Whenever you think of Hawaii, there are certain things that come to mind even if you've never stepped foot onto one of the islands. Listed below are 16 things associated with Hawaii that you should already be familiar with. Some of these things related to Hawaii might even surprise you.
1) Gorgeous beaches with turquoise water and fine sand between your toes.
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 people from Hawaii share that we will defend endlessly - because backing into your parking stall is just easier, okay? Without further ado, here are 11 things folks who've been living in Hawaii for a while do that might make people from other states tilt their head and ask, "why?"
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1. People from Hawaii struggle to decide which beach to visit.
There are just too many breathtaking beaches to choose from! 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.
2. We pay very little attention to weather forecasts. After all, the weather never changes too much.
Oh, it might rain today? Yeah, that’s every day, but it will only rain for ten minutes, and then become perfectly sunny again. Alternatively, you will experience sideways rain that only gets water on half of your vehicle while it appears as though there isn't a single cloud in the sky.
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3. People from Hawaii put on a sweater when the weather drops below 75 degrees.
Whether you were born in Hawaii or have lived here for only a year or two, you quickly get used to beautiful weather and anytime the temperature dips below 75 degrees, you'll pull out a sweater or blanket.
4. People from Hawaii have distinct preferences when it comes to sweets.
We prefer shave ice over ice cream, and malasadas over traditional doughnuts. And you can’t forget about the ice cream mochi… Mhmm, Bubbie’s.
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5. People from Hawaii don’t use traditional words when giving directions — we use “mauka,” or toward the mountains and “makai,” meaning towards the sea.
We also have alternative names for many roads, and we give directions based on landmarks rather than addresses. I remember driving to a hike once and the Yelp reviews told us to "turn right, and park on the side of the road next to the 11th light pole." Sure enough, there was the entrance to the hike.
6. Hawaii locals will rave about the deliciousness that is spam musubi, Portuguese sausage, and the loco moco while mainlanders have no idea what we're talking about.
I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant the first time my co-worker brought me a loco moco for lunch, but the moment I tried it, I was hooked. It’s too indulgent to eat too often, but it is absolutely amazing.
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7. We call the 48 contiguous states the mainland. And we’ll get weird looks from those who live, well, on the mainland.
8. Many people from Hawaii are excited about Nov. 1 for one reason: Daylight Savings Time, which means that we are only two hours behind the west coast, rather than three.
Anyone who has family on the mainland, or who does business with those on the mainland, or even those who love television and sports, is pretty excited. We know it’s silly, but the less time difference, the better — am I right?
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9. For those who live on Oahu, we plan all of our afternoon activities around rush hour so we won’t have to be on H-1 headed west between 3 and 7 p.m.
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.
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. I guess you could say we wear our roots out in the open. What are other strange things about Hawaii that you have noticed that other people find extremely weird? Share your thoughts in the comments below, then check out "You're Not A True Hawaii Local Unless You Understand These 19 Words."
From musicians and authors to actors, surfers, and even a U.S. President, many individuals born in Hawaii have gone on to accomplish great things. This beautiful state is much more than epic scenery, outstanding beaches, and friendly people. Hawaii is the birthplace of many fascinating and interesting individuals! If you are just about ready to pack your bags for Hawaii but need a little more inspiration, here are 13 famous people from Hawaii that you need to know more about:
The first American president to be born in Hawaii, Barack Obama graduated from the prestigious Punahou School. He is probably the biggest of all the Hawaiian celebrities.
Born into a musical family in the heart of Waikiki, Bruno performed with his family’s band and became known for his Elvis impersonation. Keep this fact for some Hawaii trivia to spout!
Born and raised on Oahu’s North Shore, musician Jack Johnson still lives there with his wife and two children – and somehow finds time to give back to the community. He’s one of the most beloved famous people from Hawaii!
A professional surfer who lost her arm in a 2003 shark attack, Bethany was born on Kauai, and still lives there now. She’s an absolute legend in the surfing world.
Of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame, actress Lauren Graham was born on March 16, 1967, in Honolulu, and moved to Virginia when she was five. Definitely one of the fun facts about Hawaii!
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii while her Australian parents were in the United States on educational visas, Nicole has become a wildly popular actress. Many people don’t know that she's one of the most famous people born in Hawaii.
This star won the 1999 Hawaii Model of the Year Award before becoming famous for his role as Khal Drogo in the HBO hit, Game of Thrones. We’re not surprised he won Model of the Year first!
Of Samoan descent, Mariota was born in Honolulu and was the first University of Oregon football player and Hawaii native to win the Heisman Trophy. He has played for several NFL teams and is now on the Philadelphia Eagles. We’re proud to have him as Hawaii-born!
Born in Honolulu, Bette began her career in a series of off-off-Broadway plays. She has since sold more than 30 million records worldwide and won three Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. She’s one of the most famous people from Hawaii!
Credited with more than 30 children’s books, Lois Lowry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii during her father’s – an Army officer and dentist – tour to the island. We love her books to this day - The Giver is especially great!
Best known for her title role in The CW spinoff series Nikita, Maggie grew up in Millilani, and moved off-island when she graduated from high school. She’s one of the celebrities who lived in Hawaii for a long time before leaving.
This football star pops up again and again on lists of famous people born in Hawaii, but it's hard to justify adding him to my list. I’ve met him several times as a friend of a friend, not a football star. A great down-to-Earth guy that we’re lucky to have from Hawaii!
So, please share, which of these famous people from Hawaii would you most like to meet? Do you know any other Hawaiian celebrities? Let us know in the comments!
