Hawaii Vacation Guide System

Hawaii Fun Facts

Capital: Honolulu (on Oahu)

State abbreviation/Postal code: Hawaii/HI

Governor: Neil Abercrombie, D (to Dec. 2014)

Lieut. Governor: Brian Schatz, D (to Dec. 2014)

Senators: Daniel K. Akaka, D (to Jan. 2013); Daniel K. Inouye, D (to Jan. 2017)

U.S. Representatives: 2

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Atty. General: David M. Louie, D (appt'd. by gov.)

Organized as territory: 1900

Entered Union (rank): Aug. 21, 1959 (50)

Motto: Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

State symbols:

flower	hibiscus (yellow) (1988)
song	“Hawaii Ponoi” (1967)
bird	nene (Hawaiian goose) (1957)
tree	kukui (candlenut) (1959)

Nickname: Aloha State (1959)

Origin of name: Uncertain. The islands may have been named by Hawaii Loa, their traditional discoverer. Or they may have been named after Hawaii or Hawaiki, the traditional home of the Polynesians.

10 largest cities¹ (2000): Honolulu, 371,657; Hilo, 40,759; Kailua, 36,513; Kaneohe, 34,970; Waipahu, 33,108; Pearl City, 30,976; Waimalu, 29,371; Mililani Town, 28,608; Kahului, 20,146; Kihei, 16,749

Land area: 6,423 sq mi. (16,637 sq km)

Geographic center: Between islands of Hawaii and Maui

Number of counties: 5 (Kalawao non-functioning)

Largest county by population and area: Honolulu, 905,266 (2005); Hawaii, 4,028 sq mi.

State forests: 19 natural area reserves (over 109,000 ac.)

State park: 52 (25,000 ac.)

Residents: Hawaiian, also kamaaina (native-born nonethnic Hawaiian), malihini (newcomer)

2005 resident population est.: 1,275,194

2000 resident census population (rank): 1,211,537 (42). Male: 608,671 (50.2%); Female: 602,866 (49.8%). White: 294,102 (24.3%); Black: 22,003 (1.8%); American Indian: 3,535 (0.3%); Asian: 503,868 (41.6%); Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 113,539 (9.4%); Other race: 15,147 (1.3%); Two or more races: 259,343 (21.4%); Hispanic/Latino: 87,699 (7.2%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 75.6; 65 and over: 13.3; median age: 36.2.

All the island are the same in some ways: the north and northwest side of the island is where the rain is formed, it then follows the mountain range and dribbles out on the southeast part of the island. The beauty of this is in Hawaii you can pretty much pick your own weather. If you want to see beautiful floral and lots of waterfalls head to the northern part of the Island. If you want the best chance for sunshine head to the south shores. Most of the Islands are not very large so you can get to any part of the Island in a short time.

Lava Rocks- Please do not even think about taking Lava rocks from Hawaii!! NO JOKE!!

Madam Pele (the Fire Godess of Hawaii) will bring you bad luck until you return them.

Website below of Lava rocks returned to Hawaii dated and the reason why. There are piles of lava rocks by each of the post offices in Hawaii, care to guess why?

Return Lava Rock to Hawaii website!!

General customs

• 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. 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.

• It is customary to treat the elderly or kapuna with the utmost respect and deference. To do otherwise is shameful.

• It is a frowned on (and a questionable practice) to speak negatively about others, especially in a public place or work setting.

• Everyone is expected to remove his/her footwear before entering a home or other place of residence (Garages don't count!).

• 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.

• It is considered rude to stare or make excessive eye contact in public places.

• It is a common practice to care for and respect the land and ocean; therefore, a person is never to litter, would clean up completely after a picnic at a park or beach, and would encourage others to do so as well.

• For men in business or professional roles, an aloha shirt and slacks are the norm. Suits and tie are rarely worn.

Visits and gifts

• When visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift (for example, a dessert) for one's host.

• For some families, offers of gifts should (at first) generally be refused in a light-hearted (though not joking) manner. If the gift-giver persists, accept graciously.

• 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. Gifts of special foods unavailable outside the region visited are particularly appropriate.

Driving

• 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."

The birthday luau

• It is customary for Hawai‘i families, regardless of ethnicity, to hold a lū‘au to celebrate a child's first birthday. In Hawaiian culture (and also in Korean culture), the first birthday is considered a major milestone.

Wedding customs

• It is customary for a Japanese-American bride to fold 1,001 paper cranes prior to her wedding for good luck and long life. (The traditional Japanese custom calls for 1,000; people in Hawaii add one more for good luck.)

• At Japanese weddings, it is customary for friends and relatives to offer "banzai" toasts to the bride and groom, wishing them long life.

• It is customary at Hawai'i weddings, especially at Filipino weddings, for the bride and groom to do a "money dance" (also called the pandango). As the bride and groom dance, the guests express their best wishes to the newlyweds with a monetary gift.

For visitors from the "mainland"

• It is considered impolite to refer to the U.S. mainland as "the States" or to otherwise imply that Hawaii 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 also considered boorish to visit Hawaii with the idea that everyone lives in huts and wears grass skirts and coconut bras. Although there are some regional differences, people in Hawaii generally wear American-style clothing and live in standard American-style houses.

• It is rude to refer to the locals as "natives." Only native Hawaiians should be called "Hawaiians." Native Hawaiians, especially those involved in the sovereignty movement, sometimes refer to themselves as "kanaka maoli" or "po'e o'iwi." Non-Hawaiians who were born on the islands are generally referred to as "locals." Print media recommends that one refer to non-Hawaiians as "islanders" or "Hawaii residents." In daily speech, few people use these words.

• Unless fluent, one should not attempt to speak pidgin English.

• Hawaiians take great pride in preserving and maintaining their language; therefore, it is not appropriate to abuse or misuse the Hawaiian language. For example, it would be offensive to some to say something like, "Hey look, I just got lei'd."

• If you are living or visiting on Oahu, do not refer to the other Hawaiian islands as "outer" islands. Refer to them as the "neighbor" islands.

• Never litter or abuse the land or ocean in any way.

• It is "unHawaiian" (and a poor practice) to keep your back to the ocean.

• It is bad luck to take lava rock from the islands.

• It is also bad luck to take pork over the Pali Highway.

• If you are "white", do not be upset if someone calls you a haole. The Hawaiian word "haole" as now used just means "white" or "Caucasian"; it originally meant foreigner. It does not have a negative connotation in itself unless used in a derogatory manner (c.f. paleface). It is wise to pay attention to the speaker's tone of voice rather than the word itself.

"You can get anything you want @ CeeAmerica"