Directory of Hawaii | Hawaiian Beach Vacation

1. When visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift (for example, a dessert) for one’s host.
2. The offering of food is related to the gift-giving culture. The pidgin phrases "Make Plate" or "Take Plate" are common in gatherings of friends or family that follow a pot-luck type format. It is considered good manners to "make plate", literally making a plate of food from the available spread to take home, or "take plate", literally taking a plate the host of the party (or the aunties running the kitchen) has made of the available spread for easy left-overs. It is gracious to take the plate, or make a small plate, even if you don’t intend to eat it. In part, this tradition is related to clean-up, being a good guest by not leaving the mass of left-overs at the party-throwers house and making them alone responsible for clean up. In more recent times, this has also evolved into donating your left-overs to the homeless population, especially if you’re having a get-together at a public park or similar location, as it is likely there is a homeless population living nearby as well.
3. It is considered thoughtful to bring back gifts from a trip for friends and family. Some people use the Japanese name for such gifts, omiyage. Others use the Hawaiian word, "makana". Gifts of special foods unavailable outside the region visited are particularly appropriate.
4. If someone has given you gift items or has done a service for you (helping with a lu’au, family gatherings) without asking for repayment, it is always wise and of good upbringing to at least give them something in return or offer them money. When it comes to money in particular, people play ‘hot potato’ and refuse to accept the money. But the main idea is that you at least offer. Many locals don’t always like to feel as if they’re taking and will always return the favor of giving with giving. When someone outright refuses to accept your donation some locals will make it a personal challenge to make sure this person is repaid by slyly hiding the money in the other person’s belongings and making sure they are out of sight as to not be given anything back. In that case, it is best just to keep the form of repayment and be sure to do something special for the person the next time you see them.

The customary way to welcome or congratulate someone is to present him or her with a lei, a garland of flowers (or other decorative items) strung together and worn around the neck. One puts the lei over the recipient´s head and if the relationship is close, gives the recipient a honihoni or a kiss. Lei are especially appropriate for high school and college graduations, birthdays, etc. Lei are also provided to keynote speakers and dignitaries at public functions (generally anyone with a public title, e.g. politicians, religious leaders, school principals). Children often appreciate candy or money lei. It is considered bad luck to throw a lei away. When the lei is no longer wearable, some people cut the string and cast the individual flowers into the ocean. Others may hang the withering lei somewhere inside or outside the house. A lei is love, and one doesn´t throw away love.

Older people may be called "auntie" or "uncle" by friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers. No blood relationship is implied. While "aunties" and "uncles" are often old family friends, it can also be appropriate to address an elderly stranger as "auntie" or "uncle." This is considered respectful but friendly. The use of formal titles such as "Mr." or "Mrs." feels cold and unfriendly to many island residents, although they are used with warmth for certain individuals in certain situations. Always refer to someone the way others your age refer to them unless that person requests otherwise. The etiquette involved in addressing persons older than you can be rather complex. For example, if you are middle aged and a child addresses an elderly person as "Aunty Ella," refer to that person as "Aunty Ella"; if the child refers to an elderly person as "Grandma" or "Tutu" (Hawaiian for grandparent) and no one refers to that person otherwise as "Aunty Ella," refer to her as "Grandma" or "Tutu." If you refer to her as "Grandma" or "Tutu" and they warmly tell you their name is Ella, immediately refer to them as "Aunty Ella." Always use such honorifics with elderly people older than you. This follows from the central cultural tenet in Hawaii of respect for your elders (based on Hawaiian and Asian cultural norms). Fellow middle aged people who are a few years older than you would much rather you call them by their first name with no honorifics (e.g. Greg). Children and those younger than you are also referred to by their first names; they will refer to you as "uncle" or "auntie."

Everyone is expected to remove his/her footwear before entering a home or other place of residence (Garages don´t count!). Place your footwear nicely by the side of the door as other footwear are placed at that house. Some homes, especially in areas that experience a lot of rain like Hilo have indoor places to put your shoes; take your shoes off outside the door then pick up your shoes when entering and place them where directed.

