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Growing up Japanese in Hawaii

I think that’s the thing, we were so insulated in Hawaii, and just as a culture, I mean Asians comprise like 2/3rds of the population, so you never felt uncomfortable. In fact I think Hawaii is the only place where the minorities feel superior to the Caucasians. And I mean Superior with a capital S, maybe foolishly because if you measure it in terms of economics, just pure dollars, the Caucasians are probably still wealthier per capita. But in terms of feeling discriminated against, certainly not in Hawaii. And that’s why I always felt that when I met Japanese Americans on the mainland, they were still holding back, they still felt like a minority, whereas people from Hawaii act too brash and too cocky. But that’s the way your attitude is because you grow up in an Asian majority situation, which doesn’t exist anywhere else.

There are people on the mainland who say, oh we’re colorblind. Doesn’t matter what color or race you are, we look at people as being equal. And I go, you know that’s… we’re still way shorter of where it should be. I said you should recognize all colors. You should appreciate all colors. And in Hawaii we all joke about other people’s ethnicity. I mean full on jokes, hardcore jokes, and we all laugh about it. Until you get to the point where you can laugh about your ethnicity, I don’t think you’re there. People just take things too personally. And colorblind is not what you want, it’s color appreciative is what you want. That’s the thing about Hawaii.


Hawai'i identity minorities race United States

Date: April 25, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Robert Fujioka was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1952. He attended the University of Michigan earning a BA degree and earned an MBA from the University of Hawai'i. He has been in the banking industry since 1974 and currently serves as Vice Chair, Japanese American National Museum Board of Trustees, a Trustee of the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, and the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation. (November 2018)

George Ariyoshi
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Decision to run for governor

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

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George Ariyoshi
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Being fair

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

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George Ariyoshi
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Role of Hawaii internationally

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi
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Working in the pineapple fields

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi
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Tree planting

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

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James Hirabayashi
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Nickname

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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James Hirabayashi
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Not bringing shame to family

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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James Hirabayashi
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Context affects meaning

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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James Hirabayashi
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Testing assumptions of Japanese scholars

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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Steve Kaji
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FOB's

Hawaii born Nikkei living in Japan. English Teacher at YMCA.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Going back to Hawaii

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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1920 labor strike

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Bombing of Pearl Harbor

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Helping soldiers

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Eric Morton
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Addressing multiracial identity can be difficult

Starred at wide receiver for Dartmouth College, now a patent attorney. Brother of Johnnie and Chad Morton.

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