about

The Hapa Project is a multiracial identity artwork created by Kip Fulbeck. The original exhibition and book premiered in 2006. A completely new exhibition and book premieres April 7, 2018 at the Japanese American National Museum.

Originally, hapa was the Hawai’ian pronunciation of the English word “half.” It was used in the phrase hapa haole to describe people who were half Hawai’ian and half White/foreigner. Today, it refers to multiethnic individuals who are part Asian and/or Pacific Islander.

Fulbeck began the project in 2001, traveling the country and photographing over 1500 volunteers who identify as hapa. Each person also handwrote their response to the question “What are you?”

Fifteen years later, Fulbeck reconnected with hundreds of the original participants, re-photographing them and asking them to speak about how their identity has changed in the modern world.

The project has exhibited throughout the U.S. and abroad, and has been featured on CNN, MTV, NPR, and The New York Times, among others.