Here Are 12 Things Everyone Needs To Understand Before They Visit Hawaii
By Megan Shute|Published August 14, 2016
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
The Hawaiian Islands are as unique as they are isolated, and there are countless Americans – and foreigners – who save for years just to be able to afford to visit our beautiful islands. But in addition to saving their extra pennies and putting in overtime at work, they should also be doing their homework. Even as an American, traveling to Hawaii can be met with some culture shock, and it is important that tourists understand certain things before their plane lands on Hawaiian soil; here are 12 of those things.
Shocker, only about 10 percent of Hawaii residents are actually Hawaiian and can trace their roots to the islands’ first settlers. The rest are just Hawaii locals.
There are various grassroots organizations and cultural groups who advocate for sovereignty. It is an extremely complicated movement, and, as a transplant, I can’t begin to understand the complexities of these issues.
5. There is a major homelessness epidemic in Honolulu.
It does rain here quite a bit, and there is no way your shorts and tank tops are going to cut it when you head to higher elevation - especially Mauna Kea, which does occasionally get snow in the winter.
In fact, men used to practice the hula in preparation for battle. You can thank Hollywood for the stereotype of women in grass skirts and coconut bras…
The Hawaiian Islands may be full of Aloha spirit, but you aren’t going to experience any of it if you don’t have a little respect for the land and the people who live here.
12. Hawaii is unique in not only its scenery, but its culture; embrace it.
The beautiful Aloha state is perhaps the most unique in the country, and unless you embrace the culture and lifestyle, you’ll never fully enjoy the islands.
