Background:

People:                    

The Native Hawai'ian people settled the archipelago from the Marquesas by canoe around 500 AD, eventually settling on every one of the Hawai'ian islands. While much of the traditional way of life was lost after Europeans came to the islands and the monarchy was overthrown by the United States, there is a growing interest in reviving traditional arts and culture.  In the mid 19th century Asian workers began migrating to Hawai'i to work the sugar cane fields.

The breakdown of Hawai'is current population is approximately 25% Japanese; 25% Caucasian, 14% Filipino, 1% Native Hawaiian with the last 35% people of mixed race.

Climate

Hawai'i lies in the tropical North Pacific and enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world. Huge temperature fluctuations are rare and most often the daily high can be the same for weeks on end. Maximum summer temperatures rarely go above 32C (92F) although the humidity can be very high at this time, making it feel much hotter. Hurricanes can swing through the islands in late summer and early fall causing damage; this is the low season for Hawai'ian tourism. Daily winter temperatures are about 28C (85F) due to the trade winds at this time. It tends to feel cooler due to the much lower humidity.

Health

All water found throughout the island chain is drinkable, the exception being water in remote areas of Moloka'i. There are no mosquito borne diseases in Hawai'i and strict quarantine laws have kept rabies off the islands.

Language

Though the pure native Hawai'ian language is no longer spoken through most of the island chain, many Hawai'ian words are part of the everyday language. The most common is 'Aloha' a greeting for hello or goodbye that also means 'Love.' 'Mahalo' is the Hawai'ian word for thank you. The result of the fusion between Hawai'ian and English is a kind of 'Creole' that combines not just Hawai'ian, but Japanese and Filipino words that can be hard to understand for the first time visitor.

A weather report for Honolulu might say 'mauka showers' which means rain showers in higher elevations. Someone might give you directions on Oahu by saying 'go 2 miles Diamond Head' which means to go two miles in the direction of diamond head. (Diamond Head being a well-known landmark east of Waikiki)  For the short term visitor picking up words in the Hawai'ian language can be a fascinating insight into the Hawai'ian culture.

Food

Most hotels in Hawai'i serve the usual tropical fare found in most resort hotels around the world. Self catering is an option to those on a budget and numerous supermarkets are found in the islands; avoid the ones in Waikiki and head for downtown Honolulu if you want cheaper prices and Asian ingredients.

Because of the Japanese influence, Bento meals are popular among office workers in Honolulu and can be found in shops and supermarkets. Asian food like Korean, Vietnamese and Thai are found in cheap abundance as well. Fast food is everywhere in Hawai'i and many of America's most well known chains are found there.