Customs and Etiquette in Hawaii - For Visitors From The "mainland"

For Visitors From The "mainland"

• (This is a big one.) It is considered rude and very ignorant to visit Hawaiʻi with the idea that everyone lives in huts and wears grass skirts and coconut bras. Although there are some regional differences, the vast majority of people in Hawaii generally wear American-style clothing and live in standard American-style houses.
• Depending on the audience, it may be deemed impolite to refer to the U.S. mainland as "the States" or to otherwise imply that Hawaiʻi is not part of the U.S. Asking, "Do you accept American money?" or "How do you like the United States?" would be considered rude and ignorant.
• It is rude to refer to the locals as "natives" or "Hawaiians". Only native Hawaiians should be called "Hawaiians." Native Hawaiians, especially those involved in the sovereignty movement, often refer to themselves as "kanaka maoli" or "poʻe ʻōiwi." Non-Hawaiians who were born on the islands are generally referred to as "locals" to distinguish them from the native Hawaiians (or simply the Hawaiians). Print media and local residents recommend that one refer to non-Hawaiians as "locals of Hawaii" or "people of Hawaii". In daily speech, few people use these words; generally they refer to themselves in passing as "from Hawaii." Never will someone who was born and raised in Hawaii but is not of full or part-native Hawaiian ethnicity ever refer to themselves as native Hawaiian or even Hawaiian. They will simply name their actual ethnicities (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Caucasian, etc.). Most people in Hawaii are of mixed ethnicities.
• Unless fluent, one should not attempt to speak pidgin English. The pidgin used varies greatly by location with true forms following the grammatical rules of Hawaiian. Vocabulary will include heavy Hawaiian, Japanese and Filipino influences, amongst others. Some locals believe that if a non-local attempts to speak pidgin, it is equivalent to trying to speak with any other regional U.S. accent (such as a Southern accent), thus mocking their way of speaking. Also it is offensive to assume that a Hawaii resident can only speak/comprehend pidgin and cannot speak/comprehend Standard English.
• If you are living or visiting on Oʻahu, do not refer to the other Hawaiian islands as "outer" islands. Locals typically refer to them as the "neighbor" islands.
• If you are "white", do not be upset if someone calls you a haole. The Hawaiian words "ha ole" means "stranger." The term usually used for Caucasians "mainlanders" in general. As with other languages, you can make general distinctions by the tone of voice used. Thus, "howzit, haole boy?" has a different connotation than "eh, stupid haole." For some locals, it is seen as a politer option to "White" or "Caucasian."

• People of Portuguese descent may be offended if you refer to them as "haole", even though they themselves are Caucasian. The Portuguese have a long history in Hawaiʻi and share a common labor history with Chinese, Filipino, and people from other non-Caucasian backgrounds. Also, many Portuguese people in Hawaii behave in the local custom and embody local values than those of other Caucasian descent; Portuguese influence is prominent in the fusion cuisine and pidgin communication of Hawai'i. At the same time, however, one should not assume that every white person who "acts local" (speaking pidgin, wearing "rubbah slippahs," etc.) is Portuguese.
• The indigenous Hawaiian form of luʻau is something seen most frequently as a tourist event, as opposed to a regular occurrence in local culture. Some exceptions apply, such as the above mentioned "baby's first birthday" or weddings. The local lu'au has evolved more into a potluck. A lu'au is always set up as a buffet. Some aspects of the lu'au, such as traditional Hawaiian foods, or roast pig cooked in an imu remain, but for local get-together are most often provided through catering services rather than individual family activities. More traditional rural families on the neighbor islands, especially Kauai, Molokai, and Hawaii, will prepare the food themselves using help from their extended families. The extended family, family friends (usually family friendships that are multi-generational) and neighbors will provide pupu or appetizers for a separate "pupu line." In most cases, pupu is actually a euphemism for local delicacies that are provided in such abundance as to rival the actual main buffet line, the only difference being the absence of rice or poi (starches) on the "pupu line."
• Always malama ka ʻaina or in other words, take care of the land. Respect the local beaches and land by cleaning up your opala (trash) and take care to not upset any native species such as the Hawaiian green sea turtles, monk seals and coral reefs. It is best to leave items such as rocks shells, sea creatures etc., where you found them to make sure all who visit can enjoy our natural resources. When visiting the Big Island, it is important to not take any black sand or lava rock, as it is said to anger Pele, a Hawaiian goddess.