Have you ever been eaten alive by the fury of the Pacific Ocean? Well, it happened to me and many other exciting things happened when I visited Hawaii for the first time. About eight years ago, during my spring break, my family and I went to the island of Kauai and we were there for about eight days. I am telling you, the first time you visit a tropical paradise; your scenes will change drastically. The food, the people (locals and tourists), the culture, and lest not forget that unforgiving Pacific Ocean.
When I say your scenes will change, I do mean it. The food is probably the biggest thing that I had to adjust to. I was a regular kid who liked his burgers and fries. But instead I was eating food that I would never have imagined. For example, the first time I tried raw tuna, I was immediately hooked. At first I was little skeptical and grossed out but never judge a book by its cover. It wasn’t the taste I enjoyed, it was the texture the turned me on the most (raw tuna has little or no taste). To this very day, I try to indulge myself on sushi every chance I can.
The people and the culture make you appreciate the type of paradise tat you are in. The houses aren’t the best and the schools aren’t the biggest. But everyone seems to be happy with what they have. There seems to be a type of brotherhood that the Hawaiians have. They may not show it but you do receive that kind of vibe when you interact with them. I gathered the fact that Hawaiians, as a society, look after each other, irregardless if they know each other or not. With that attitude, you can learn to appreciate what you have.
Let us not forget the ocean. There is nothing more spectacular then watching 12 to 20 foot waves crashing against the coral reefs. It is really something. I myself will never forget the first time I went surfing. At first, I got it down pretty well. I had very good balance and excellent control. I began to swim out farther then I should have. I see this wave come in that just blows me away. I try to paddle in to avoid it but it was too late.
When my family and I could feel the warm fine sand, the gentle cool breeze, witness the crystal clear aquamarine ocean and swaying palm trees, and smell the sweet fragrant scent of plumerias, we must have gone to heaven. The enchanting beauty of this Hawaiian island, Maui, gives us a sense of warmth, peace, and serenity. In search of paradise, we explore the infamous Road to Hana, snorkel with underwater marine life, and journey back in time to experience the true customs, traditional cuisine and the original song, music and dance of Hawaii at a luau.
When I stepped out of the hot, airless plane into the bright, dazzling sunlight beaming down across the burning concreate, I felt excited and nervous. Holding my beach bag in my hand and slipping my Ray Ban sunglasses on with my other, I flip-flopped down the airspace. Overhead I heard the screams of gulls and the chatter of the small fluffy birds. I suddenly realized I had arrived to Hawaii. This trip was such an unforgettable vacation for me because I got to witness the beauty of nature that Hawaii has to offer.
As the United States declared war on the German Empire, the citizens of Honolulu and Hawaii at large were already experiencing the strains of war. The sinking of the A.-H. Missourian by German U-boats, and the subsequent sinking of the Aztec, brought many Hawaiians to support the war effort with great enthusiasm. By April 3rd, the “Islanders” as they called themselves in the Hawaiian Gazette were backing President Wilson’s intentions of conducting a war in Europe. For many Hawaiians, they had felt as if the German presence in the Pacific region had been an intrusive force. As the territory of Hawaii had long been maintained by strategic military forces and commercial industries since their annexation into the United States, the territory viewed itself in a rather unique way.
78,086,081 people, domestic and internationally have gone to Hawai’i in 2015 (Historical Visitors). However, has anyone truly went past the beautiful scenic lands and Hawaiian culture to learn the origin of everything? Fittingly, this essay will go in-depth of the Polynesian culture that soon settled on the Hawaiian islands of today: identifying cultural norms, symbols, and values that influences their communication that encompasses the Hawaiian spirit tourist known to love. Lastly, a comparison of Hispanic culture and investigate qualities that are similar and different between the two cultures.
...to do and see in Hawaii, the possibilities are endless. You will learn a different culture than what you’re used to on the U.S. mainland or whatever country you’re visiting from.
American Hawaii Hawaii is known for its beautiful beaches, it’s nice year-round weather, and its culture. Thousands of vacationers come to Hawaii each year to get away from the stressful city and relax. But do they know how cruel the Americans were to the natives? Do they know how we corrupted their culture and their religion? Do they know how Hawaii really became a state? Probably not. When most people think of Hawaii, they think of happy Hawaiian babes hula dancing and palm trees swaying in the warm breeze. Hawaii has still held on to many of their traditions although they were invaded by Americans. But you have to go to a museum to see their old way of life. Hawaii is now populated mostly by Americans. Native Hawaiians have adapted to our American lifestyle and much of their old traditions and beliefs are lost in history books. America dominated over the Hawaiians just as they did with the Native Americans. The Hawaiians didn’t even stand a chance against big brother. They probably feel the same way towards America just as a child does with stubborn parents. Now I will tell you about the history of Hawaii so you will see how the United States came to annex Hawaii. Hawaii was first inhabited by the Polynesians. They came in canoes from other islands around the pacific. They called the new found island "Hawaii", which means "home" in Polynesian language. Hawaii was their home until the white man came in and took advantage of these simple, happy aborigines. The corruption of this unique and fragile culture first started when Captain James Cook ran into the islands on January 18, 1778. After Cook’s discovery, many other foreigners (mostly American) visited the islands. They brought clothes, livestock, orange trees, horses weapons and souvigners. Foreigners also brought with them a handful of deadly diseases such as smallpox, measles, syphilis, tuberculosis, and whooping cough. During the time period of Cook’s arrival in 1778 to 1820, the population of Hawaii dropped from 300,000 to 135,000 due to the diseases! Another problem was the introduction of alcohol. Like the native americans, Hawaiians were not immune to alcohol. Hawaiian’s were very sensitive to alcoholism. Hawaiians religion was a very complex one with many gods. They worshiped idols and they belived in many f...
