DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE INCREASINGLY BEEN THE TARGET OF HATE CRIMES.

MANY SAY THE ASSAULTS, VANDALISM AND VERBAL ABUSE ARE BEING FUELED BY XENOPHOBIC RHETORIC ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS.

IN RECENT WEEKS A SURGE IN ATTACKS HAS GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION.

WITH SO MUCH OF HAWAII’S POPULATION COMPRISED OF ASIAN AMERICANS, WE’LL DISCUSS THE RISE IN VIOLENCE AND THE STOP ASIAN HATE MOVEMENT.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M DARYL HUFF.

HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE THE START OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

ACCORDING TO THE ORGANIZATION “STOP ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HATE," BETWEEN MARCH OF 2020 AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THERE WERE NEARLY 3,800 RACIAL INCIDENTS REPORTED TO ITS CENTER.

THE TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION INCLUDE PHYSICAL ASSAULT, VERBAL HARASSMENT AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

EVEN IN HAWAII, WHERE A LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION IS COMPRISED OF ASIAN AMERICANS, MANY SAY RACISM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL DISCUSS THE RISE THE ANTI ASIAN SENTIMENT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

U.S.

SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 2006.

SHE SERVED IN THE U.S. HOUSE BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 2012.

SHE IS HAWAII’S FIRST FEMALE U.S.

SENATOR AND IS THE COUNTRY’S FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN FEMALE SENATOR.

BORN IN JAPAN, HER MOTHER BROUGHT HER AND HER SIBLINGS TO HAWAII FOR A BETTER LIFE.

AMY AGBAYANI IS THE CO CHAIR OF THE HAWAII FRIENDS OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

AN IMMIGRANT FROM THE PHILIPPINES, SHE CAME TO HAWAII TO STUDY AT THE EAST WEST CENTER.

SHE HAS DEDICATED HER TO LIFE TO FIGHTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND IMPROVING ACCESS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.

LIANN EBESUGAWA IS THE STATE’S HAWAII CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHAIR.

THE AGENCY IS COMPRISED OF 5 VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS.

IT INVESTIGATES AND ENFORCES STATE LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESS TO STATE SERVICES.

TRISHA NAKAMURA IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE HONOLULU CHAPTER AND IS A PAST PRESIDENT.

SHE WORKS AS THE DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES AT THE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW AND WAS PREVIOUSLY A DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER.

AND BRIAN CHUNG IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ETHNIC STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI AT MANOA.

HIS RESEARCH AND TEACHINGS FOCUS ON ASIAN AMERICAN AND URBAN STUDIES.

HE’S ALSO DEVELOPING A PROJECT THAT EXPLORES THE POLITICS OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY HISTORIES OF CHINESE SETTLEMENT IN HAWAII.

ALL OF YOU, CAN BRING TO THIS SOMETHING PERSONAL.

I APPRECIATE THIS.

I'LL START WITH YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO AROUND OUR PANEL.

CAN YOU TELL ME PERSONAL STORY THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS IT PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HAWAII.

>> WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT IN HAWAII, WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE CULTURE, CULTURAL MIX WE DO APPRECIATE AND CELEBRATE THE OTHER CULTURES.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY TERRIFIC.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN MUCH OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

I WOULD SAY THAT EACH OF US, PARTICULARLY IF WE TRAVELED TO THE MAINLAND, HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME XENO PHOBIC AND ANTI ASIAN SENTIMENTS.

I GET EMAIL AND VARIOUS MESSAGES.

CALLING ME TOKYO ROSE OR COMMENTING ON MY, THE LARGENESS OF MY EYES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THEY'RE ALSO MISOGYNISTIC COMMENTS LEFT FOR ME.

PEOPLE TEND TO KEEP THOSE KIND OF RACIST THOUGHTS TO THEMSELVES.

>> THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE AND FINALLY, WITH COVID AND THE RISE OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIANS GETTING KIND OF COMMITMENT THAT PROSECUTE IT DESERVES.

>> LIKE THE SENATOR, I AM FROM HAWAII AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE THAT SAME THREAT ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

THAT'S NOT SO TRUE OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

I'VE GONE TO SCHOOL ON THE U.S.

CONTINENT.

REFUSED SERVICE AT A RESTAURANT, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US HERE IN HAWAII, IS TO REALIZE THAT OTHER FOLKS DON'T, ARE ALSO DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN HAWAII.

AND THEY MAY NOT BE ALL ASIANS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO EXAMINE AND I TRY TO LOOK AT TO FOR MYSELF ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

MY WORK AND THE PLACES THAT I GO.

WHO IS NOT INCLUDED AND WHO IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED AND HOW OTHER IMPEDIMENTS TO THEIR ACCESS.

>>Daryl: IN PARTICULAR, MY IMPRESSION IS THAT FILIPINOS IN HAWAII ARE STILL ENDURING FAIR AMOUNT OF DISCRIMINATION.

WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY HERE.

CAMPAIGNED FOR LIGHT OF REFORMS.

TELL ME WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AT THAT POINT.

>> FILIPINAS HAVE BEEN COMING TO HAWAII FOR OVER 115 YEARS.

FIRST CAME AND VALUED FOR THEIR LABOR.

FOR THEIR BRAWN AND NOT FOR THEIR BRAINS.

SO IT'S BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF PUTDOWNS AND INEQUALITY.

AS PLANTATION WORKERS.

AND THEN MORE RECENTLY, IMMIGRANTS SINCE THE 1965 IMMIGRATION LAW, MAJORITY ARE FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS.

SO OFTENTIMES LAST GROUP THAT COMES TO TAKE PLACE, IS AT THE BOTTOM.

AND SO FILIPINO KIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHY MANY OF US STARTED OPERATION TO HELP IMMIGRATION KIDS BEING BULLIED WHEN THEY WERE COMING TO SCHOOL MANY YEARS AGO.

THAT STILL HAPPENS.

I GUESS OUR IDEA IS THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY'RE THE LARGE NUMBER OF FILIPINOS.

SECOND LARGEST GROUP IN THE STATE BUT EXTREMELY UNDERREPRESENTED EVERYWHERE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND IN THE MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE.

BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE SIZE MAKES WITH VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE GROUPS.

OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE, MANY PEOPLE IN HAWAII DO NOT USE THE TERM ANTI ASIANS.

MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THE VERY INDIVIDUAL ETHNIC GROUP THAT MAKE UP THAT CATEGORY AND PACIFIC ISLANDER CATEGORY.

