What Does a Hawaiian Look Like?
Ross JungHawaiian living abroad
IT Programmer—Samsung Electronics Ross Jung was born on Oʻahu and raised on the slopes of Hālawa Heights and graduated from Kamehameha Schools. He currently lives in Pfleugerville, Texas just outside of the city of Austin. Ross has a unique experience in which people who live on the continental U.S. have an easier time believing that he is Hawaiian than local people living in Hawaiʻi.
"The people [in Texas] have no problem believing Iʻm Hawaiian when I tell them. In fact, some of them guess correctly that Iʻm Hawaiian before I even mention it. Itʻs crazy! Local folks though, they need more convincing. Most people think Iʻm either Chinese, Korean or Japanese." Despite the assumptions, this has not deterred Ross from identifying as being Hawaiian. As a father, he would like to pass down the knowledge of the importance of taking care of family and one's surrounding environment. |