Hawai`i is literally a melting pot of cultures from around the world. Many immigrants came to work in the sugar cane fields in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are certain things which you’ll only find in Hawai`i.
Here are some things to know before your visit.
Native Hawaiian or Kānaka Maoli
- Just because someone is from Hawai`i, it is wrong to call them Hawaiian.
- Someone who is Hawaiian is descended from the Native people who lived in Hawai`i before Captain Cook’s “discovery” in 1778.
Hawaiian Language or `Ōlelo Hawaiʻi
- There is a Hawaiian language (`Ōlelo Hawaiʻi).
- The entire alphabet only contains 12 letters. It contains 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and only 7 consonants (H, K, L, M, N, P, W).
- ‘ (okina) and ¯ (kahako) help you to pronounce words correctly.
Honolulu
- The capital of Hawai`i is Honolulu. Please learn to pronounce it correctly.
Pidgin
- The typical and distinct accent found with most locals in Hawai`i.
- Pidgin is actually a way of speaking which developed as a way for people from different cultures to communicate when working on the sugar plantations. It borrows words from English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, etc.
Mainland
- The continental United States is called the mainland.
Driving Etiquette
- It is customary to let someone merge or turn into traffic if they have been waiting longer than you at an intersection. They’ll usually wave at you to go first.
- If someone lets you go before them, please remember to thank them by holding your hand up to acknowledge them.
Directions on O`ahu
- On O`ahu, if you head west, you are heading “ewa” (pronounced eva).
- If you head east, you are heading toward “Diamond Head.”
- If you head toward the mountains, you are heading “mauka.”
- If you head toward the ocean, you are heading “makai.”
Windward and Mauka
- You’ll hear this often on newscasts in reference to the weather. For example, “windward and mauka showers.”
- Due to the prevailing trade winds in the tropics where Hawai`i is located, the east or windward side of all of the Hawaiian islands are the wet or rainy side.
- The western sides are dry as the rain clouds get hung up on the mountains on the east side of the islands.
Kona Wind
- Winds that come from the south (think about it coming from Kona on the Big Island).
- It is an atypical weather pattern and usually means the weather will be hot and cooling trade winds will not materialize.
Vog
- Vog is volcanic haze. It can cause hazy conditions on all of the islands.
- It can blow up from the active volcanoes on the Big Island when Kona winds are the prevalent weather pattern.
High Surf Advisory
- High Surf Advisories are issued when surf is up.
- High surf can be expected on north and west shores on all islands in the winter. This would include such famous surfing spots along the north shore like Waimea Bay, Pipeline, Sunset, etc. In the west along the Wai`anae coast are Yokohama, Makaha, etc.
- In the summer, high surf can be found along the south and east shores in places like Sandy Beach and Waikiki.
- If you are not a strong swimmer, it is best to avoid swimming in the water in the north and west in the winter and the south and east in the summer.
Footwear
- Please remove your shoes when entering someone’s home. Everyone takes their shoes off when inside a private residence.
Aloha Shirt
- Those collared shirts which may contain flowers or other designs are called Aloha shirts in Hawai`i and NOT Hawaiian shirts.
Slippers
- These footwear are called slippers and not flip flops, sandals, or thongs.
Shave Ice or Ice Shave (if you’re from the Big Island)
- It is not a snow cone. It is shave ice. It is also called ice shave if you’re from the Big Island.
Canned Meats
- People in Hawai`i really love their canned or preserved meats. They love SPAM, Vienna Sausage, Corned Beef, Beef/Fish Jerky, and Portuguese Sausage.
- If you don’t like it, it is best to keep your opinion to yourself.
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Now that you have read a bit about the culture of Hawai`i, you can read about things to do on O`ahu and the food in Hawai`i.