SO BUT WE ARE ASIAN AMERICAN AS A CATEGORY IN THE NATION.

OBVIOUSLY, BEYOND THE CONTINENT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH, YOU KNOW,.

>>Daryl: THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

BRIAN, LET ME GIVE BRIAN FROM U.H.

MANOA.

WHAT PERSPECTIVE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND HELP PEOPLE RELATE TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS MOVEMENT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS RESONATED WITH ME THE MOST, WITH REGARDS TO THE CONVERSATION THAT ARE HAPPENING, IS HOW SO MANY DIFFERENT ASIAN AMERICANS, DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCES ARE, SPEAKING OUT OR RECOGNIZING IN DIFFERENT WAY, I THINK THEY'RE EXPERIENCES WITH RACISM IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND I THINK SPEAKING WITH MY OWN PARENT, JUST HEARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS, FEELS LIKE A MOMENT IN WHICH I THINK THERE COULD BE A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS.

ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF RACISM IN THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

BUT L COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAS BEEN REALLY AMAZING AND CREDIBLE THINKING ABOUT HOW ASIAN AMERICANS CAN RELATE OWN EXPERIENCE WAS OTHER RACIALIZED MINORITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK THE KIND OF RELATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSES WE'RE SEEING OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, HOPEFUL AND INSPIRING.

CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING.

REALLY AMAZING FOR ME.

>>Daryl: CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ONE LIKE ANYTHING I'VE HEARD BEFORE AROUND THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

TRICIA, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AND HOW IT FITS IN THIS WITH THIS CONVERSATION.

>> INTERESTING TOPIC TO THINK ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT REALLY BRING UP THE COMPLEXITIES AN INTERSECTIONALITIES OF IDENTITY THAT WE ALL BRING TO THE TABLE.

ESPECIALLY HERE IN HAWAII.

COMMEND PBS FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE.

WE COME FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE IN HAWAII OFTEN.

ASIAN SETTLOR BENEFITED FROM MY ANCESTORS WHO AM A CHOICE TO COME HERE TO WORK ON THE PLANTATIONS, I HAPPEN TO BE OKINAWAN.

KIND OF INHERITED THEIR HISTORY OF CHANGING LAST NAME TO MORE JAPANESE.

OKINAWAN GREAT, GREAT GRANDPARENTS, IT WAS BETTER TO PERHAPS BE JAPANESE.

SO I'VE INHERITED THAT.

UNCLE SERVED IN THE 442, FAMILY WHO DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN WORLD WAR II OR AFTER THAT, BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THAT THEY FELT AND SHAME.

I'VE INHERITED THAT.

AS I KIND OF THINK ABOUT MY ROLE IN THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DREW ME INTO THE JACL WAS THEY'RE WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON, ON WORK AS AN ALLY ON BEHALF OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.

USING THEIR PRIVILEGE.

PASSING LEGISLATION OR RESOLUTIONS WITH OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT THE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS FOR SELF DETERMINATION.

AND BEING ONE OF THE FIRST GROUPS TO COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE.

AMY WORKED ON AND HAD SUPPORT FROM SENATOR HIRONO.

SO ALL OF THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT RACISM AND ALSO, ABOUT THE FEAR AND HATE THAT COME WITH DIFFERENCE.

IT'S A REALLY TIMELY TOPIC.

>>Daryl: WE'RE ALREADY STARTED GETTING QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS.

>> I WOULD LIKE THEM TO DRIVE THIS CONVERSATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

JADE FROM NUUANU, START WITH LEANNE FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION.

RACISM IS SO SUBTLE IN HAWAII, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS WE SHOULD LOOK FOR?

THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING NUISANCED QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU KNOW IT, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE THE PERSON THAT IS THE VICTIM OF THAT.

YOU FEEL IT.

I ALSO THINK THOUGH THAT THERE IS VERY PERVASIVE WAYS THAT RACISM WORKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WITHIN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, AND THAT STARTS REALLY WITH FOLKS HAVING GOOD EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES, BEING ENSURING THAT NONE OF THEIR PREDISPOSITIONS TO BIAS OR PREJUDICE COMES INTO THESE KIND OF DECISION.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING DAY PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN BE ELEVATED.

OTHERWISE, WE WILL NEVER, EVER FIND A SUSTAINING AND ENDURING STATE OF FEELING SAFE.

I THINK.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE ONE GROUP OR THE NEXT GROUP OR THE NEXT.

>>Daryl: AMY, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?

>> YES.

ONE OF THE VERY SUBTLE BUT PROBLEMATIC PROBLEMS WE FACE IS ACTUALLY ACCENT DISCRIMINATION.

PROBLEMATIC, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ACCENT.

IF YOU'RE A GROWN UP IMMIGRANT, YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE AN ACCENT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE'VE HAD CASES, THE ONE THAT HELPED US LOBBY FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, WAS THE CASE CALLED FRIGANTE.

CAME UP NUMBER ONE IN WRITTEN CIVIL SERVICE TEST OUT OF OVER 700 PEOPLE AND THEN THEY SUPPOSED TO INTERVIEW THEM AND HE WAS NEVER SELECTED BECAUSE OF HIS ACCENT.

BILL HOSHIJO AND OTHERS BROUGHT THE CASE TO COURT.

WE DIDN'T WIN, BUT WE DID MAKE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT SUBTLE DISCRIMINATION PUTS DOWN AND TREATS PEOPLE UNEQUALLY AND IT'S DISCRIMINATORY.

>>Daryl: UNDERSTANDING SOMETIMES A VICTORY IN AND OF ITSELF.

YOU GREW UP FROM A LITTLE GIRL, IMMIGRANT CHILD, HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU CAME?

>> ALMOST 8.

>>Daryl: YOU WERE CONSCIOUS OF JUST ANTI IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT, SENTIMENT AND SO ON.

>> THERE'S ALSO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR.

SO THERE'S NO PLACE THAT IS FREE, VARIOUS KIND OF DISCRIMINATORY ATTITUDES, WHETHER THEY BE GENDER BASED, RACE BASED, ON OUR ACCENTS, WHATEVER.

WE HAVE TO BE EVER VIGILANT AT ALL TIME.

WHY WE HAVE THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION.

WHY WE HAVE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN HAWAII TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IN HAWAII, ARE ADDRESSED.

