The Brief

Meaning "half" in Hawaiian, the word "hapa" first entered the Hawaiian language in the early 1800s. Originally used to describe individuals of mixed Hawaiian and European ancestry, hapa has since grown to encompass those of mixed Asian descent, often someone who is half Asian or Pacific Islander and half white.

While not inherently derogatory, there is some debate around the appropriate use of the word outside of its original Hawaiian context.

That debate has captivated artist and photographer Kip Fulbeck for decades. As a hapa person himself — his mother is from China and his father is of English, Irish and Welsh descent — growing up half Chinese and half white was not easy for Fulbeck.

Raised in Covina, California, a city in the San Gabriel Valley region in Los Angeles County, Fulbeck told Morning Edition that he was considered "the white kid" at home and among his family, but known as "the Asian kid" at school. Checking boxes for his ethnicity as a child was a regular point of contention.

"I would check white sometimes. But then I was obviously not passing for white, and so I would check one, check the other. Sometimes there would [be] this other box that said 'Other, please explain,' and I would just write 'no.'" he said. "And it wasn't until, I think, 2000 where the U.S. Census actually allowed to check more than one box. So for 35 years of my life, I wasn't able to even legally do that."

It was this examination of his own identity that served as inspiration for creating "The Hapa Project."

"The Hapa Project" is a series of portraits of people who identify as multiracial. Each photo is accompanied by the subject's handwritten answer to a question about their identity. Fulbeck started the project in 2001 — with the original installation featuring photos from about 1,200 people. The creative concept for the project consists of him photographing people who identify as hapa in the same way — from the collarbone up and without any external identifiers like clothing, jewelry or glasses. After taking their photo, he then has them "handwrite a response to the question, 'What are you?," which he stresses he never censors what his participants write in their responses.

To honor the 25th anniversary of "The Hapa Project," Fulbeck brought the series back by revisiting around 150 original participants to see how their thoughts about being mixed race have changed over time.

In some participants' "before" and "after" portraits, changes in self-perception can be perceived alongside changes in physical demeanor.

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Kip Fulbeck

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Alongside physical changes in the before and after photos, "you also see these changes in attitude as we sort of mature and grow and change as adults," Fulbeck said.

In one portrait, the person wrote for their original photo, "What am I? Shouldn't you be asking my name first?" In their revisited photo, they wrote, "Hey! I'm Christine. Nice to meet you, too."

When "The Hapa Project" first launched, it initially sparked a varied response. Some — particularly those who identified as multiracial — found the project to be a valuable affirmation of their identities and a challenge to racial stereotypes. Others, however, questioned the appropriation of the term "hapa" by those without a direct lineage to the Hawaiian context from which it originated.

For Fulbeck, the sheer exploration of the hapa identity is the entire point.

"I've had people say, 'hapa means this.' Or, 'no, hapa means this,'" he said. "To me, it's not our place to tell someone else who they are. You're the only person who gets to define who you are. You get to say that."

The reclamation and reinterpretations of the word hapa are present in a majority of "The Hapa Project" portraits, and Fulbeck thinks it represents an evolution of how people have come to feel about themselves and the way the world sees them.

"Identity is internal, but it's also this external way we relate to others. And I think as we become more comfortable in our own skin and our place in the world and where we fit in, that depends on where you're living, too," he said.

Nearly 10% of people in the United States are of mixed race, according to the latest census. That is a 275% increase from just a decade before, and is only expected to grow. The states with the largest multiracial populations in the country include California, Texas and New York.

As the number of people in the U.S. who intermarry gets larger and larger, Fulbeck's advice for parents raising hapa kids is a "million-dollar question."

"As a parent myself, I ask myself this all the time. People have asked, 'Do you talk to your kids about being hapa?' And I was like, 'I don't … because they're dealing with dad doing this all over the world. They don't want to hear about this.' My kids — they want to play Fortnite. They just want to be kids," he said. "So I always just tell parents, you just got to love your kids. Be open to them. When they want to explore it, then be willing to do it. But you can't sit there and force it."

While Fulbeck's advice for raising hapa kids isn't so definite, his opinion on the importance of defining yourself and determining your own identity is certain. "If you don't say who you are and define it correctly, other people are going to do it for you, and they're going to do it wrong," he said.

