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The Haole Husband and Class Negotiation in Hawaiʻi: A Master's Thesis
Abstract: This ethnographic research explores the lived experiences of Asian American women in Hawai‘i who married haole (Caucasian) men, with a focus on how race, class, and identity intersect in their relationship choices. Grounded in Hawai‘i’s unique multicultural context and colonial legacy, the study draws on talk-story–style interviews with four women in their 60s to examine the socio-cultural, historical, and personal factors influencing their paths to partnership.
The findings reveal that these women's marital choices were shaped by a desire for partners with broader worldviews, a conscious distancing from insular hometown mindsets, and an upward negotiation of class identity. These decisions impacted their identity formation, access to social mobility, and professional opportunities.
This project offers a human-centered lens on interethnic marriage in Hawai‘i, illuminating how women actively navigate racial and cultural boundaries in pursuit of autonomy, mobility, and self-definition. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the sociocultural forces that shape relationships, identity, and belonging across generations. Read more here
Community Perceptions and Strategic Trust-Building Between Native Hawaiians and the U.S. Military
Abstract: This project, completed in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i and INDOPACOM, investigates U.S. strategic messaging efforts in the Indo-Pacific region through an anthropological lens. Drawing from fieldwork, qualitative analysis, and regional security literature, the research explores how American narratives of "free and open Indo-Pacific" ideals are perceived and reinterpreted by Pacific Island nations. The study highlights the disconnect between U.S. communication strategies and local cultural and historical contexts, emphasizing the need for more relational, community-informed approaches to diplomacy.
The findings contribute to broader discussions of soft power, narrative influence, and post-colonial tensions in U.S.–Pacific relations, offering recommendations to enhance future engagement efforts with a culturally grounded, human-centered approach. Read more here
Decolonizing Mixed-Race Identity, A Master's Thesis
This study explores the complicated experiences of mixed-race individuals, with a focus on the historical and contemporary commodification of their identities within colonial structures. Through a cultural anthropological lens, the study examines how mixed-race people navigate shifting self-perceptions, proximity to whiteness, and the complex dynamics of identity formation shaped by colonial disruption.
Individuals identified as white-passing, hapa-haole, or racially “ambiguous” often occupy a unique space within racial hierarchies—benefiting from partial access to Western beauty standards and social privilege, while simultaneously being excluded from full cultural assimilation. This ambiguous positioning allows for limited conformity to dominant ideals without threatening the existing racial order.
Grounded in assemblage and post-colonial theory, the paper critiques outdated binary models of race and identity, arguing that rigid frameworks fail to reflect the fluid, constructed, and lived realities of mixed-race individuals. The research contributes to broader conversations on identity decolonization by proposing more dynamic ways of recognizing and valuing the complexities of mixed heritage beyond colonial categories. Read more here
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