AND OF COURSE, WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY THOUGH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BRIAN BROUGHT UP, I'VE SEEN SO MANY ASIAN FACE ON NATIONAL TV AS NOW.

I SAY IT IS ABOUT NOW THAT OUR NATION RECOGNIZED RACISM IS NEVER FAR BELOW THE SURFACE IN THE COUNTRY.

OVERRACISM AGAINST THE CHINESE, JAPANESE, AGAINST MUSLIMS, YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE DEEMED OTHER AND WE DEFINITELY ARE ALWAYS VIEWED AS THE OTHER, AND SO NEVER FAR BELOW THE SURFACE.

WE HAVE TO BE EVER VIGILANT.

THIS IS AS BRIAN SAYS, I THINK IT'S CONFLUENT OF ATTENTION BEING PAID.

I SEE A LOT OF API PEOPLE RACING THEIR VOICES AND STANDING UP AND RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN WE STAND UP FOR OURSELVES WE ARE STANDING FOR OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS TOO.

SO THAT PART OF WHAT THE HAPPENING WITH THE RECOGNITION, OF COURSE, FIRST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

TO PREVENT IT.

THAT'S KIND WHAT HAVE IS ON OUR AGENDA.

>>Daryl: ONE THING INTERESTING ABOUT THOSE OF US LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU GET, DEVELOPED SORT OF A THICK SKIN AFTER A WHILE.

MAY NOT BE SO, NOT SEEING THESE SUBTLE SIGNS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT, CURIOUS, BRIAN AND TRISHA, YOUNGER FOLKS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WAY MORE SENSITIVE THAN WE WERE.

AS A YOUNGER PERSON, DO YOU SEE THE SIGNS OF RACISM PERHAPS THAT YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS DIDN'T SEE?

>> YEAH.

WELL, MAYBE THEY COULD USE MY STUDENTS AS AN EXAMPLE.

BECAUSE THEIR LONG YOUNGER THAN ME.

>>Daryl: YOU LOOK YOUNG.

>> THANKS.

JUST ON THE OUTSIDE MAYBE.

YOU KNOW, THINK WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, LIGHT OF RECENT EVENT, VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN HAPPENING ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE AWARE AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES, NOT JUST THESE ISSUES BUT OTHER ISSUES HAPPENING WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND OTHER EVENTS HAPPENING.

REALLY INSPIRING.

I KNOW I KEEP USING THAT WORD.

REALLY CHANGING THE DISCOURSES.

AND I THINK THINGS THAT I GREW UP IN, 80s AND 90s, THINK THAT WAS PROGRESSIVE.

LOOKING BACK NOW.

NOT SOMETHING I THINK PEOPLE WOULD CONDONE AND I WOULDN'T DO THAT MYSELF.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT EVERY GENERATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRANSFORMATION HOW WE THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

REVISIT BEING AND REVISING WHAT WE KNOW OF THE PAST.

GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE, SEEM LIKE REALLY THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS AND REALLY MOTIVATED TO BE A PART OF THIS SOCIAL MOMENT.

ANY WAY, CULTURALLY AND POLITICALLY.

>>Daryl: AND SPEAKING OUT.

IN YOUR ROLE AS A LAW SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, YOU SEE THIS YOUNGER GENERATION COMING THROUGH TOO.

I'M CURIOUS.

ARE THERE SIGNS THAT THEY'RE SEEING OR THAT YOU'RE SEEING THAT THOSE OF US WHO MAY BE OLDER AREN'T GOING TO SEE?

>> I THINK EVERYONE EXPERIENCES RACISM AND SEES DISCRIMINATION HAPPEN.

I THINK THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE INTERPRET THINGS, OR ADDRESS THEM, ARE DIFFER, RIGHT?

I THINK WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING NOW IS WITH MORE VISIBILITY, WHETHER IT BE AWARENESS FROM THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER, AND PEOPLE REFUSING TO STAND BY THEM, AND YOU KNOW, RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON, IT'S NOT NEW THAT PEOPLE WERE ALLIES FOR ONE ANOTHER.

MALCOLM X, ALWAYS BY HIS SIDE.

AND WHEN YOU THINK OF OTHER MOVEMENTS, WE ALWAYS NEED TO RELY ON OUR PARTNERS AND OUR ALLIES.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE LAW STUDENTS TODAY, REALLY EXCITING ABOUT IT, ALSO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART IN OUR NATIONAL JACL EFFORTS, IT REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO STAY SILENT.

OR REFUSING TO MAKE WAVES.

THEY AREN'T AFRAID OF MAKING WAVES.

IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, IT'S JUST GOING TO FESTER LIKE A WOUND.

WE KNOW THAT.

TODAY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WE EXPERIENCE IT.

EXCITING TO SEE PEOPLE FEARLESS AN FIGHTING INTERESTING WAYS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

SO IT DOESN'T GET TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

HAWAII HATE FOR US TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND HOW DANGEROUS FLASH THAT WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND WHAT STANDS FOR.

IT COULD JUST HAPPEN.

IF WE'RE NOT VIGILANT.

THE TESTIMONY WITH PEOPLE, TESTIFYING IN THE CHAUVIN CASE, HEARTBREAKING IT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE APOLOGIZING TO GEORGE FLOYD EVERY NIGHT.

LISTENING TO STORIES.

HEARTBREAK.

INSPIRED AND EXCITED THAT STUDENTS AREN'T WILLING TO JUST STAY SILENT.

SO THESE THESE HARMS CONTINUE.

>> >>Daryl: BACK TO VIEWER QUESTIONS.

TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE BRINGS UP TWO ISSUES.

BOTH ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, PEOPLE GETTING TEASED, OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR ACCENTS.

ALSO, THE POLITICAL CLASS HERE.

THE QUESTION IS, FROM KEVIN IN KAIMUKI, WHY HAVEN'T MORE POLITICIANS EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AT KAUAI POLICE CHIEF AND HIS DEMEANING OF ASIAN AMERICANS.

WE KNOW WHAT HE'S ACCUSED OF DOING BASICALLY TO MIMIC HEAVY ACCENT AND OF AN ASIAN PERSON.

>> I'M CURIOUS, ANY ONE OF YOU WANT TO JUMP ON THIS?

IN THE WORKPLACE, WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO VERY EASILY SLIP INTO HUMOR THAT THIS IS JUST FUNNY.

JUST FUNNY.

WE TEASE EACH OTHER GUY'S RACE.

IS THAT STILL OKAY?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S OKAY.

