The Hawaiian population sits at 1.4 million residents, and only ten percent of those residents are native Hawaiians – meaning anyone who can trace their roots back to the earliest Hawaiian residents. The other 90 percent of the population are referred to as locals, but you don’t automatically become a local the moment you move to Hawaii. And while there is no official test to determine your local status – like there is for residency – there are a few things all Hawaii locals have done at least once.
- Left the house without shoes - without realizing it.
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr It’s just so easy to forget…
- Eaten shave ice - with ice cream and sweetened condensed milk, of course.
Joey Rozier/Flickr Shave ice is the perfect treat to cool off with after a grueling hike or day at the beach.
- Complained about being cold when it’s 72 degrees out.
Royce Bair/Flickr We’ve all done it, even if we originally hail from the frozen tundra that is the American Midwest.
- Given away fruits or veggie from your yard - or accepted them from someone else.
Tracey Adams/Flickr After all, there’s no way you would be able to eat all those mangoes on your own.
- Worn a flower in your hair.
Christopher Porter/Flickr Bonus points if you picked up the flower from the ground.
- Had to string a lei at the last minute.
Joel/Flickr It’s an essential life skill to have.
- Be known for one ono potluck dish.
_e.t./Flickr Mine? Pasta salad.
- Taken a road trip, just by opting for the scenic route to your destination.
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr While we can’t go on traditional road trips, we can take the long way to our favorite beach and call it one.
- Had a ukulele jam session.
Philip Hay/Flickr Preferably on the beach, of course.
- Grabbed spam musubi from your local 7-11.
Ken-Ichi Ueda/Flickr Because you haven’t truly experienced musubi until you’ve grabbed it from your local 7-11.
11.Thrown a shaka.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr Everyone has thrown a shaka in a photograph: the real test comes while driving.
- Consumed noodles from a different country every day of the week
Prayitno/Flickr There are just so many options: Ramen, Saimin, Pho, Hawaiian Mac Salad…
- Owned a poi dog - or have a family member that does.
Hawaiian Humane Society/Facebook Though the term has a long history, today, it is commonly used to describe any sort of mixed breed dog.
- Had a craving for raw fish.
Katarina/Flickrr You can never have too much poke.
- Owned a pair of dressy slippers.
Jenswanson/Flickr And you’ve worn them to what would be a fancy event on the mainland - like a wedding or important work function.
- Hoarded rice, water, and toilet paper during hurricane season.
Chie Gondo/Flickr You can never have too much water or rice in the house - especially when the islands’ are being threatened with hurricanes every week.
- Called anyone older than you aunty or uncle.
University of Hawaiii - West Oahu/Flickr Calling anyone older than you aunty or uncle is a sign of respect, but also a beautiful nod to the idea that we are all ohana.
What else would you add to this list? We’d also like to think that all Hawaii locals have done these 11 weird things, and also know these 17 words and phrases.
Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr
It’s just so easy to forget…
Joey Rozier/Flickr
Shave ice is the perfect treat to cool off with after a grueling hike or day at the beach.
Royce Bair/Flickr
We’ve all done it, even if we originally hail from the frozen tundra that is the American Midwest.
Tracey Adams/Flickr
After all, there’s no way you would be able to eat all those mangoes on your own.
Christopher Porter/Flickr
Bonus points if you picked up the flower from the ground.
Joel/Flickr
It’s an essential life skill to have.
_e.t./Flickr
Mine? Pasta salad.
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr
While we can’t go on traditional road trips, we can take the long way to our favorite beach and call it one.
Philip Hay/Flickr
Preferably on the beach, of course.
Ken-Ichi Ueda/Flickr
Because you haven’t truly experienced musubi until you’ve grabbed it from your local 7-11.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr
Everyone has thrown a shaka in a photograph: the real test comes while driving.
Prayitno/Flickr
There are just so many options: Ramen, Saimin, Pho, Hawaiian Mac Salad…
Hawaiian Humane Society/Facebook
Though the term has a long history, today, it is commonly used to describe any sort of mixed breed dog.
Katarina/Flickrr
You can never have too much poke.
Jenswanson/Flickr
And you’ve worn them to what would be a fancy event on the mainland - like a wedding or important work function.
Chie Gondo/Flickr
You can never have too much water or rice in the house - especially when the islands’ are being threatened with hurricanes every week.
University of Hawaiii - West Oahu/Flickr
Calling anyone older than you aunty or uncle is a sign of respect, but also a beautiful nod to the idea that we are all ohana.
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