You're So Haole, You Don't Even Know You're Haole

Haole: it's pronounced how-lee. And it is a sweet little, derogatory word locals use. It means "white girl" or "white boy". You'll usually hear it in a negative way, like I did yesterday. Speaking about another teacher, this girl said, "I can't stand her because she's a haole *****". Yeah, Jeni's kids can't control their bladder, my kids can't control their mouths. :)
But sometimes, it's just stated as a fact with no ill intention. For example, my response (after a quick scolding for the foul language) was, "I am as haole as they come... and you hang out in here all the time!" Or the other day when my kids were talking about some kind of bug repellent thing that I had never heard of. When I asked what it was (when you live in Hawaii, you always keep your ears open for a great bug repellent!), she was shocked... and said, "Oh Miss! (they just call teachers "Miss" or "Mister", I'm still getting used to it), you've never heard of that??? You're so haole!"
Since I am pretty much the whitest thing around, it doesn't offend me. But it's an interesting experience to go from California- which is just about the most diverse and culturally accepting state in this fine country of ours- to Hawaii, where racial slurs are a common occurrence.
Another term that is used quite frequently is FOB, which stands for Fresh Off the Boat. And kids will use it to describe people who just came here from other countries. And when they are using it, they're usually describing they way the kid dresses or speaks. But, before you get appalled and want the adults to do something about it... you should know they use it too. In fact, last year, at Jeni's school, one of their dress-up day themes was "FOB Day"! Crazy!

Here are some pictures of my school. They aren't too thrilling, but my classroom is up on the third floor, the classroom to the right of the middle column, post thing that goes through the middle of the building. If you look real close, you can see the words, "GO HOME HAOLE" spray painted on the door. :)