WE HAVE TO, ELEVATE OUR SENSITIVITY TO OTHER PEOPLE.

AND WE NEVER KNOW SORT OF WHAT CONDITION THEY ARE IN AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY'VE HAD IN THEIR LIFE.

I'M NOT SAYING YOU BE HYPER SENSITIVE AND DON'T TALK TO YOUR COWORKERS AND DON'T ENGAGE AND DON'T BECOME BONDED AS A WORKFORCE.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE AND WE HAVE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

SO RATHER THAN ASSUMING SOMETHING, YOU CAN ASK AND CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT IS THEIR STORY AND NOT SAYING LIKE WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?

BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS LIKE JUST GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

I DO THINK WE REALLY NEED TO UP OUR GAME IN TERMS OF BEING SENSITIVE TO EACH OTHER.

EVEN IN HAWAII WHERE WE HAVE WHAT IS PERCEIVED VERY GOOD RACE RELATIONS.

WE DON'T REALLY.

THERE'S UNDERCURRENT OF A LOT OF DISCHORD AND UNFAIRNESS AND THAT'S THE THINGS WE NEED TO BRING TO THE SURFACE.

>>Daryl: SENATOR HIRONO, THINKING AGAIN ABOUT AFTER LIVING HAWAII, AND THEN BEING IN WASHINGTON, WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE MAINLAND THAT PERHAPS INFORM YOU ABOUT WHAT HAWAII NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT?

OR LOOK TO?

>> HAWAII SHOULDN'T BE COMPLACENT ABOUT DISCRIMINATION THAT OCCURS IN HAWAII.

SHOULDN'T BE COMPLACENT.

IT CAN TAKE MANY FORMS.

ETHNIC BACKGROUND IS ONLY JUST ONE OF THOSE KIND OF DISCRIMINATION.

SO NO PLACE IS FREE OF THAT.

WHILE WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS YES, WE HAVE DISCRIMINATION IN HAWAII.

SO WHEN I GO TO THE MAINLAND, IT'S SO MUCH MORE OVERT.

WHEN YOU SEE THESE HORRIFIC EXAMPLES OF THAT 65 YEAR OLD WOMAN, BEING BEATEN AND THE PEOPLE IN THE SHOP, I SUPPOSE STANDING BY, WE REALLY NEED TO RAISE IT'S NOT JUST AWARENESS BUT OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND IN APPROPRIATE WAY TO HELP.

WEB SEEN TOO MANY EXAMPLE OF APIA WOMEN AND SENIORS BEING KNOCKED DOWN AND NOBODY COMES TO HELP.

WHAT IS WITH THAT?

THAT'S NOT OUR COUNTRY.

WE BETTER JUST WAKE UP.

TO THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CARE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

>> MAYBE MORE OF THAT HAPPENS IN HAWAII.

FOR WHICH I'M GRATEFUL.

BUT I SEE THE KIND OF OVERT RACISM SO MUCH MORE IN DC.

WHENEVER I HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ON NEW SHOWS I SAY, I'M VERY GRATEFUL IN HAWAII, ALOHA AND OHANA ARE NOT JUST WORDS TO US.

IT'S HOW WE ASPIRE TO LIVE.

TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK, POLITICIAN.

I WANT TO HONOR THIS QUESTION.

ABOUT THE KAUAI POLICE CHIEF.

I GOT A SECOND ONE.

AS A POLITICIAN, IN HAWAII, IS IT DIFFICULT TO CALL OUT STEREOTYPES?

DO POLITICIANS IN HAWAII, ARE THEY WILLING TO CALL PEOPLE OUT ON THIS OR IS IT TEND TO BE SORT OF KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN AND DON'T STEP INTO THAT, THE RACISM ISSUE IN HAWAII?

>> MAYBE SOME OF THE AMY OR SOME OF THE OTHER PANELISTS CAN RESPOND THAT I THINK WE COME FROM A CULTURE THAT IS NOT TERRIBLY CONFRONTATIONAL OR TERRIBLY VERBAL.

SO WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, SPEAK OUT.

NOT OBNOXIOUS WAY, WE NEED TO SPEAK UP AND STAND UP.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD A WHOLE JOURNEY IN OVERCOMING BECAUSE HAWAII IS A VERY, WE WERE VERY OHANA AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT YES, WE DO NEED TO SAY THAT'S NOT OKAY.

>>Daryl: ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT?

WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OUTRAGE EXPRESSED IN HAWAII OVER ISSUE LIKE THAT?

HOW ABOUT TRICIA?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THE DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT ACTION BY THE KAUAI POLICE CHIEF ARE SCARY ONES BECAUSE THEY BRING UP THINGS WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE BECAUSE WE AS COMMUNITY WANT TO TRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WHEN WE PUT, WHEN THIS GETS CHALLENGED, IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A SOCIETY TO BE IN.

I THINK COMING FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS, OR JUST MAYBE THE JAPANESE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE, INCIDENTS EVEN IF IT'S JUST A GESTURE OR A COMMENT, IT'S BASED IN RACISM OR DISCRIMINATION.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE WARRANTED IN THE WORKPLACE.

SO IT'S VERY, GIVES US PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT IT MEANS.

AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO STAND FOR.

AND DEMAND OF OUR LEADERSHIP.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER IT BE A COMMENT OR ACT OF VIOLENCE, IT STEMS FROM FEAR, PERHAPS IGNORANCE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T LEARN TO GET ALONG, WE'RE ALL GOING TO LIVE TOGETHER.

THERE IS RACISM UNFORTUNATELY, DISCRIMINATION ALWAYS GOING TO EXIST.

SO WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO WORK AS A SOCIETY SO CAN HAVE DIALOGUE AND DISCOURSE SO IT DOESN'T LEAD TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

>>Daryl: SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

ANOTHER QUESTION I THINK YOU FOLKS WILL WANT TO RESPOND TO.

FORM OF QUESTION AND GENERAL ISSUE.

JIM IN HAWAII KAI.

>> IS THERE MORE DISCRIMINATION LOCALLY AGAINST ASIANS OR CAUCASIANS?

BRIAN, WOULD YOU MIND TRYING TO TAKE THAT ON?

OF U.H.

ETHNIC STUDIES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT QUESTION?

>> I THINK THAT THIS SOMETHING SOMETHING THAT COME UP A LOT IN MY CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS PARTICULARLY IN MY INTRODUCTORY COURSES WHEN HE BEGIN TO INTRODUCE CONCEPTS RACE, ETHNICITY, DISCRIMINATION.

