Haunani Trask vs. Joey Carter

Who:

• Haunani-Kay Trask (Native Hawaiian professor)

• Joey Carter (32 year old Caucasian student who worked as the editor of student newspaper, Ka Leo)

,What:

• Joey Carter wrote an opinion column titled “Being Haole in Hawaii,” which touched on racism in Hawaii. He describes how local groups have been “taught that [he was] the cause of their problems, taught to hate or fear [his] skin, hair and eye colors” (Essoyan). The article criticizes racism for being considered the cause for Hawaiian subjugation, and suggests looking beyond race and secondly, suggests that he as an individual should not be threatened by this racism because he is Caucasian.

• A student wrote against Carter, explaining why he does belong to the race that has subjugated the Hawaiian people. The student also proposed that if the individual is unable “to live with the inequalities of this nation” (“Carter Trask Files”) then he should return to his home state Louisiana.

• Haunani Trask supported the opposing student and referred back to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 to explain how Carter is “benefiting from stolen goods” (Essoyan). Carter’s article was uninformed and a symptom of disregard to history and racism against Hawaiians.

• Some departments at the University of Hawaii at Manoa supported Trask for exercising her rights as an educator and Hawaiian. Other departments criticized her for creating an intimidating environment and abusing her power as a professor.

When: 1990

Where: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Why:

• Carter wrote the article to comment on how racism was only discussed concerning “white dominance” and not racism performed by locals that he as a white student faced. Haunani Trask corrected Carter by explaining how the oppression of Native Hawaiians was not equal to the local treatment of haoles, and how he was uninformed as a perpetuator of this history.

Works Cited:

• Kamins, Robert M., Potter, Robert E, University of Hawaii (System). Maalamalama: A History of the University of Hawai’i. Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 1998. Print.

• professor.

• Essoyan, Susan. “RACE RELATIONS : Aloha Spirit of Love Gives Way to 'Yankee Go Home' : Professor's Anti-Whites Stand Sets off Debate on Racism in Hawaii.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 1990, articles.latimes.com/1990-11-28/news/mn-4936_1_aloha-spirit. Haunani Trask vs. Joey Carter

• “Carter Trask Files.” Issuu, Ka Leo O Hawaii, 30 Jan. 2012, issuu.com/kaleoohawaii/docs/carter-trask_1990-1991. Kaleo Exhibit. Human Trask Vs. Joey Carter.