HAPA Spring N2 Action!

Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez!

Here were are, already at the end of the first quarter of 2022. How’s it going so far in your multicultural world?

Your Hip Hapa with Watermelon Sushi

For us at Watermelon Sushi World, it’s been a time of turning out projects like crazy!

In honor of Women’s History Herstory Month, Your Hip Hapa was invited to participate in an art exhibit called 'Herstory'. A month-long event at Arts at Mark’s Garage in Chinatown, Honolulu, O’ahu, the exhibit showed off the work of women artists and their powerful visions of women. A fun time was had by all!

Your Hip Hapa's "Herstory: Rice 2 Space" artwork, bottom right

As you can see, Your Hip Hapa’s artwork included a portrait of a hapa woman who rises from being a baby on her mother’s back (a traditional Japanese woman cooking rice) to becoming an astronaut. Stay tuned for a whole series of NFT’s based on this subject matter.

Meanwhile, the ‘War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory’ series is now available for viewing on Gumroad.

Check out these links:

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/l/HERSTORY

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/l/theBRIDES

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/l/theKIDS

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/l/theCULTURE

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/l/BUDDHISTFRIENDSFOREVER

Additionally, we’re surging forward with two films and three books. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted about their statuses.

Do drop us a line if you’re someone who has something to say about being a part of our mixed race world. We love doing interviews with people like you.

HAPA SPRING!

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi

Blasian Sensation

Although she’s unsure of where the term "Blasian" originated, Your Hip Hapa admits she finds it to be not only an accurate idiom, but also quite charming. Like our Hapa*Teez t-shirt design on Café Press, the words Black plus Asian = Blasian.

Danni with her Mom 

This month’s featured Hip Hapa Homee is Danni Ai, a creative multi-talented performer and visual artist, hailing from Jamaica, who also happens to be Blasian.

Here’s a list of some of Danni’s many accomplishments.

Milestone performances:

“Return of the King” Tour with Shabba Ranks

"Fugees" in Miami and Hartford Tour Dates (with Pras)

“Faces in the Crowd” @ Times Square Art Center

TSW World Entertainment Network on the Hornig Hapmton Estate

“LoveJones Christmas” on VH1

"Party with Baruch Live" - NYC 

National Coalition of 100 Black Women Youth Forum Speaker

New Taste Magazine, “Showcase 101”

ROMP for Research

“Trailblazer Awards” @ Cascades Mansion

BET’s 106 & Park 

SOBs “DREAMZ” Concert Series

"Partyzone/EMG” @ Greenhouse

"DREAMZ” at the world-famous Copacabana

Danni and immediate family

And, here’s Danni’s story:

Danni with Uncle Ginger

Q: Danni, who are your parents?

A: My mom is Jamaican (of African-German descent) and my dad is Jamaican (of Chinese descent).

Danni with great Grandma

Q: How did you grow up?

A: I grew up mostly with my mom. She always lived in either all black or mixed-race communities. I want to two schools that were all white.

Q: How did you first become interested in music?

A: I always had an interest. Jamaica is a very soulful and spiritual place. My mom can tell you stories about me finding an audience long before what I can remember. She and my great grandmother had beautiful voices. I have a great-great-great that was a riverboat singer, so I guess it's in my blood.

Q: And now, you're also a visual artist. How did that evolution come about?

Danni's artwork

A: It's just another way to express myself. Art is my passion. Sometimes I have a pen in my hand instead of a mic. Sometimes all I have is a toe and the floor. If you can envision yourself crossing the finish line, you will understand how it feels when I open my eyes and let whatever I felt come out of my head.

Danni, cousin Kadia, Mom and great Aunt

Q: How did you develop such strong feminist ideas? 

A: I wouldn't say my ideas are necessarily feminist. They are people-ist. They are for victims of rape and domestic violence. That affects much more than women. I just chose to start with women because their stories are something that I am closer to having experienced. I would never forget my boys and men who have been through the same horrible victimization.

Q: Your family is so wonderfully mixed. What was it like being surrounded by so many colors and cultures?

Danni's Aunt Carol

A: Well, it taught me that tolerance is a word people use when they have seen prejudice. I don't have to tolerate people because we are all human. No one culture is better than the next. "Out of many races, one people" is Jamaica's motto. I see beauty in unity, and failure and dysfunction in the crabs-in-a-barrel scenario. 

Danni and cousins

Danni with cousin Mike

Q: What are some of your future plans?

A: Building awareness towards rape and domestic violence and changing the life of at least ONE person that has been affected by either of those things. One is enough, more than one is a blessing.

