A Guide to Moving to Hawaii or Vacationing in Hawaii

Any time you move to a new place, there is a new set of behaviors to learn. Whether it be to the next town or halfway across the world, each community has its own definitions of what is an acceptable and agreeable way of doing things. As a native New Yorker, my move to Hawaii was a very eye opening experience. I have learned quite a bit in the five years that I have lived here, and continue to learn more every day. These tips can apply to anyone relocating to Hawaii, or just enjoying a vacation in the Aloha state.

Hawaii was the last state to be added to the United States in 1959. Although it is part of the USA, in many ways you would never know it. I say this because of the many guarded cultural practices and ways of living practiced by its inhabitants. Hawaii is a very ethnically sensitive place to live, and in order to blend in and not commit some serious social faux pas, I’ve made up a list of things to keep in mind when moving to Hawaii or vacationing in Hawaii.

I’ve put together a list of helpful tips for acclimating to living in Hawaii or for those who are vacationing in Hawaii.

1. The rest of the United States (excluding Alaska) is referred to The Mainland.

2. Thousands of people relocate to Hawaii annually for many different reasons. First, the island of Oahu contains military bases for all four branches of the armed forces, so there is a constant influx and departure of service men and women. Secondly, Hawaii often looks like the perfect place to live and work, and many adventurous souls relocate to the islands for a temporary respite from mainland life. Thirdly, Hawaii is a beautiful place to retire to…if you can afford it.

3. A word commonly used to define foreigners (those not native to Hawaii, whether they be Hawaiian or not) is haole – pronounced how-lee. If you are vacationing in the islands or have relocated, you may be referred to as haole by the locals. Historically, this word was used to label non-Hawaiian visitors to the island, but today it has taken on a much different connotation. Haole is one of those words that can mean different things depending on the way that it is delivered, what tone of voice is used, and under what circumstances. Sometimes, a foreigner may be called a haole as a casual, general term which is not meant to offend, but used in a friendly teasing way. Other times, it is used as a malicious insult delivered by a local individual. Fortunately for people of Asian descent, they blend in more quickly than Caucasian people do, so they may not be faced with the same discrimination.

Which brings me to my next point�

4. Not all locals are happy to see people moving to their island. When I use the word “local”, I don’t necessarily mean Hawaiians. Many families of other ethnicities have been living in Hawaii for generations, and consider themselves local, even if they are not of Hawaiian descent. It’s safe to say that they are protective of their way of life. It’s also safe to say that these individuals do not appreciate the influx of people into the islands every year and have a rather sour and off-putting attitude towards those who have relocated to Hawaii. Overcrowding is a problem on some of the islands, so do not expect gracious hospitality from everyone that already lives here. Hawaii contains racism and prejudice just like the other states, it is no different in that respect. In addition to that there are certain places in the islands that are not exactly “haole-friendly”, where Caucasian folks may wish to stay away from. If you’re lucky you will not encounter racist individuals, but do not be surprised if you do meet one.

5. Many folks harbor the misconception that Hawaii is a place peopled with Hawaiians. However, research shows that there are only about 8,000 actual pure (meaning 100%) Hawaiians left on Earth. A small population of people to begin with, the bloodline has been watered down since the first foreigners set foot on the island in 1778, led by Captain James Cooke. Today, you’ll still find Hawaiians in Hawaii, but their ethnicities will be mixed. In the islands of Hawaii you’ll find a plethora of ethnicities and nationalities. Surprisingly, the state of Hawaii contains the country’s highest percentage of Asians (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese) at 41%. You’ll also find Filipinos, Samoans, Tongans, African Americans, Europeans, Caucasians, and Latinos. Hawaii truly is a melting pot.

6. Speaking of the locals, you may notice that some will speak differently than folks who live on the mainland. Every region of the world has its own dialect that is used. A colloquial combination of slang words, tone, and accent. This is referred to by linguists as pidgin language. Hawaii has adopted this term, Pidgin, to refer to the local ways of speaking. Historically, this pidgin was developed and used by immigrant workers on the sugar plantations as a way of communicating amongst themselves so that the “lunas” or those in charge could not understand. It has evolved over the generations into its own combination of slang words and accent. It takes some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy to understand. However, this does not mean that you should attempt to imitate this style of speech. Coming from the mouth of someone not born and raised around this dialect, it sounds foolish and can make you the subject of ridicule by the locals.

7. When visiting someone’s home, there is certain protocol to follow. You should always bring a hostess gift, such as a bottle of wine or a food contribution to the meal, but never offer moneyâÂ?¦it’s rude. It is absolutely, positively not acceptable to walk into the home wearing shoes unless your host specifically states that it is okay. Take your cue from the front door, if there are shoes outside, remove yours before entering the house.

8. Speaking of shoes, the rubble sandals, or flip-flops as they are called on the mainland, are referred to as slippers (or slippahs, if you want to use some of that pidgin I mentioned!) in Hawaii. This is not to be confused with those fuzzy bunny slippers you may wear around the house�those are called bedroom or house slippers.

9. When addressing the different ethnicities of people living in Hawaii, it is best to play it safe and not label them. For example, Japanese people become angry when they are referred to as Chinese or Korean. Hawaiians tend to become enraged if you refer to them as anything but Hawaiian. Filipinos do not appreciate being called MexicanâÂ?¦you get the idea. It is insulting to their sense of ethnic pride and identity to be mislabeled, so to avoid confrontation it is best to stay away from ethnic labels if possible. Just remember to be respectful to other people’s cultures. Also, do not be surprised if you are asked, “What are you?”, or “What’s your nats?”, when you arrive. This is not a question motivated by malicious intent, but by curiosity. Local people simply like to gain a sense of who you are and where you’ve come from, and identifying your ethnicity is the way they begin this process.

10. Perhaps one of the most shocking things you will encounter when relocating or vacationing in Hawaii is the cost of just about everything on the island. Everything from the elevated cost of menu items at chain restaurants like McDonalds, to clothing, toiletries, and grocery store food items. Expect inflated rates from what you are accustomed to. It was difficult not to have a heart attack the first time I went grocery shopping in Hawaii. It was definitely a shock to consider spending $8 on a box of cereal.

11. In addition to all of those expensive necessities, the cost of housing is also inflated. Hawaii unfortunately boasts one of the highest median home prices in the nation, and is currently a hot topic of discord among residents and lawmakers. You can also expect a difficult to navigate rental market, since the housing market is tight. Checking sites like apartments.com, Craigslist.com, and the HonoluluAdvertiser.com will give you a good start in finding a place.

12. When looking for a place to go out and socialize, Waikiki is a safe bet when you first arrive. There are plenty of restaurants, nightclubs, stores, and bars in this area. Since Waikiki is so highly saturated with tourists, believe it or not it is a pretty safe area to frequent during the daytime and early evening, as you are always surrounded by people. However, as the evening grows later, many of these people are tucked away for the night in their hotels and the streets become empty. This is the time to be cautious, so do not travel alone.

So there you have it, a brief outline of some of the things to expect when relocating to Hawaii or vacationing in Hawaii. It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of things, it is a beautiful place to live or visit.