Velasquez-Manoff writes about their time in Hawaii and the culture that they observed. The “aloha spirit” is “a concept roughly defined as an emphasis on mutual respect, getting along and taking care of one another”, which I think we could all benefit from. The people of Hawaii can relate to coming from people who worked hard just to survive. Race has nothing to do with hard work and respect, which unifies the island’s people. They can recognize that each person is so much more than one thing but is made up of so many stories. Race and categorization just divide people, but when we see each other as the same we can connect on a greater level. Categorization can help people relate to one another or provide a sense of belonging and connection to where they came from and who they are.

Gay feels that she rather be a bad feminist than not one at all. She feels connected to people who considered themselves to be feminists even if they do not all portray themselves in the same way. The people of Hawaii categorize themselves as locals based on their ideology and way of life regardless of the way they look. This gives them a sense of belonging.

Velasquez-Manoff also discusses the absence of white people on the island and that they tend to stand out more than those on the mainland. This is a cultural shift for those who have not ever experienced being different. There is no transparency. Nguyen wanted to feel transparent her whole life, just like every other white woman. She wanted to feel like she belonged, not like she was exotic and different.

We all want to feel like we belong. Categorization can help people find their place in this world and help them relate to similar people. I empathize greatly with the end of the article. If we all categorize ourselves as human beings that live on a floating rock dependent on each other for survival. We too could create a feeling of community and belonging comparable to Hawaii.