14 Foolproof Ways To Make Someone From Hawaii Cringe
By Megan Shute|Updated on June 29, 2023(Originally published June 28, 2023)
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Though it is true that Hawaii is one of the least stressed states in the country, and the islands’ residents spread the love and Aloha wherever they go, locals do occasionally lose our cool, laid-back style – and there are certainly countless ways to annoy or disrespect Hawaii locals. From minor annoyances like using your car horn and eating Hawaiian pizza to massive errors like disturbing sea life and making uncalled-for comments about the homeless population, here are 14 ways to annoy people from Hawaii – or at least several things you should not say in Hawaii.
I’m sorry, but anyone who is from Hawaii knows how to pronounce it correctly. You’re the one who can’t pronounce it correctly, but we don't blame you for that.
Tourists have this nasty habit of slowing down to take photographs while they are driving and they often like to use their car horn, which is just something you aren’t supposed to do — unless a local is angry at said tourist for stopping in the middle of the road, obviously.
"No, I am not a Hawaiian, nor will I ever be." Hawaiians are a race and only those who can trace their roots back to the islands’ original Polynesian settlers. In fact, only about 10 percent of people from Hawaii are native Hawaiians; everyone else is a Hawaii resident or local.
The Hawaiian Islands are home to approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline and hundreds of individual beaches. If you don’t like the beach, why are you even here?
News flash: Hawaiian pizza wasn't invented in Hawaii. Also, there really is nothing Hawaiian about Hawaiian pizza – except for the pineapples, I guess.
How dare you wear your shoes into someone else's home. Just don’t do it - unless your host says it’s alright. Also, they’re called slippers, not flip-flops.
Touching or harassing an endangered green sea turtle could result in up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $2,000. They are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Just give the sea turtles and monk seals some space, please.
10. Joking about how you would sleep on the beach if it meant living in Hawaii.
Homelessness is a major problem in Hawaii - so please don’t expect any laughs. Hawaii has the third largest homeless population per capita in the country; an estimated 6,400 residents are homeless, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Since the year 2000, the homeless population in Hawaii has increased by 61 percent, and while many once lived on the beaches 24/7, these individuals have since been driven into local neighborhoods, especially on Oahu.
There is a reason Hawaii is home to some of the cleanest beaches in the country - because we view littering as an extremely awful offense. Please respect Mother Nature, and our mission to keep Hawaii beautiful.
Warning signs are posted throughout Hawaii for a reason, but unfortunately, there are many tourists who don’t heed these cautions – especially when it comes to the ocean. Always check the surf report and read all posted signs so you know what to expect at a certain beach. Trust us, you’ll be a lot safer.
While you may think grabbing a lava rock or filling a small tube with sand is an awesome souvenir, it is extremely bad luck to do so. Nobody wants to deal with the wrath of Pele.
14. Console us with "but you live in Hawaii" whenever we have problems, or just need to complain.
Just because we live in a tropical island setting that so many tourists visit each year, doesn’t mean we get to live like we’re on a constant, never-ending vacation. Living in Hawaii does not mean we are immune from the stresses and problems of modern-day life.
Which of these 14 ways to annoy people from Hawaii makes you cringe the most? Are there any others you would add to this list?
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Ways To Annoy People From Hawaii
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What is living in Hawaii like?
The phrase “Lucky we live in Hawaii” gets tossed around a lot, but it’s how many who live there feel. With year-round tropical climate, endless outdoor recreational opportunities, 750 miles of coastline, mountains, volcanoes, plenty of waterfalls, views you need to see to believe, and frequent rainbow sightings, what’s not to love? However, living in Hawaii does have its downsides like a high cost of living, the fact that it’s third in the nation for homelessness, bad traffic in some areas, and the risk of experiencing island fever in a state that’s isolated from the rest of the world. But people still live here and feel lucky for it.
What are some Hawaii stereotypes?
Surely you’ve heard of some Aloha State stereotypes like the love for Spam. This canned ham product has become a staple of the decades and can be found in many homes and restaurants. You may have also learned about how laid-back the locals are and how many live on island time, which is true in many cases. You can learn more about Hawaii stereotypes in our previous coverage.
Do Hawaiians have any strange habits?
Hawaii is quite an isolated state and, over time, people have developed some strange habits that mainlanders will probably never understand like the love of Spam. But aside from that, Hawaiians call their flip flops “slippers” and most own several pairs for different occasions. Slippers are basic and comfortable, which makes them perfect for a place as laid-back as the Aloha State. Another strange habit is the refusal to use car horns because it’s considered rude and disturbs the peaceful nature of the islands.
