Documents for entering USA?
 

A non-white friend of mine is wanting to go to Hawaii from Canada. She is a Canadian citizen with a Driver's License and a Citizenship card. However she is an immigrant with a strong Chinese accent.

Is US Customs looking for passports for everyone who is not an obvious white bread Canadian?

Crossing the border is a pain in the ass no matter who you are. I am a canadian caucasian female and had to spend over an hour with customs trying to cross into the states. And that was with my drivers licence, birth certificate, passport, work paystubs. Tell her to contact customs and see what documentation they recommend her having to make it as easy as possible.

It sounds like you were in a car tho...If you are at an airport with a return ticket they surely can't want to see paystubs?

A passport is nice to have if you are going to the states even if you don't need it. Took me less then 5mins in customs with a return ticket and a passport. Granted I'm a caucasian male.