Published in Matador Network (July 2014).
We’re not all Hawaiians. This is a hard one for most Mainlanders, but if you get this right, you’ll sound a lot more respectful. The term “Hawaiian” is only used to refer to people of Hawaiian descent. They comprise just under 10% of the state’s population. All others who were born on the islands are generally referred to as “locals.” This includes people of Asian ancestry, Caucasians, and people of mixed race.