Hawaiian is unique among the fifty states, especially in regards to its native music form, which is still preformed, and captivates audiences even today. Hawaiian chanting, music, and dance are not only key parts of life on the island, but have also become cultural icons as well as profound symbols of nature and religion in Hawaii. Hawaii has a rich history, beginning with the early settlers from Polynesia who brought their traditions and religions to Hawaii. Over the years, the inhabitants took those traditions and adapted them to their new home, creating the definitive culture that, even with Western influences, still is a captivating force within the society.
The Polynesian peoples have a lifestyle quite different than that of any other culture, as living on an island requires a level of flexible adaptability in order to cope with such a different, sometimes difficult environment. We see the way diverse cultures build their lives around their circumstances and how they respect them in their cultural myths and stories. The Polynesian legends emphasize the physical environment that they live in. They are quite different than any other region in the world, but the beauty and individuality of the Polynesian culture is prominent as seen in their mythology.
As a native Hawaiian, Kristiana Kahakauwila has extensive knowledge on Hawaiian customs and culture. Though she was not raised in Hawaii, Kristiana is still connected to the culture. Her upbringing in California did not separate her from the customs of Hawaii. Kristiana has a master’s in fine arts and a degree in comparative literature. Her degrees and background with Hawaiian culture led her to write the book “This is Paradise,” which is composed of multiple short stories. Each short story unveils a new layer of Hawaiian culture that many people tend to overlook. Before the first short story begins, Kristiana sets the tone for the novel with the cover of the book.
...e" (Trask xix). This incident beautifully illustrates and signifies tourism's impact in American society. Like most Americans, this woman uses a discourse that has been shaped by tourist advertisements and souvenirs. The woman's statement implies that Trask resembles what the tourist industry projects, as if this image created Hawaiian culture. As Trask asserts, Hawaiian culture existed long before tourism and has been exploited by tourism in the form of advertisements and items such as postcards. Along with the violence, endangered environment, and poverty, this exploitation is what the tourist industry does not want to show. However, this is the Hawai'i Haunani-Kay Trask lives in everyday. "This is Hawai'i, once the most fragile and precious of sacred places, now transformed by the American behemoth into a dying land. Only a whispering spirit remains" (Trask 19).
If I could support one area of the Hawaiian culture, I’d decide on ‘olelo Hawaii. Language and culture must coexist. You can’t have one without the other. Not being able to speak your culture’s native tongue severs you from the culture itself and makes you lose your identity. It’s difficult to understand why some words are so sacred while other words hold so much meaning if you don’t know the language.
...Hawai`i’s economy is very dependent on tourism, however many locals are possessive of their land, and as they stereotype tourists, many do not accept others as they have a unity for their own. Numerous individuals feel the desideratum to fit the local stereotype because they prefer not to be labeled as a “haole”. It becomes tough and rather intense for an individual, because becoming haole betokens that you forgot and disregarded the local or Hawaiian quality values and ways of routes, as well as the flowing stream of life in the islands. We need to remind ourselves that regardless of where we emanate from, our skin tone, race, physical characteristics, and so forth, everybody ought to acknowledge just for who we/they are and treat one another like 'ohana and show "aloha", and subsequently, we can determinately verbally express "This is it. This is Paradise" (33).
Disney did their research down to the heritage to find actors and songwriters people who were of Hawaiian or Samoan descent. The design of Maui and the villagers are the only ones that are based off of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. The rest of the movie was created to look like it was part of the culture from Tafiti to Lolotai and even Tamatoa. You can see the influence the culture had on the character designs, their homes and even their boats and fishing traps. All of these are examples of how Disney used the culture of the Pacific Isle to create a adventurous movie to make you feel like you were there and understand how these people lived way back
The world around us is amazingly beautiful, but if one ever wanted to experience the most beautiful part they would have to take a trip to Hawaii. Hawaii has the most relaxing climate, in perfect temperatures year round. Hawaii is the most beautiful island with must see attractions, and has flora and fauna that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. It is a family friendly location and one of the safest states in the United States. The culture is amazing and the people on the island are friendly and welcoming. There are so many once in a lifetime activities to do while in Hawaii. Hawaii is different than any other location in the United States, Hawaii is the perfect destination. Besides the fact Hawaii is full of beauty and breathtaking sights, there are so many fun activities to do on the island and the culture is something to be experienced.