Tips for Hawaii Visitors
How to Dress
Generally only lawyers going to court and emcees at banquets wear a suit and tie here. It’s said a long sleeve t-shirt is formal wear. That’s not really true, but a nice aloha shirt or collared shirt is appropriate for men at any occasion. It’s also okay at a dressy event to wear a collared shirt with a blazer, sans tie. For women, a nice aloha dress or sundress is appropriate.
Pronunciation - Vowels
a - ah - as in hale (house) - hahlay
e - ay - as in kane (man) - kahnay
i - ee - as in ipo (sweetheart) - eepoh
o - oh - as in ono (good) - ohnoh
u - ue - is in pupu (snack) - puepue
Hawaiian/Pidgin Terms
| Getting around | |
|---|---|
| Mauka | Toward the mountains |
| Makai | Toward the sea |
| Ewa | Toward ewa (west) |
| Diamond Head or Koko Head | Toward Diamond Head or Koko head (east) |
Food
| Plate lunch | meal with entrée, two scoops of rice and macaroni or tossed salad |
|---|---|
| Mixed plate | a plate lunch with more than one entrée *A mixed plate at Rainbow Drive on Kapahulu Avenue consists of boneless chicken, teri-beef, and breaded mahi mahi. Get it with extra chili on the rice and a slush float for the real local experience. |
| Pupu | appetizer |
| Poke | Diced raw fish mixed with seaweed (limu), sea salt, and ground kukui nuts (inomona) |
| Shave Ice | A block of ice is “shaved� (never crushed) into a ball with flavored syrup poured over the top |
| Ono | delicious |
Useful Phrases
| Aloha | Hello and good-bye |
|---|---|
| Mahalo | Thank you |
| Howzit | How are you? How is it going? |
| Brah | “bro� or brother, friend |
| E Komo Mai | Welcome |
| Keiki | Children |
| Wahine | Women |
| Kane | Men |
| Ohana | Family |
| Shaka | Greeting using your hand, closed fist with pinkie and thumb extended |
| Kokua | Help or assistance |
| Malihini | Newcomer |
| Wiki Wiki | Fast |
| Pau | Finished or Done |
Diversity by the numbers
| 58: | percentage of Asians in Hawaii |
|---|---|
| 4: | percentage of Asians in the United States |
| 22: | percentage of Native Hawaiians in Hawaii |
| 21: | percentage of people with two or more races in Hawaii |
| 2: | percentage of people with multi racial backgrounds in United States |
| 54: | percentage of mixed race marriages in Hawaii |
| 100: | Number of years since the first Filipino contract workers came to Hawaii |
Childcare
The Sheraton Waikiki offers child care service for a fee for all children between the ages of 5 and 12 who are staying at any Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki. Visit www.sheratonwaikiki.com/act_keiki_aloha.htm for more information.
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