Hawaii, Asian American Hierarchy in

To many outsiders, Hawaii is perceived as a “racial paradise.” It is often referred to as the “Aloha” state where people generally get along and emanate a goodness, love, and positive outlook toward people and life. Because of this attitude, most local people or insiders of Hawaii are generally uncritical of racial issues. However, a deeper examination into Hawaii's race relations reveals a social hierarchy among its different ethnic groups. Social hierarchy is the organization of dominant and subordinate relationships among humans, which results in economic, political, and social inequalities.

This entry describes the social hierarchy or stratification that exists in Hawaii, particularly among Asian Americans who make up the largest ethnic group in the state. The description of ethnic relations in Hawaii presented in this ...