hapa

American  

[hah-puh] / ˈhɑ pə /

noun

1. (especially in Hawaii and California) a person of mixed-race heritage who identifies racially and culturally as both white and of Asian descent.

---

Etymology

Origin of hapa

First recorded in 1985–90; from Hawaiian Pidgin: “half”

Example Sentences

"We have such a small profit margin that every single day matters," said Kiaha Kurek, who owns a Hawaiian food truck in Portland called Hapa Howies, which serves a variety of hot lunch plates.

From Salon

More specifically, with the casting of Momoa, Aquaman becomes a hapa superhero.

From Salon

The Hawaiian term hapa developed in the early 20th century to describe someone of mixed heritage, usually with Pacific Islander or Asian heritage.

From Salon

Hapa was originally a derogatory term used to describe mixed-raced children of Hawaiian women and plantation guest workers from China, Korea and the Philippines.

From Salon

In her review, Slaughter, who self-identifies as hapa, describes the experience of watching "Aquaman": "To be completely honest, I cried throughout the film. . . . Editor Lauren Hardie sat beside me, tears in her eyes, and we had a hapa moment . . . . in the end, when Arthur stood up to defeat the Big Bad and take his rightful place as the King of Atlantis, we cheered for Aquaman, our new hapa hero."

From Salon