Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream:

" ... That my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

King's inspired hope, which defined the national ideal, was one of justice, reason and equality among people of all races and creeds.

Hawai'i, land of aloha and America's ethnic melting pot, has been portrayed as a model of King's dream.

Talk to younger people from different parts of the state about King's dream of a society where people live, work and play together regardless of their backgrounds and you may get the feeling that while Hawai'i may have a ways to go, it's not doing too bad.

On the day set aside to honor King's legacy, their experiences show they are eager to learn about and nurture the things from their cultures that make them unique. But they also want to learn to respect and appreciate the flavors and ingredients that other cultures bring to Hawai'i's mix.

GETTING ALONG

Julius Zuleta, 16, a Pahoa High sophomore on the Big Island, practically qualifies as King's racial dream quilt wrapped up in a single person. He's Hawaiian, Spanish, Puerto Rican, German and Filipino.

On Nov. 13, Zuleta was one of four students from across the nation selected to read their essays at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Ceremonial Groundbreaking in Washington, D.C.

"I admired Dr. King for what he did," said Zuleta, who looks at King as an inspiration. "I admired his passion and his desire."

Those who know Zuleta describe him as a bright, talented young man who writes poetry, strums the 'ukulele, plays piano at church gatherings, is a top student and has avoided drugs, alcohol and the kinds of negative temptations that have attracted some his age.

Zuleta is aware that he's grown up in a tough area, but his mom and teachers described him as someone who "gets along with everybody."

"It's basically a simple thing," he said. "Just show people respect. What I do when I meet a new person is look at them as if this is a chance to find a new friend."

Still, it wasn't always easy.

"When I was a kid, there were times when I was bullied. There was just this one group of Hawaiians that would always pick on me, because I was such a mixed race they considered me an alien.

"Sometimes they'd shove me and call me 'mixed trash.' "

Although it traumatized him, Zuleta admits to times when he caved in to the urge to make fun of others himself.

Sometimes he apologized. Other times, "I just couldn't stand up to it."

He pleads guilty to being human.

RACIAL TENSION

Sinclair "James" Quitugua Suda, 21, is familiar with the racial tensions that exist here. Born in Guam and raised in Saipan, the Chamorro-Chuukese Suda resides in Kuhio Park Terrace, which he estimates is dominated by equal parts Samoan and Micronesian families.

Families at KPT typically get along, he said, but the story is much different at Mayor Wright housing, the project several miles away.

Suda said he feels uneasy when he goes to Mayor Wright and is identified as a Micronesian. He said he gets the feeling "some people think, 'He's one of those troublemakers.' "

Suda, who arrived in Hawai'i two years ago, said he blames some of his peers who join up with Micronesian youth gangs for fostering a reputation of violence. He understands how youths, especially immigrants, have a tendency to join gangs in an attempt to fit in.

Tensions between two people shouldn't escalate and involve race, he said.

"If you have trouble, handle it yourself and don't try to involve your race," Suda said. "If it's just between you and him ... make it between you and him."

EXPANDING AWARENESS

Jay Knight, 28, a software engineer, is half Filipino, half African-American. He grew up in Waipahu, which has a large Filipino population and a tiny African-American presence.

Yet Knight, who received a scholarship to attend Maryknoll School, believes he learned more about both cultures after leaving Hawai'i for about a decade to receive his undergraduate and master's degrees at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and by living and working in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.

About a year ago Knight chose to return to Hawai'i.

"This is still my home," he said.

Although Knight says Hawai'i qualifies as a melting pot compared with certain locations on the Mainland, that aspect of Hawai'i has been over-emphasized in the past.

He was, for example, exposed to African-American, Arab-Muslim and Latino cultural communities that aren't as prominent here. And those locations tend to emphasize their cultural heritage more than what he found in Hawai'i.

After his decade away, though, Knight acknowledges the state has made impressive strides in enhancing its diverse cultures.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com and Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.