🌗 Hapa. It’s a word we have here in Hawai'i that means half or mixed or part and it’s always been the word I’ve identified with the most. What part of your heritage do you identify with? I was born in Hawai'i but ethnically I’m half Japanese (hi dad) and half Caucasian (hi mom). He lives a really simple existence, rarely leaves the island and basically lives on the ocean as a fisherman, while my mom would travel the world nonstop if she could, hikes, and isn’t afraid to speak up. They’re polar opposites yet somehow it works :) I am their child in every respect. Half mountains, half ocean. Half grounded, half aching to wander. Half quiet, half questioning. The balance of opposites. I didn’t plan on writing this much but just so interesting to me how places and people influence who we become.