No where else in the world will you find a white person called by this: H-a-o-l-e.
Hawaiians use this in two different ways:
1) Hawaiians use it to rag on white people. Believe me if a Hawaiian doesn't like you they will call you, "haole." It is a bad word. It's as mean and as strong as saying the N-word to an African American. Face it we would never use it unless we mean it. Commonly heard in the surf line-up around a group of local surfers as they scare a bunch of Haole surfers to shore or away from a surf spot. Do we expect Haoles to be offended by this? If we mean to offend them, yes. You really can't blame Hawaiians for not liking some Haoles. Here are some reasons why;
Fact #1: Haoles (rich missionary families) forced the peaceful Hawaiian king, David Kalakaua to sign a constitution that reduced his governing authority to a mere public figure. Thus, setting the wheels in motion for the eventual overthrow and annexation of Hawaii to the U.S.A.
Fact #2: Haoles can be very obnoxious. Not all but a lot of them...just go visit New York.
Fact #3: Haoles are impatient. Why can't they just relax?
Fact #4: Haoles do the same to everyone else that they do to the Hawaiians.
The other way in which we use the term,
2) It's a term of acceptance, friendship and identity. If you are a white person among Hawaiians, lived among them, ate among them, worked among them and played among them, hopefully they will accept you as one of them. But you need a title. You can't all of a sudden become Hawaiian. You are accepted and befriended, welcomed and admitted to the ohana but you're still white so...they call you, "haole boy," or "haole girl." It doesn't mean they don't like you. It means you are now respected and loved. Does a haole person have a right to deny the privilege of not wanting to be labeled a "haole"? Yes. But here's a sports analogy that might help: You do something good on the field or court the team celebrates by knocking you over and pushing you around, or slapping your butt or colliding with you in the air. Do they mean you harm? No, it's they way they roll.
We got friends that are Haole and we have enemies that are haole. Haoles can be one or the other, but rarely ever both...remember, sometimes you just got one chance. Other than that haoles can stay haole...and Hawaiians can stay Hawaiian.
