pōpolo

The term "pōpolo" is widely used in Hawaii to refer to Black people or individuals of African descent. The word originally comes from the Hawaiian language, referring to the black nightshade plant (Solanum americanum) which produces small, dark purple-black berries. Historically, it was adopted into local Pidgin as a descriptive, neutral term for Black individuals, particularly as African American military personnel and workers arrived in the islands.

While older generations of locals generally use it as a neutral descriptor without malicious intent, its reception can vary today. Some visitors and newer residents may find it jarring or mistake it for a slur due to mainland racial sensitivities, while others embrace it. Context and tone are crucial; when used casually among locals, it is simply a demographic identifier, but like any racial term, it can become offensive if paired with derogatory language or negative stereotypes.

Sitting in the corner booth at Zippy's on School Street at two in the morning, Marcus watched the front door swing open. A loud group of military guys stumbled in from a night out in Chinatown, immediately taking up too much space in the narrow waiting area. Three of them were sunburned haole guys being obnoxiously loud about their tab, completely ignoring the tired cashier trying to hand them their menus.

Standing slightly behind them, looking mortified, was the only pōpolo guy in the group. He kept his voice low, apologizing to the auntie behind the bakery counter and trying to herd his friends toward a table before they knocked over the display of Napples. Marcus took a sip of his coffee, shaking his head. It was always the same dynamic—the loud ones making a scene while the one guy with actual sense had to play babysitter.