When anyone discovers you are from Hawaii or even live on the islands, they always have a ton of questions to ask. It might be because they are jealous, or maybe it’s because Hawaii is so far away from the mainland that all they really know is what they see on postcards or on Hawaii Five-O. Either way, here are 14 questions people always ask when they know you live in Hawaii as well as our answers. Be warned, though: many of these questions are a little bit, well, ridiculous.

1. Do you surf?
Andreas Winter/Flickr
There are many people in Hawaii who are obsessed with surfing, but there are also those who’ve never had the desire to try. Either way, you can't deny the impact surfing has made on Hawaii's culture throughout the decades.
2. You go to the beach like every day, right?
LASZLO ILYES/Flickr
Yep, because none of us have jobs or other responsibilities and we can spend all day, every day at the beach. If only…
3. How can you afford to live in Hawaii?
Mark Dollner/Flickr
Hawaii has one of the highest costs of living in the country — and we need to work our butts off just to afford the cost of paradise. It’s hard work, but we do it because we love Hawaii and can't see ourselves living anywhere else.
4. So, you live in Honolulu, right?
Edmund Garman/Flickr
Believe it or not, there are people out there who aren’t aware that there are islands other than Oahu, or Maui, or whatever island they've heard about before.
5. Do I need a passport to visit Hawaii?
John Bauder/Fliickr
Seriously? You know that Hawaii is an American state, right? I'm baffled as to how this is such a common misconception...
6. Did you know that you pronounce Hawaii funny?
Ken Lund/Flickr
Um… We live here and know how to pronounce it. I think you’re the one who’s saying it funny.
7. Does “Ohana” really mean family?
Sam Howzit/Flickr
Yes, it does, actually. Do you get all your knowledge from Disney movies?

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8. Speaking of language, what does [insert Hawaiian word here] mean?
Jasperdo/Flickr
We’ll tell you what a certain word means if you ask, but I’m sure you can figure out that Mahalo means thank you from the context alone.
9. Why do you call them slippers instead of flip-flops?
Emily Mocarski/Flickr
First of all, it’s slippahs, not slippers, and that’s just the way it is here. It's not like we would ever wear what mainlanders call slippers, anyways.
10. What’s that funny hand signal you keep using?
Hawaii Air National Guard/Flickr
Oh, you mean the shaka? Though it was primarily used by surfers and meant "hang loose," it is also used to convey aloha, and is often used on the road to communicate gratitude to other drivers, or while hiking, or walking down the street, or in photos...
11. Do you play the ukulele and dance the hula?
Simon Law/Flickr
Some people do, some people don’t. It’s not exactly a requirement to live on the islands.
12. Isn’t shave ice just a snow cone?
Steve Depolo/Flickr
Absolutely not. Shave ice has a finer consistency and the exotic flavors don’t run off the ice.
13. Do you live in a grass hut?
Selbe Lynn/Flickr
No, we live in normal houses, like everyone else in America. We even have internet and electricity, too!
14. Why would you ever want to leave Hawaii?
Paul Viaduchick/Flickr
Believe it or not, we do like going on vacations as much as the next person, and island fever is real.

Which of these questions do you get most often? What other questions do people ask when they find out you live in Hawaii? We’re hoping those who don’t live in Hawaii know enough not to ask these 11 absolutely ridiculous questions. Speaking of outsiders, here are 12 Lessons The Rest Of The Country Could Learn From Hawaii.

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Misconceptions About Hawaii

Megan Shute | August 17, 2020

What are some of the most common misconceptions people have about Hawaii?

Because the Hawaiian Islands are so removed from the rest of the world — after all, the Aloha State is the most isolated population center in the entire world — many people have misconceptions about the people who live here and the islands themselves. Contrary to popular belief, people from Hawaii do more than surf, spend time at the beach drinking Mai Tais, and playing the ukulele in our Hawaiian shirts. For specific examples, you might want to read about the 10 Stereotypes About Hawaii That Need To Be Put To Rest Right Now.

What makes life in Hawaii so unique? 

Life in Hawaii is a little different than the rest of the country, and that’s the way we like it. Across the Hawaiian Islands, life is a little slower, and we choose to embody the Aloha Spirit in everything we do. Hawaii is a magical place to live or visit, but if you’re planning a move to these beautiful islands, there are a few things you should know. Without further ado, here are 17 Things No One Tells You About Living In Hawaii — from the all-encompassing Aloha Spirit and unbelievable views to the realities of island fever, sun guilt, and Honolulu traffic.

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