Question about the "Hapa Identity"

Submitted by Rafaeru on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 18:13.

I am reviewing a term that I don't understand.
Maybe somebody can explain me what is a "Hapa Identity".
My name is Rafael (Rafaeru) I'm writing from Lima - Peru.

Regards.

Rafaeru.

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vkm's picture
Submitted by vkm on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:10.

Here's the definition that was used by the Japanese American National Museum when we had an exhibition called "kip fulbeck: part asian, 100% hapa":

ha • pa (ha’pa)
adj. Slang. of mixed racial heritage with partial roots in Asian and/or Pacific Islander ancestry.
n. Slang. a person of such ancestry. [der./Hawaiian: hapa haole. (half white)]

Originally a derogatory label derived from the Hawaiian word for half, the word Hapa has been embraced as a term of pride by many whose mixed-race heritage includes Asian or Pacific Rim ancestry.

There's more info at the exhibition site:
janm.org/exhibits/kipfulbeck