It's all about how it's used! It's a catch all term for white folks in particular and generally not used in a deragatory way, it's just a reality check. If your a Fillipino "new comer" the haole term would be out of place, you'd be referred to as a Fillipino, or Portagee or whatever. But the term can be used in a way that ranks right up there with the N word and such use is not generally acceptable by society here.
I have found myself using it from time to time, mostly under my breath, in a less than flattering way, when expressing frustration with "new comers" driving to slow in the fast lane, during rush hour. That would be the classic rental car, (red Mustang convertible), wife has the map out in the passenger seat, kids in the back and all I want to do is get home. I'm sure we've all used various term's to describe these folks in our home town.