Danni with sister Alex

Danni with brother Kris

Danni and first cousins

Thanks, Blasian Sensation! Hey Hip Hapa Homeez, reach Danni through these links:

Twitter: @DanniAi

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/DanniAi

Instagram: @mydanniai

And, please remember to join our multi-culti discussions at our Facebook group page—Hip Hapa Homeez. While you’re in cyberspace, also check out the following:

Watermelon Sushi film

http://www.watermelonsushi.com

Watermelon Sushi on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/watermelonsushi

Hapa*Teez on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBIMaJUljjI

Hapa*Teez on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/hapateez

Hapa*Teez on Café Press

http://www.cafepress.com/hapateez

War Brides of Japan v.2 on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSEUkT2N4E&feature=plcp

War Brides of Japan on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnJkujn1iek&feature=colike

War Brides of Japan on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/WarBridesOfJapan

Yayoi Lena Winfrey fan page on Facebook (sorry, but Your Hip Hapa can’t add any more friends to her regular profile page)

https://www.facebook.com/yayoilenawinfreyfanpage

Sexy Voices of Hollywood

https://www.facebook.com/sexyvoicesofhollywood

Twitter

https://twitter.com/watermelonsushi

Until April 2, when we’ll have another Hip Hapa Homee for you to meet, be sweet.

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi

Dual Identified Designing Woman

Hola and neih hou, Hip Hapa Homeez! Once again, Your Hip Hapa is moved by your overwhelming support. Thank you for joining our Watermelon Sushi movement by “liking” our Watermelon Sushi Fan page on Facebook, following our sporadic tweets on Twitter, joining our Hip Hapa Homeez Group page on Facebook (where you can post news about multiethnic folks and transracial adoptees), and by supporting our Watermelon Sushi film by purchasing Hapa*teez t-shirts on Cafe Press. Without you, we don’t exist so please continue to journey on this fantastic voyage with us.

This week’s Hip Hapa Homee is clothing designer Chrissy Wai-Ching. Since one picture is worth 1,000 words, we’ve kept this interview short so you can check out Chrissy’s beautiful clothing line in the photos below. That’s her in the first three pictures wearing creations she designed, followed by shots of models dressed in her clothes.

Q: What's a nice multiethnic girl like you doing designing clothing?

A: I’ve been sewing since I was a little girl, since my Puerto Rican grandmother was an avid quilter. I started making clothing for myself in high school; then, went to University in Hong Kong and North Carolina, where I studied Textile Technology and Fashion Design. I started my line in Seattle in 2004.

Q: Who are your parents, and how did you grow up?

A: My father was Hong Kong Chinese, and my mother is Puerto Rican. I feel really lucky to have grown up with the two cultures. We took many trips to both places and celebrated both Puerto Rican and Chinese traditions and holidays.

Q: You've lived in many countries and still travel a lot. How do people in each locale deal with mixed-race people?

A: Puerto Rico is the most comfortable for me because everyone there is mixed-race. Hong Kong is an interesting place because, in some circles, I'm accepted as Chinese, and in others people don't believe that I am even mixed with Chinese!

I've noticed that the way I'm seen has changed a lot over the years. People are much more used to seeing mixed-race people all over the world now, whereas before it was more rare.

Q: What about you is uniquely Chinese or Puerto Rican?

A: I enjoy practicing Chinese art, like seal carving and calligraphy. Chinese tea and dim sum is my favorite! I speak some Chinese and also some Spanish. I often listen to Puerto Rican music, and feel the Puerto Rican lust for life in me.

Q: Besides being a fashion designer, you also create paintings and carvings. Tell us more about your other art interests.

A: I love to unwind with traditional Chinese art. It’s more about following a tradition and repetition than Western art, so I think there is a very meditative element to it.

Q: Please explain the Cantonese name Wai-Ching.

A: Wai-Ching is my Chinese name and it means Wisdom and Virtue.

Q: How can our readers buy your artwork and clothing?

A: My artwork and clothing can be purchased through my Seattle studio. I work with customers from all over the world. My website is www.wai-ching.com and the phone number is (206) 229-1111.

Mucho gracias and mhgoi saai, Chrissy!

Remember, Hip Hapa Homeez, you can get your own Hapa*Teez t-shirt like the one beautiful Cassie is wearing in this photo, below.

And, don’t forget that many of our Hip Hapa Homeez have products for sale. This week, we're featuring Thomas Brooks’ book, A Wealth of Family. You can read about him here.

See you in a two weeks with another blendie, hafu, hapa, mixie, multiethnic, FGM or MGM, cross-cultural person or transracial adoptee!

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi