“We can laugh at ourselves”

Hawai’i’s multiculturalism and perceived harmonious race ethnic relations are widely celebrated in popular academic discourse. The image of Hawai’i as a “racial paradise,” rainbow peacefully coexisting groups, partially stems from the fact that among various racial groups there is no numerical majority common belief equality opportunity status. humor part parcel maintenance continued reinforcement notion paradise” with underlying racializing stigmatizing discourses disguise severe social inequalities elide differential access to wealth power. In this paper, I examine intersection language, humor, representation by analyzing linguistic practices comedy performances Frank DeLima, pioneer excerpts Buckaloose: Shmall Keed Time (Small Kid Time), CD Da Braddahs, relatively new but tremendously duo Hawai’i. Central these use language variety call Mock Filipino, strategy often employed Local comedians differentiate speakers Philippine languages Creole English (or Pidgin). A key component understanding Filipino idea “Local” cultural identity category its concomitant multiculturalist argue comedians’ relies on myth while constructing which position immigrant Filipinos Other, signifying their outsider status subordinate hierarchy order. thus acts help produce disseminate ideas about culture, normalizing reinforcing mainstream ideology.