are a human being that should be the focus ❤

At first I was mad when he said he’s not blk but now I see- He’s not!No one taught him and now he’s not teaching his children. The Royal Hawaiins were blk and so are filipino’s therefore the majority of Hawaii is melanated so he fits it. But bc of racism many blk pep have run away from their race they dont wana be blk which is what I got from ol’boy then his child says it! There were So Many things you could’ve told her but bc you didn’t know- you couldnt. However it is up to you to have educated yourself and therefore your children on the blackness.

I'm kinda the opposite of Derek. I grew up in Hawaii til I was 11. Spent enough time mainland that I don't really speak pidgin, but I can understand it. How would local people feel/treat someone like me if I came back, a formerly displaced Hawaii person?

Lived on Oahu twice 83-85 and 2010-2015. Every culture represented was racist to the others. Never saw so many people who made terrible comments about others based on color. People will not admit the truth it would hurt tourism.

The bay has 3 of the top most diverse cities in the USA

Right I'm indigenous and my skin is brown. My favorite shade to wear is black that's why I don't identify with "being black" it's a rude made up term for brown skinned people, much love❤

Born and raised local doesn't matter what race you are. Bradah Bradah is unique to Hawaii...no matter what your actual ethnicity...no body from here is like their ethnic group from anywhere else...

36:32 my Freshman class had 900 students yr2000

I would say we're vulnerable to skin color in the islands unless they're homogeneous. In Puerto Rico it's the same, we have mainland African American blood and also A mix from Africa it's funny cause we are alike 😅 Puerto Rico & Hawaii one land 💪🏽

He looks black and asian. Kenji seems Japanese

Questions about one's racial background seem friendlier in Hawaii than on the mainland because on the mainland there’s a much stronger sense of a white majority and supremacy. Being originally an Asian local from Hawaii, it's easier to ask about ethnicity in Hawaii as there's so much mixing that it's widely accepted and most everyone is in some sense a minority. But living now on the mainland it can seem more uncomfortable when in mostly white people areas to be questioned about "what are you?" as that can be othering and pushing away. But I feel like what are you questions in Hawaii are more about trying to find something in common.

Kenji looks like a larger version of Bryan Clay!

Makes me sad people are racist or treat different people or the minority different. It’s ok to joke with your friends who are different color or ethnicity, my friends we tease each other, however you should respect strangers. I grew up on the mainland in a very diverse area and we all got along very well. I think because our schools were so diverse we never really treated anyone as an outsider. I tell people when I was in kindergarten and first grade my best friends were a black guy and a white guy and I’m Asian. I didn’t know or see them as different colors or ethnicities, just two other kids.

Great interview. Just thought I would share, if anyone is interested.. check out a book called “The Third Option” by Miles McPherson. ☺️

The N-Word is a homonym. There’s a few different meanings to the way it’s used. It doesn’t mean one is calling someone a N word the way racists do it. I’m not saying I condone any use of the word, but let’s keep it real…people use it as a term of endearment. That would be with an “a” at the end….not the e, r.

Do you celebrate Black History Month ?

What sucks is you can live here for 30 yrs but you will never be local unless you are born here but if you are famous like da rock your local lol😂

Dang, you guys are so awesome. Love all of the content and so great to meet Kenji!!

looks like he was raised in a Japanese American culture.

I thought the word is popolo.

🤙🎤

I go to Hawaii all the time.. Ima 60 year old Black man. I've been going to Oahu and Maui since 1980 when I was in the Navy. It's no difference from the main land, USA. THE ONLY TIME I SEE A RACIST MAGA HAT IS FROM TOURIST NEAR PEARL HARBOR. My second home is Ewa Beach. It's really no difference from my first home in North Carolina. North Carolina is nice but more racist than Hawaii.

You guys look like bothers. Cool!!!!

King Kamehameha I

23:39 Back in THAT day??? Why did you lie!

Turtle Island so called black people are really Niiji indigenous Aborigines offsprings of the first inhabitants of now North America. The American Indians. Niijis indigenous misclassified as Black, and African Americans.

Kinda reminds me of one punch man

We had for scrap! And teach! And Learn or get lickings, nobody going let you talk any kind or they one coward. We was the only Black kids in school. Period.

So interesting! Thank you both for sharing your experiences. There definitely is some racism here in Hawaii but I think if you're respectful and don't talk down to people or talk at them then you'll do fine in Hawaii. I think once people get to know you as a person then they'll be more welcoming. Then you'll see the beauty of this place we all home.

Both of you can just claim Filipino. Problem solved.

Even calling yourself black is an colonists point of view. You are African, if you are African, no matter where you are born. I’m African, if I was born in China, would I be Chinese?. If you say yes, you’re disillusioned.

Terrible. You kept stepping around the topic instead of addressing directly how anti-black some elements of Filipino and Japanese communities actually are. It’s unfortunate that you wasted the opportunity to discuss a significant topic.