"The Hapa Project" relaunched on May 23 at the Museum of Us in San Diego and will make additional stops at the Museum of Chinese in America and Waseda University later this year.

The broadcast version of this story was edited by Ashley Westerman. The digital version was edited by Treye Green.
Copyright 2025 NPR

Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorities announced Tuesday.

Superintendent Andrés Chait revealed the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.

“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve. These are collective accomplishments.

"They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community,” he said.

Jai Gant-Leau, principal of Eagle Tree Continuation High School, said the “back-to-basics” focus of Chait’s speech was a welcome departure from the tone of recent opening addresses.

“We will continue to rise for the outcomes and expectations for the success of our students. That's the message I got,” Gant-Leau said. “Very different than the others where it was a lot of… bells and whistles.”

Why it matters

Student achievement, as measured by test scores, plummeted during the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified’s growth in 2025 outpaced the state, as test scores exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science. It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.

Challenges ahead

Chait also acknowledged the challenges posed by declining enrollment, community fears of immigration enforcement actions and proposed budget cuts.

 “The decisions will be hard, but we cannot lose sight of what defines us,” Chait said. “We are the system that lifts students to opportunity, turns potential into achievement, creates spaces of belonging, healing, growth.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

We hope you’ve gotten used to the hot weather, because it’s going to be here for a while.

The National Weather Service has issued yet another heat advisory for much of Southern California, less than a week after other high-temperature warnings were lifted.

This week’s advisory will be in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb steadily over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.

The San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and other inland areas in L.A., as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, will likely see highs ranging from the mid-90s to about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and much of Orange County, will hit the 90s. Beaches will hover mostly in the upper 70s.

Humidity will also add to the discomfort. Even though it’s decreasing slightly, it makes cooling down harder, especially at night.

People who work outdoors or do not have air conditioning are especially at risk from the heat and humidity, along with people over 65, young children and other sensitive populations.

Fire risk

Forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for fires, driven by a combination of wind and dry vegetation.

Southern California hasn’t seen much rain recently, despite the humidity, leaving plants with little moisture and turning them into the perfect fuel.

“Even though the air feels kind of moist, we're in the time of season where it doesn't matter. The fuels are dry and they're ready to go,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell.

Kittel said people should take extra care with anything that could create a spark, and residents in fire-prone areas should remain aware of their surroundings in case a fire starts.

The fire risk is likely to be concentrated in a few specific areas that will experience higher winds than others, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and in southern Santa Barbara County.

For most of the region, though, winds should stay fairly mild.

Dangerous beach conditions

Southern Californians also have to contend with some ocean-specific risks this week.

Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to hit the coastline at a time when the heat may drive more people to the beach. The conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.

If you decide to head to the beach, it’s a good idea to ask a lifeguard for advice on the conditions before entering the water. It’s also recommended to swim only near occupied lifeguard stands, stay off of rock jetties and avoid turning your back to the waves.

South-facing stretches of coastline will bear the brunt of the swell, which is being driven by two tropical storms churning hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.

“Those two systems generated the winds and the waves locally that are pushing towards us, and so that's creating elevated surf and some stronger currents than normal,” Kittel said.

The swell is not expected to cause significant coastal flooding as high tides remain relatively low.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.

Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday at select Eastside parks so residents can enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.

More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.

To ensure families still have access to summer recreational activities, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directed resources toward providing the “beach bus” program to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale.

Read below for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more. 

Pickup locations

Belvedere Aquatic Center

5035 1st St. East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Obregon Park Pool

4021 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90063

Salazar Park Pool 

3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023

City Terrace Park Pool

1126 N. Hazard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063

Shuttle dates and times 

• Wednesday, July 22
• Thursday, July 23
• Friday, July 24
• Saturday, July 25

Morning trip: 

• Check in at 8:30 a.m. 
• The bus departs East LA at 9 a.m. 
• The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 12 p.m.

Afternoon trip: 

• Check in at 12:30 p.m. 
• The bus departs East LA at 1 p.m. 
• The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 4 p.m. 

What to know

No registration or proof of address is required, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own food and drinks. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.