PROMINENT CONVERSATION OF THAT.

WHITE PEOPLE IN HAWAII ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, WHETHER THROUGH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, OR BULLYING, AND THAT THINGS OF THAT KIND OF NATURE.

THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF PREJUDICE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE NECESSARILY EXAMPLES OF RACISM.

I THINK RACISM IS AT LEAST, SOME FOLKS WOULD DEFINE IT, RELATED TO STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES RATHER THAN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING SO ON, SO FORTH.

SOME OF THESE THINGS WE'RE SEEING ABOUT INTERPERSONAL NATURE AND NOT SAYING THOSE THINGS ARE HURTFUL, BUT I THINK THAT I WOULDN'T QUALIFY IT AS RACISM.

BUT DUI DEFINITELY THINK IT DOES REFLECT LARGER ISSUES ABOUT RACE AND SOCIAL AND SOCIAL PRIVILEGES WE MIGHT SEE.

>>Daryl: HAWAII CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, BRIAN BROUGHT THIS UP.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIAL STUFF.

HOW BIG A PROBLEM IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CAUCASIANS FROM YOU'VE SEEN AT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION.

DO YOU GET CASES LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK EITHER WAY, EVEN IN HATE CRIMES, IF YOU ARE WHITE, OR CAUCASIAN, YOU CAN STILL BRING A CLAIM BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON INIMMUNABLE CHARACTERISTIC.

WHAT BRIAN IS TALKING ABOUT IS SORT OF THE HISTORICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF HOW NONWHITES HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE MAINSTREAM.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE RACISM COMES IN FROM THE VARIOUS LAWS, THAT WERE ENACTED, THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT, TO ORDINANCES THAT PROHIBIT SALE OF LANDS TO NONWHITES, AND EVEN IN HAWAII, THAT WAS TRUE.

IN THE KAHALA, HAWAII KAI AREAS.

AND SO THERE IS THAT INSTITUTION OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

BUT I DON'T, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND PROTECTED WHEREVER THEY ARE, AND SO THAT IS SORT OF THE UNDERLYING PREMISE THAT WE WORK FROM IN A NONDISCRIMINATION LAW PERSPECTIVE.

>>Daryl: SO WE'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT HAWAII AND WHAT'S HAPPENING HAWAII.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TURN TO THE NATIONAL SCENE RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH DO YOU FOLKS THINK THAT THIS ANTI ASIAN HATE, VIOLENCE, BEING EXPRESSED IS DUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS STATEMENTS CALLING CORONAVIRUS KUNG FLU AND CHINA VIRUS AND SO ON.

DO YOU THINK THAT HE REALLY DID PROVOKE PEOPLE INTO VIOLENCE IN THAT AREA?

AMY, CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT QUESTION?

>> YES.

THERE ARE LOTS OF POLLS ACTUALLY THAT ASKED ASIAN AMERICANS IF THEY FELT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PARTICULARLY DURING THE COVID PERIOD, AND LIKE OVER 75% FELT THAT ASIAN AMERICANS WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST DURING COVID.

AND THAT HUGE NUMBER OF THEM, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY, WERE INFECTED IN GREATER NUMBERS AND DIED IN GREATER NUMBERS, AND I THINK IT WAS, MANY THINGS.

BUT DEFINITELY, PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKING ABOUT THE CHINA VIRUS AND KUNG FLU.

JUST NORMALIZED IT AND MADE IT OKAY TO HAVE A SCAPEGOAT.

AND SO HE DEFINITELY MADE THINGS WORSE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CALL IT WHAT IT WAS.

IT WAS A VERY RACIST STATEMENT THAT DID NOT ASSIST THE NATION FROM ACTUALLY HEALING OR REACHING OUT TO THESE COMMUNITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT PARTICULARLY ASIAN AMERICANS, DID GET INFECTED IN GREAT NUMBERS.

BUT THEY WERE ALSO, REPRESENTED A LOT OF THE CAREGIVERS.

I JUST KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FILIPINO DATA.

FILIPINO NURSES ARE 4% OF THE FILIPINO.

30% OF THE NURSES THAT DIED WERE FILIPINO.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ASIAN AMERICANS ACTUALLY IN THE FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND THEN YOU GET THIS PRESIDENT SAYING, DUH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAUSED IT AND THEN PEOPLE THINK IT'S OKAY.

TODISCRIMINATE.

>> TRUMP SHOULD REALLY CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE A LOT OF THE, WHAT RECIPIENT TARGETING OF THE OTHER.

THAT WOULD BE US.

CAME NOT FORE, AND SO IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THAT THE LEADERS CONDEMNING THIS KIND OF TARGETED RANDOM ATTACKS ON A COMMUNITY, APIA COMMUNITY AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE NOW HAVE AS A PRESIDENT, WHO NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS HORRIBLE AND WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, TAKEN INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN AND THE PROBLEM AND TO STOP IT AND TO DO SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE ABOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

THIS PRESIDENT, IN MY VIEW, ELEVATED THE DISCUSSION IN THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

SHOULD NOT JUST BE ABOUT HATRED AND TARGETED AAPI OUR COUNTRY TARGETS OTHER PEOPLE WAY TOO OFTEN.

WE NEED TO BE VERY KEENLY AWARE THAT TODAY, MIGHT BE AAPI'S.

TOMORROW, IT MIGHT BE MUSLIMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TARGETED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHILE WE SAY THAT IT'S REALLY REASSURING AND POSITIVE THAT, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING UP AND YET, WE HEAR STORIES OF, FOR EXAMPLE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ASIAN KID BEING BEATEN UP BY SOMEBODY, BY OTHERS BECAUSE OF BEING ASIAN.

RACISM IS TAUGHT.

AND SO WITH I'M ASKED, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT, YOU CAN PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE, BUT I DO THINK THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHEN WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF STEREOTYPES, WILL BEING PERPETRATED THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS.

>>Daryl: CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME WHY IT'S TRUTH TO MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAY THE WORDS OF A PRESIDENT ABOUT A VIRUS TO SOMEONE ACTUALLY ATTACKING AND BEATING UP SOMEBODY?

WHAT IS THE PATH OF THAT ELECTRICITY THAT GOES AND CREATES THAT HAPPENING?

