15 Hawaii Quirks That Set Us Apart From The Rest

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 obviously, not everyone is the same, there are a few quirky habits that set Hawaii locals apart from other Americans.

Before we dive in, I wanted to thank our fans on our Only In Hawaii Facebook page for helping us with this article by sharing their opinions on what makes Hawaii locals weird. Now, without further ado, here are 15 of the most common shared habits that might elicit some strange looks from our friends on the mainland.

1. Refuse to wear shoes in the house.

How dare you wear your shoes in someone else's home. Just don’t do it — unless your host says it’s alright. Also, they’re called slippers, not flip-flops.

2. Bundle up with the temperature dips below 70 degrees.

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. Why not bundle up in one of our cozy Hawaii Roots sweatshirts, available here?

3. Call anyone older than you auntie or uncle.

In Hawaii, everyone is Ohana, even if you may not be related by blood.

4. Do not get alarmed to see chickens and roosters in public places.

It’s just a part of life in Hawaii. It’s also not uncommon to see birds flying around stores.

5. Business owners often keep extremely flexible hours, and we all understand.

How can you be expected to keep to a schedule when the ocean is beckoning you?

6. Routinely grab food from gas stations, especially spam musubi from 7-11.

Who needs expensive food when you can get cheap musubi from your local 7-11?

7. Back into parking stalls.

Not only does it make it easier to leave later, it's kinda... fun.

8. Use the word "shishi" when referring to urination.

This might be the "weirdest"quirk on this list, and one of the hardest habits to break.

9. We will always refer to directions using "mauka," or toward the mountains and "makai," meaning towards the sea.

It is also common to use the terms "Ewa" and "Diamond Head" when giving directions on Oahu.

10. Eat rice with every meal.

See, also: this breakfast staple served at Hawaii McDonald's.

11. Refuse to use our car horn while driving.

It's just plain rude, and we don't do it.

12. Install slated glass windows, or jalousies, in most homes.

Anyone you ask will tell you that it helps with air flow. And in Hawaii, where we love keeping the windows open as much as possible, this is important to us.

13. When packing for a trip, you leave room for da snacks. And you always bring special Hawaiian foods with you to share at your destination.

You can guarantee that every time I leave Hawaii, I pack my suitcase full of local coffee and macadamia nuts on the way to the mainland, and with other goodies on the way back.

14. Welcome geckos into your home with open arms.

Not only are geckos adorable, but they eat up all of those unwanted bugs that somehow make their way into your home - despite how often you clean your house.

15. Eat li hing mui on a variety of foods — including gummy bears and pineapple.

All we can say is... Yummmm!

How many of these weird things do you do? For more great content on what it means to be a Hawaii local, check out these 17 things all Hawaii locals have done at least once.