Where do you see us?

I'm surprised with the migration from Hawaii to the mainland that the overall population of islands hasn't reduced drastically. I probably live in the one city on the mainland that boasts more of us Hawaii folks than anywhere else. Yes, it's Las Vegas.

We even garner the nickname of the "Ninth Island" with our large Hawaiian population. I can guarantee that on any given day you visit Las Vegas you will see at least one person from Hawaii who lives here. And practically anywhere too! (California Hotel doesn't count.)

My friend recently visited from San Francisco (she, herself, a Hawaii expatriate) and over the course of the three days she spent here, she saw at least one Hawaii person on each day. I don't know what it is that draws us together but we seem to find each other in such a large city! She says that in San Francisco she may come into contact with a person from Hawaii once or twice a month.

If you live on the mainland, where do you see us?

Comments

I see a lot of people from Hawaii living in Daly City, which is just south of San Francisco.

Well, sometimes I feel like I am the Hawai´i expat community in Austin. I think I just might be the Fil-Am community too. Not sure if people around here just assume I'm Latino.

I think I just might be the Fil-Am community too...

Guess what, I found a link that proves otherwise. Though I'll just go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt anyway, since most of the Filipino population in TX are in Dallas and Houston.

(How do I know? Lots of my parents' friends' kids are there.)

Anyway, Hawaii folks... Joy, is it true what I heard in my AmStudies classes that there are more Native Hawaiians and former kama`aina in Vegas than there are in Hawaii itself? Judging from what you've told us, it looks that way, but I'm not sure if there are statistics that support the claim.

I've also heard that there's a growing concentration of ex-kama`aina all over Washington State, as well.

Jasmin: Daly City? Really? Wait, I thought that town was owned by Filipinos... okay, I'm exaggerating, but I just didn't realize that there are kama`aina moving that way, too.

Ninth Island, eh? I've heard the same thing about Portland.

Clearly, though, we do form pockets - much like groups united by other factors like ethnicity do.

Still, we, or at least "I" stand out. Especially during my visit to Minnesota for work. Lutefisk? Ah...no thanks...how about sashime?

I rummaged through that site a bit and noticed it hasn't been updated since 2000. Who knows? Maybe they all upped and left when the job market farted. Makes you wonder what the hell I'm still doing here ...
:)

I think I've heard that there are more native Hawaiians and kama`aina in California than anywhere else (not sure if that includes Hawaii itself). Here in the San Francisco bay area, there are certainly pockets, although maybe it's easier to overlook because there are just so many other people here as well.

I do know of certain restaurants where we always see at least one or two Hawaiian families, and I don't even mean the plate lunch places.

Ninth Island, eh? I've heard the same thing about Portland.

Yeah...my cousin and her family is in the area (she also attended Lewis & Clark), and my best friend from high school is also a recent transplant.

Last year, the SF Chronicle did a series called "Who We Are" about the 2000 Census. I finally tracked down the article about Pacific Islanders. According to the article, 29% of the country's Pacific Islanders live in California, and slightly more people who identify solely as Pacific Islander live in California than in Hawaii.

Here in this area of south Florida I'm sad to say as far as I know, I'm the only person from Hawaii living here. Prior to moving to Florida I lived in Ct. for 18 years and worked in New York City for 13 of those years. In a city of so many ethnic groups, finding "Kamaainas" was like a needle in a haystack. Luckily though for me I am able to spend months out of each year with family in Hawaii. I'm blessed to have the ability to do that. Makes being homesick a temporary thing.

I'm an Orlando, Florida area wedding consultant desperately seeking a Hawaiian-speaker who would help with a wedding in Nov 2003 (non-Hawaiian couple wants their vows in both Hawaiian and English). If anybody's out there, please contact me by e-mail - elise@attn2details.com

I live in South Florida also and I've lived here for a very long time, and I have never ran into anyone that was Hawaiian. But, just recently I met some Polynesian dancers that work for a company called "Drums of Polynesia" and through them I have met a few Hawaiians but a lot of different Polynesian people. I must say I envy all of you that are on the west coast and in Hawaii.

I live in South Florida also and I've lived here for a very long time, and I have never ran into anyone that was Hawaiian. But, just recently I met some Polynesian dancers that work for a company called "Drums of Polynesia" and through them I have met a few Hawaiians but a lot of different Polynesian people. I must say I envy all of you that are on the west coast and in Hawaii.

I live in sarasota florida.
and not once have i met or seen a fellow hawaiian.
but i have been mistaken several times as being Mexican/Latin or something that i am..
anyway if your here in sarasota or somewhere near.. drop me an email... i am always up to meeting people from Hawaii.. If I cant go to Hawaiaan then maybe i can have a part of it here..

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