>> I THINK WHEN THERE ARE PARTICULAR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF POWER, AND IN THIS CASE, POLITICAL POWER, AND OTHER FORM OF POWER, AND WHEN SOMEBODY SORT LIKE THAT IS ABLE TO REPEAT THE SAME KINDS OF PHRASES AND RHETORIC, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IN SOME WAYS THOSE THAT SPECIFIC PHRASING OR IDEAS CAN BE SEEN AS TRUTH.

AS IT GETS CIRCULATED THROUGH DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEDIA.

REGARDLESS OF THE TYPES OF OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA OR OTHER DISCOURSES OUT THERE.

SO I YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN HISTORICALLY IS THE ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO ANTI ASIAN RACISM OR VIOLENCE, ROLE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR ROLE OF MEDIA WHO WORKING IN RELATIONSHIP TO POLITICS, PRODUCING THIS WIDER DISCOURSE THAT CIRCULATES NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I THINK THE PLAYBOOK THAT WE'RE SORT OF SEEING HERE SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF 20TH AND 19TH CENTURY WHERE THE VOICES OF PARTICULAR POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURES PERMEATES THROUGH OTHER FORMS OF TRANSMITS THROUGH OTHER KIND OF INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS MEDIA, TELEVISION, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>>Daryl: YOU BRING UP THE HISTORY AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS HAPPENED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME IS A LOT OF UNKNOWN HISTORY AS BEING RAISED AND POINTING OUT THIS IS NOT A NEW THING.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING THAT POINT.

GETTING BACK TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHAT POLITICIANS OR LEADERS TALK IN THIS WAY, IF CAN LEAD INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE DECISIONS TOO AS WELL.

TRICIA NAKAMURA FROM JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE.

WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLES COME TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE MAKING ACTIVELY RACIST STATEMENTS BUT THINGS HAPPEN, BIG THINGS HAPPEN.

>> I MEAN, CLEARLY, RIGHT YOU LOOK AT THE INTERNALMENT.

INCARCERATION OF JAPANESE AMERICANS AND JAPANESE PEOPLE AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS WHO WERE ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR II.

LOOK AT INTERNMENT.

MASSIVELY ROUND UP JUST PURELY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR WHERE THEY WERE FROM.

WHO THEIR ANCESTORS WERE WITHOUT ANY CONVICTIONS WITHOUT ANY BASIS, WITHOUT THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN PLACE.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IT'S OFTEN FORGOTTEN THAT THAT HAPPENED TO US HERE IN HAWAII TOO.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT ESTIMATES BUT MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE IN HAWAII WERE SENT TO INCARCERATION CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE U.S.

CONTINENT.

TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, LEFT BEHIND, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY WERE GOING.

SIMPLY ON THE BASIS OF GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED FEAR.

UNWARRANTED GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED FEAR.

MANY PARALLELS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

SAW THAT WITH THE MUSLIM BANS.

MULTIPLE TIMES, THANKFULLY, JACO WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND SUBMIT AMICUS BRIEFS CONTESTING THOSE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

PART OF OUR ROLE AS JACL IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE LEGACY OF MAKING SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

WITH ALL THE EFFORTS, WITH WHAT HAPPENS, AND THE APOLOGIES THAT CAME THROUGH REDRESS.

THAT WAS REALLY HARD FOUGHT EFFORT TO GET REDRESS.

IT WOULD BE FOR NAUGHT TO DISCONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

WE ARE SEEING IT HAPPEN.

WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.

AND IT'S A REALLY SCARY TIME.

WE NEED TO KEEP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BECAUSE IT IS SO QUICK TO DRAW ON THE ONGOING HATE, OR DIFFERENCE, THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE, AND MAKE THEM THE NEXT TARGET OR SCAPEGOAT THEM.

BECAUSE SOMEONE TONIGHT WANT TO DEAL WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THE OTHER PERSON'S FAULT.

SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ME.

MAY NOT HAVE POLITICAL POWER, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT THE CHINESE AMERICAN OR THE CHINESE COMMUNITY'S FAULT.

OR CHINA'S FAULT.

NATURALLY, THAT TRANSLATES TO MOST EAST ASIANS, IT'S GOING TO JUST BROADEN AND THAT REMINDS ME OF VINCENT CHIN.

NUMEROUS EXAMPLES THROUGH THE HISTORY OF HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

>>Daryl: I WANT TO DO BE FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, WE'RE GETTING SOME LIKE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RACIAL ATTACK VERSUS A REGULAR ASSAULT?

WILL SOMEONE SERVE MORE TIME AN HOW IS THAT DETERMINED?

ARE THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED AT ALL ON THE RACIAL VERSUS JUST REGULAR ASSAULT AND I'M THINKING OF THE ASSAULT CASE ON MAUI, I THINK IT WAS MAUI, CAUCASIAN MAN WAS BEATEN, TREATMENT OF THE LOCAL COURTS WAS VERY MUCH, THIS IS JUST ASSAULT, GOT PROBATION, GOT CHARGED WITH HATE CRIMES BIT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WONDERING, IS THERE ENOUGH IN THE LAW TO CRACK DOWN AND ACTUALLY DETER THIS KIND OF CRIME?

>> SO THE COMMISSION IS FOCUSED ON NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS.

WE DON'T MANAGE AND PROSECUTE CASES OF ASSAULT OR ANY PHYSICAL HARM IN THAT WAY.

SO BUT WHAT I DO KNOW, HATE CRIME LEGISLATION, IS THAT THERE ARE ELEVATED PENALTIES WHEN IT IS A HATE CRIME.

AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO ADDRESS ISSUES.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE COUPLED WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS INCLUDING HOW DO WE GET THESE STATISTICS ABOUT EDUCATION, IN THE POLICE FORCE.

IN OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AS WELL.

SO YOU CAN HAVE A LAW.

YOU NEED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

I THINK TRICIA AS A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR IN THAT REGARD.

>>Daryl: CAN YOU GIVE ME A SENSE?

SEEMS IT'S RARELY CHARGED IN HAWAII.

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE STATS ARE IN PARTICULAR.

OFTEN, STUDIES THAT I'VE READ AS A LAW STUDENT AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M INTERESTED IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, BUT YOU KNOW, I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THIS, WHEN YOU NEED TO SEEK THE LAW, TO REMEDY AN ISSUE, THE HARM IS ALREADY OCCURRED GENERALLY.

SO I LIKE SENATOR HIRONO'S POINT ABOUT THE NEED FOR EDUCATION.