In most settings (with the exception of sporting events and concerts), it is considered rude to speak loudly or act as if one were entitled to special treatment. Politeness and reserve are considered to show good breeding. Etiquette demands that you be quick to offer an apology in all instances of misunderstanding and that you never talk about yourself at length or make boastful remarks about yourself. If complimented, politely deny that it is true and either deflect the compliment by complimenting another person in the conversation or even the person complimenting you himself. Otherwise end by thanking the person for the compliment after first denying it.

The aboriginal culture of Hawaii is Polynesian. Hawaii represents the northernmost extension of the vast Polynesian triangle of the south and central Pacific Ocean. While traditional Hawaiian culture remains only as vestiges influencing modern Hawaiian society, there are reenactments of the cultural ceremonies and traditions throughout the islands. Some of these cultural influences are strong enough to have affected the culture of the United States at large, including the popularity (in greatly modified form) of luaus and hula.

By road

Hawaii has 4 federal highways: H-1, H-2, H-3, and H-201, all located on Oahu and all part of the Interstate Highway System. With the exception of H-201, which begins and ends on H-1, all the highways have at least one end point at or near a current or former military installation. A system of state highways encircles the other main islands as well as Oahu. Travel can be slow due to narrow winding roads on the coastlines. Travel can be significantly congested during morning and evening commute times in and out of Honolulu, particularly on the leeward side. Be aware that H1 was constructed after Honolulu was well established, and on/off ramps are diverted throughout the city. A good road map is well advised.
* Drivers in Hawaii are generally easy-going and courteous, almost to a fault. In general, one should avoid using his or her car horn except to warn of an imminent accident.

* If someone makes a point of letting you change lanes, turn onto the street from a driveway, or any other act of courtesy, it is polite to give a shaka sign or wave one hand in thanks.

* Do not tailgate or get upset if someone is driving the speed limit in what is typically known as the fast lane. There’s a bumper sticker that you might see around the islands that says: “Slow down. This ain’t the mainland.”

By air

Aviation is an important part of Hawaii’s transportation network, as most interisland travel takes place using commercial airlines. Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, and go! use jets to travel between the larger commercial airports in Honolulu, Lihue, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo, while Island Air and Pacific Wings serve smaller airports. These airlines also provide air freight service between the islands.

By ship or ferry

A ferry linked to TheBus will begin service September of 2007. Fare for TheBoat is $2.00, and it runs from Barber’s Point to Aloha Tower Marketplace daily. It is hoped that linking to TheBus and delivering commuters from Leeward to Honolulu will alleviate traffic.

Norwegian Cruise Lines provides American-flagged passenger cruise service between the islands.

A company called Hawaii Superferry planned to connect the islands with a ferry system capable of transporting vehicles. Service was scheduled to begin in the second half of 2007 with routes from Oahu to Kauai and Maui. However, legal issues over environmental impact statements and protests from residents of Maui and Kauai have left this service currently unavailable.

“Pidgin”

Many residents speak Hawaii Creole English (HCE), often called “pidgin”. The lexicon of HCE derives mainly from English but also has words from Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Portuguese. During the 19th century, there was a great increase in immigration from foreign countries (mainly China, Japan, Portugal—especially from the Azores archipelago—and Spain), and a pidgin English developed which by the early 20th century became a creole English, as pidgin speakers had children who acquired the pidgin as their own native language.

HCE speakers can use some Hawaiian words without those words being considered archaic. Most place names are retained from Hawaiian, as are some names for plants or animals. For example, tuna fish are often called “ahi” (ʻahi). HCE speakers have modified the meanings of certain English words. For example, the terms “auntie” and “uncle” can be used to refer to any adult who is a friend, or a friend to the family. It is also used as a sign of respect for elders. Throughout the surfing boom in Hawaii, HCE has influenced surfer slang. Some HCE expressions, such as brah and da kine, have found their way to other places.

Certain words can be dropped if their meaning is implicit. For example, instead of saying “It is hot today, isn’t it?”, an HCE speaker is likely to say simply “stay hot, ah?”