As the most isolated population center on the entire planet, the Hawaiian Islands are incredibly unique in everything from our scenery and land formations to our culture and common quirks. And while not everyone is the same, there are a few habits most Hawaii locals share that prove you can never take the Hawaii out of the local, no matter how hard you try or how long ago you moved to the mainland from the islands.
- You will always struggle deciding which beach to go to.
Chiara Switzer/Flickr We can’t simply just go to the closest beach, because we’re never very far from any particular beach. We will also spend a great deal of time checking current surf conditions at any beach we are actually considering.
- You refuse to use your car horn.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr It not only disturbs the peace, but it’s just plain rude. Have some Aloha spirit, man.
- You will always choose shave ice over ice cream…
bionicgrrl/Flickr Ah, Shave Ice: the quintessential Hawaiian treat, the perfect snack for a quick sugar rush after a day spent in the ocean. Who in their right mind would chose boring ice cream over shave ice? Unless your shave ice is served on top of ice cream… which is delicious.
- …and malasadas over traditional doughnuts.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr Is there really any competition? Malasadas – fluffy Portuguese doughnuts without a hole – are wildly popular throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and way better than doughnuts, at least if you ask a “normal” Hawaii local. A crispy golden brown exterior gives way to a soft and chewy inside in flavors like cinnamon sugar; some malasadas are even filled with custard, haupia, lilikoi, and guava.
- You wear a sweater and jeans when the temperature drops below 70.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr When you’re used to sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 85 degrees, anything colder makes you feel as though you’re going to freeze… even if you once called the frozen tundra that is the American Midwest home.
- You’ve been seen throwing shakas… all the time.
Paka/Flickr You’ve been seen throwing a shaka in traffic, while crossing the street, and in most of your hiking photographs. Funny story: I once gave someone a shaka for letting me cross the road while visiting Minnesota. Their face was one of disbelief and concern that I was throwing a gang sign at them.
- You will always defend the miracle that is Spam.
B D T/Flickr This quintessential canned ham product manufactured in Minnesota was introduced to the islands during the 1940s, and has become a wildly popular staple food across the islands. Spam musubi, anyone?
- You plan your entire day around “rush hour,” if you live on Oahu that is.
rugen/Flickr Traffic in the Honolulu metropolitan area is the second worst in the country, second only to Los Angeles. It only makes sense that we plan our lives around not being stuck in traffic on H-1 East between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., or going west between 3 and 7 p.m.
- You experience sun guilt on occasion…
James Huckaby/Flickr Sometimes, you need to recharge by binge watching Netflix all day, but that can be hard when you feel guilty for not enjoying the weather and taking advantage of Hawaii’s beautiful landscape.
- …as well as island fever.
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com Sometimes, when we spend too much time without leaving Hawaii, we get island fever – either the islands feel too small, or we just need to get away and be able to drive more than a few hours without hitting the ocean.
- You will complain about tour guide duties, and then love every minute of it.
Richard Sue/Flickr No one likes the idea of hiking Diamond Head, fighting for space at Hawaii’s most popular beaches, or waking up to watch the sunrise over Haleakala, but once you’re doing it, you are instantly reminded of how incredible Hawaii truly is.
- You aren’t fond of using traditional cardinal directions.
Ken Lund/Flickr Instead, we use mauka, meaning “towards the mountain” and makai, meaning “towards the sea.” And honestly, our directions are much simpler. Who actually knows which direction east is without pausing a second to think about it anyways?
- You hug everyone you meet upon saying goodbye.
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr It might be the Aloha spirit, but hugging is common - even if you just met someone. Mainlanders get pretty freaked out about it, though.
- You will always refer to flip-flops as slippers, or even better, slippahs.
jenswanson/Flickr We know best — since all we own are slippers (and maybe a pair of hiking boots).
- You have more aunties, uncles, and cousins than you can possibly count.
Airman Magazine/Flickr In Hawaii, everyone is Ohana, even if you may not be related by blood.
To people from Hawaii, these things seem normal, but many outsiders struggle to make sense of the cultural differences when they visit here on vacation, or even when they move here. What other weird habits have you picked up while living in Hawaii?
Chiara Switzer/Flickr
We can’t simply just go to the closest beach, because we’re never very far from any particular beach. We will also spend a great deal of time checking current surf conditions at any beach we are actually considering.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
It not only disturbs the peace, but it’s just plain rude. Have some Aloha spirit, man.
bionicgrrl/Flickr
Ah, Shave Ice: the quintessential Hawaiian treat, the perfect snack for a quick sugar rush after a day spent in the ocean. Who in their right mind would chose boring ice cream over shave ice? Unless your shave ice is served on top of ice cream… which is delicious.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
Is there really any competition? Malasadas – fluffy Portuguese doughnuts without a hole – are wildly popular throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and way better than doughnuts, at least if you ask a “normal” Hawaii local. A crispy golden brown exterior gives way to a soft and chewy inside in flavors like cinnamon sugar; some malasadas are even filled with custard, haupia, lilikoi, and guava.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr
When you’re used to sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 85 degrees, anything colder makes you feel as though you’re going to freeze… even if you once called the frozen tundra that is the American Midwest home.
Paka/Flickr
You’ve been seen throwing a shaka in traffic, while crossing the street, and in most of your hiking photographs. Funny story: I once gave someone a shaka for letting me cross the road while visiting Minnesota. Their face was one of disbelief and concern that I was throwing a gang sign at them.
B D T/Flickr
This quintessential canned ham product manufactured in Minnesota was introduced to the islands during the 1940s, and has become a wildly popular staple food across the islands. Spam musubi, anyone?
rugen/Flickr
Traffic in the Honolulu metropolitan area is the second worst in the country, second only to Los Angeles. It only makes sense that we plan our lives around not being stuck in traffic on H-1 East between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., or going west between 3 and 7 p.m.
James Huckaby/Flickr
Sometimes, you need to recharge by binge watching Netflix all day, but that can be hard when you feel guilty for not enjoying the weather and taking advantage of Hawaii’s beautiful landscape.
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Sometimes, when we spend too much time without leaving Hawaii, we get island fever – either the islands feel too small, or we just need to get away and be able to drive more than a few hours without hitting the ocean.
Richard Sue/Flickr
No one likes the idea of hiking Diamond Head, fighting for space at Hawaii’s most popular beaches, or waking up to watch the sunrise over Haleakala, but once you’re doing it, you are instantly reminded of how incredible Hawaii truly is.
Ken Lund/Flickr
Instead, we use mauka, meaning “towards the mountain” and makai, meaning “towards the sea.” And honestly, our directions are much simpler. Who actually knows which direction east is without pausing a second to think about it anyways?
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr
It might be the Aloha spirit, but hugging is common - even if you just met someone. Mainlanders get pretty freaked out about it, though.
jenswanson/Flickr
We know best — since all we own are slippers (and maybe a pair of hiking boots).
Airman Magazine/Flickr
In Hawaii, everyone is Ohana, even if you may not be related by blood.
Have you experienced these 20 frustrating things about living in Hawaii?
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