ONCE A CRIME IS HAPPENED, ONCE THAT WOMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, ONCE THAT AUNTY WAS BEATEN UP, HER LIFE AND HER CHILDREN'S LIFE AND THAT COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED.

I MEAN, I'M IMPACTED BY IT.

NOT EVEN KNOWING HER.

THAT HAS OCCURRED.

PROSECUTING THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THAT OFFENSE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS WOMAN WHOLE.

PROSECUTING IS NOT GOING TO MAKE HER FEEL SAFER AGAIN.

>>Daryl: AMY, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE THAT CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE PEOPLE BEHAVIOR OR IS IT SOMETHING BIGGER THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR?

>> IT'S BIGGER AND THAT IS WHY YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LAWS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE SCHOOLS THAT, AND PARENTS AND OURSELVES, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS SOMEHOW, AS A CULTURE, AS A COMMUNITY, BE INTENTIONALLY ANTI RACIST.

BE INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE.

AND SO I THINK THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR ASIAN AMERICANS BECAUSE THERE IS A FOCUS.

USUALLY, IT'S SEEN AS A BLACK AND WHITE USA AMERICA.

AND ACTUALLY, THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS WITHIN THAT MIX THAT ARE OFTENTIMES, THEY ARE VISIBLE.

THAT'S WHAT ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE SAID.

WHAT WE NEED IS VISIBILITY AND VOICE AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BY THE WAY,WE OFTENTIMES THINK LIKE ASIAN WOMEN ARE QUIET AND THEY DON'T COMPLAIN.

I ALWAYS REMEMBER, PATSY MINK AND NOW MAZIE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO USE OUR VOICE.

AND I THINK THE BY THE WAY, A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND IN THE UNITED STATES, 6%, BUT THE FASTEST GROWING ETHNIC GROUP ENTIRE COUNTRY.

IN GEORGIA, THE VOTERS INCREASE BY 140%, ASIAN AMERICANS INCREASE, COMPARED TO SOMETHING LIKE 10% OF THE WHITE FOLKS.

SO IT'S BECOMING A SIGNIFICANT GROUP THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

THIS IS THE TIME FOR ALL OF ASIAN COMMUNITIES AND THE OTHER THING IS THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND ACTUALLY REACHING OUT AND WE'RE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

ASIAN AMERICANS STOOD UP AND PARTICIPATE IN THE BLACK LIVES MATTER.

BUT BEFORE THAT, VERY MANY ASIAN AMERICANS WOULD NOT HAVE.

>>Daryl: I NEED TO GIVE.

SENATOR WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ONE CALLER.

NOTICE ABSENCE OF KOREAN AMERICANS IN IT'S PANEL.

REFLECTS MUCH OF DAILY EXPERIENCE HERE AS WELL.

OFTEN REMAIN INVISIBLE.

HAWAII MELTING POT OF CERTAIN ETHNIC GROUP IS NOT GETTING THEIR ATTENTION OR FAIRNESS.

SENATOR, I'LL LET YOU SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEE THIS MOVEMENT HAPPENING NOW, HUGE RALLY HERE BIGGER THAN MANY OF THE RALLIES I'VE SEEN BEFORE, AROUND THIS ISSUE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

IS THIS AN EXCITING TIME?

AS HARROWING AS IT IS, EXCITING TIME FOR ASIAN AMERICANS?

>> GROWING AWARENESS TIME.

WITH AWARENESS MUST COME ACTION.

NOT EVERY STATE HAS ANTI HATE CRIME LEGISLATION.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVE THE MATTHEW SHEPHERD HATE CRIMES LAW.

YOU CAN HAVE A LAW, BUT UNLESS IT'S BEING IMPLEMENT AND USED, WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT EVEN UNDERSTAND WHEN A CRIME LIKE HATE CRIME CASE IN POINT, ATLANTA SITUATION.

IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT YOU HAVE THIS POLICE SPOKESPERSON BASICALLY ALLOWING THE PERPETRATOR TO NARRATE WHAT MOTIVATED HIM.

THAT IS CRAZY.

THAT IS WHY, ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO PLACE ON THE SENATE FLOOR WHEN WE RETURN IN A WEEK, COVID HATE CRIMES BILL.

YOU WOULD THINK THIS IS, THIS IS A TOTALLY NONCONTROVERSIAL BILL IN MY VIEW.

ALL IT ASKS IS FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE TO DESIGNATE A ONE PERSON TO REVIEW HATE CRIMES THAT ARE OCCURRING TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, TO BETTER GET THE WORD OUT AND APPROPRIATE CULTURAL LANGUAGE, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET DATA ON THE EXTENT OF HATE CRIMES.

THIS IS TO ME NONCONTROVERSIAL BILL.

DO YOU THINK A SINGLE REPUBLICAN HAS SIGNED ON TO THE BILL?

NO.

IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVEN'T MADE OVERTURES.

WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

YES, WE DO NEED TO GROWING AWARENESS.

WE HAVE TO STAY THE COURSE.

WHICH MEANS WE NOT ONLY HAVE TO ENACT LEGISLATION, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO WHAT KIDS LEARN, ABOUT OTHER CULTURES AND THEN WE NEED TO ENFORCE AND EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DO THEIR JOBS.

>>Daryl: IN ADDITION QUESTION HERE, CAUCASIAN, HAWAIIANS ARE STILL, FROM THE TIME OF ILLEGAL OVERTHROW.

IS THIS A RISKY CONVERSATION TO HAVE, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER GROUP, THAT THERE'S A CHANCE WE'RE GOING TO CREATE DIVISION?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, HOW SHOULD THESE CONVERSATIONS TAKE PLACE AND NOT OFFEND PERSON WHO IS NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT POINT.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE ALREADY, IN THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

I MEAN, WE SEE ADVOCACY GROUPS OR AD HOC COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS WHICH ARE FINDING WAYS IN WHICH THIS ISSUE BECOME A MORE COLLECT CONVERSATION AND SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY ONE HAS TO ONE'S OWN COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING ONE OF THE THINGS TALKED ABOUT A LOT, CHAPERONE PROGRAMS THAT WE SEE.

IN PLACES LIKE OAKLAND OR NEW YORK CITY OR CHICAGO, WHERE YOU HEAR ABOUT NOT JUST ASIANS BUT ASIANS AND OTHER FOLKS IN THESE COMMUNITIES, LATIN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHITE, HELPING TO CHAPERONE ELDERLY ASIAN PERSON ONE POINT TO THE OTHER.

