Hawaii rabbis say they fight Jew-hatred with 'Shaloha' spirit, after state data shows Jews targets of 75% of faith-based hate crimes last year

Jews in Hawaii were targets of 75% of faith-based hate crimes in 2025 and 4.3% of all hate crimes since 2023, despite making up only 0.69% of the state's population. Rabbi Rachel Short of the Big Island experienced antisemitic threats after October 7, including a phone message inviting her to go "pig hunting," which she described as "very scary for me." She has since limited public events to one-on-one interactions and lifecycle events, counseling fearful Jewish residents.

"That's how we combat antisemitism," she said. "We let people see who we are and what we do, and that it is based in love and unity and goodness and oneness."

Rabbi CJ Mays of Temple Emanu-El in Honolulu noted that much of the hostility he observes blames Jews for Israeli actions. He highlighted that students in his synagogue's religious school have reported antisemitic comments, including swastikas and jokes, often stemming from a lack of education. A mobile Museum of Tolerance is expected to visit Oahu to address Jew-hatred, the Holocaust, and prejudice. Mays, who wears a kippah openly, finds Hawaii generally welcoming, encountering more curiosity than hostility.