I’ve never heard Indonesians referred to as “Pacific islanders.” They are Asians. For that matter, although there is what’s called the Asia-Pacific, I’ve never heard Micronesia, Melanesia or Polynesia considered part of Asia itself, and I used to live in Polynesia (Hawaii).
Well, hardly “nobody.” I know quite a few who do.
Something very similar happened to a coworker and I on the elevator. We were heading out to the field and got on the elevator. A man already on the elevator says (in the VERY bright and cheery voice) “hi! How are you doing today?”.
So both of us answered back “great, how’s it going”? And he turns and gives us “THAT look” and continues into his earpiece “yeah, I’m heading over to the meeting now”.
Boy were our faces red. 