INTERESTING TO POINT OUT, LANGUAGE THIS ISN'T ABOUT PATROL.

PATROLS IS MORE ABOUT FINDING, MORE SORT OF POLICING KIND OF ASPECT.

BUT THINKING USING THE WORD CHAPERONE AS MORE OF ABOUT THIS NOTION ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY.

HOW IT JUST THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THEIR LIVES.

SO I THINK THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN SORT OF SEEING, ALSO THINGS SUCH AS BYSTANDER TRAINING.

REALLY IMPORTANT, OR SOMEBODY WITNESSING SOMETHING, THESE ARE OTHER WAYS PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED.

AND TO BE, TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SORT OF RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT THEY'RE WITNESSING.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY VERY SCARY AND PROBABLY VERY TENSE TO WITNESS SOMETHING, BUT I THINK THESE TRAINING ARE REALLY GREAT.

CAN BE REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEBODY FEEL A SENSE OF EMPATHY OR FIND A WAY TO INTERVENE.

AND TO CARE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

THAT COULD BE A COMPLETE STRANGER.

I THINK IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS THAT DON'T GET FOCUSED SIMPLY ON THE ONE PARTICULAR GROUP AT HAND BUT HOW DO WE BRING OTHER PEOPLE INTO THIS CONVERSATION.

>>Daryl: WHAT ENCOURAGES YOU WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF THIS MOVEMENT?

INTERESTING WE HAD BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THEN THIS, ALL BROUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE OF VERY VIOLENT THINGS.

BUT THEN YOU SEE PEOPLE SAY, I WANT TO STAND WITH MY BROTHER OF ANOTHER RACE.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT, IS THAT EXCITING TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO US HAVING A COMMUNITY AND A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYBODY CAN FEEL SAFE.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY, IS THIS TIME AND I THINK THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENING IN HAWAII, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OURSELVES TOO.

OUR PRIVILEGE AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO HERE.

TO HELP.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE HARM THAT IS GOING ON, IT'S PHYSICAL.

THERE ARE ATTACKS.

THERE IS THREATS.

BUT IT'S ALSO ECONOMIC AS WELL.

TO BUSINESSES.

I THINK THAT IN HAWAII, WE CAN WORK AT IT FROM OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE INCLUDED.

THAT WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO REACH OUT AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS ON THE U.S.

CONTINENT AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS ON THE U.S.

CONTINENT AND FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, TO REACH OUT TO THE EFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

I THINK THAT WAY, WE CAN ENSURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.

THAT WE FEEL PROTECTED.

AND THAT EVERYBODY DOES.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ASIANS.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT COMMUNITY.

>>Daryl: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EDUCATION.

AND SENATOR HIRONO MENTIONED THIS, IS IT A SCHOOL THING?

SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO TEACH THIS?

OR IS THIS A CONVERSATION YOU SHOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND COMMUNITIES AND COWORKERS?

WHERE SHOULD THIS REFORM TAKE PLACE?

>> ANSWER IS EVERYWHERE.

AND EVERYBODY, WHEN YOU SAY THAT, IT MEANS NOWHERE.

SOMETIMES.

THE MEDIA HAS TO BE INVOLVED AND SO FORTH.

BUT I THINK ALL OF US LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AS PLACE WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO INTERVENE AND STRUCTURE THE SITUATION AND WHERE PEOPLE, WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING GOOD THINGS OR BAD THINGS.

AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE ETHNIC STUDIES WHICH I THINK IS NECESSARY.

AND FOR YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP THEIR POSITIONS.

AND I'M THINKING, DOES THE MATH DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT AS HARD?

I THINK ETHNIC STUDIES MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN MATH.

SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE IDEAS OUR HISTORY AND, ETHNIC STUDIES THEME IS OUR HISTORY, OUR WAY, IS THAT THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE VICTIMS OFTENTIMES, PET PERSPECTIVES OF THE PEOPLE NOT IN POWER ARE GENERALLY NOT INCLUDED.

>>Daryl: I NEED TO STOP AND HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.

I WANT TO ASK A VERY QUICK QUESTION.

NOT SURE OF THE BEST PERSON TO CAN ABOUT THIS.

I ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.

MAYBE LEANNE AND TRICIA.

I GREW UP LISTENING TO JOKES.

FRANK DELIMA JOKES.

I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS TYPE OF JOKES ARE STILL APPROPRIATE.

ARE RACE BASED JOKES STILL APPROPRIATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE CAN TELL THESE JOKES ANY MORE?

OR IS THERE A WAY TO TELL THESE JOKES?

>> YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN A TIME WHERE THE FRANK DELIMA JOKES ARE FUNNY, RIGHT?

AND WE LAUGHED AND RAP RAPLINGER, WE LAUGH.

THEY DO HARM.

IN ETHNIC GROUP.

WE THINK ABOUT SAYING A JOKE OR WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY OR GETTING, THAT SENSE OF RELATIONSHIP TO HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY, NOT NECESSARILY HURT THE PERSON YOU'RE TALKING TO, ALTHOUGH IT CAN, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WHEN YOU PERPETUATE THAT KIND OF, THOSE KINDS OF STEREOTYPES.

THEY DO HAVE A VERY INSIDIOUS WAY OF DISENFRANCHISING MANY PEOPLE.

>>Daryl: 30 SECONDS.

>> I THINK WE NAILED IT ON THE HEAD.

IT'S REALLY SUBTLE THINGS THAT WE PICK UP ON ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

THAT IF YOU DON'T STOP THOSE COMMENTS AND THOSE SORT OF EMBEDDED RACIST OR STEREOTYPICAL VIEWS AN DON'T QUESTION IT.

IT CAN LEAD TO VERY DANGEROUS THINGS.

>>Daryl: OKAY.

WE HAVE TO WRAP THIS UP.

NOW.

I WANT TO SAY MAHALO TO ALL OF YOU IN OUR AUDIENCE JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS U.S.

SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AMY AGBAYANI, CHAIR OF THE HAWAII CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION LIANN EBESUGAWA, TRISHA NAKAMURA, BOARD MEMBER OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE HONOLULU CHAPTER, AND UH MANOA ETHNIC STUDIES ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR BRIAN CHUNG.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, PRICED OUT OF PARADISE.

IT’S AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH NO CURRENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTION.

HOW CAN WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS?

WE’LL HEAR WHAT IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I, ALOHA!