Stereotypes of Native Hawaiians include: territorial bullies, overweight fellows, uneducated imbeciles, seductive hula dancers, drug addicts, and more (Tsai, 2004, p. 3). University of Hawai'i English professor Paul Lyons, said of the movie 50 First Dates (which will be analyzed for this study):

Common stereotypes of Hawaiian culture often paint an oversimplified picture of the "Aloha Spirit" as just being laid-back and carefree on a beach. Many people mistakenly believe that all locals live in grass huts, spend their entire day surfing, or exclusively wear coconut bras and grass skirts. In reality, Native Hawaiian culture is deeply complex and rooted in a history of navigation, land stewardship (ʻāina), and a sophisticated social structure. While surfing was indeed invented in Hawaii, it is a serious cultural discipline, as is the hula, which is a sacred form of storytelling rather than just a performance for tourists. Other stereotypes involve food, like the idea that residents only eat pineapple and Spam, ignoring the rich, diverse culinary landscape of the islands. Modern Hawaiians live in standard housing and participate in a global economy, while working hard to preserve their indigenous language and traditions against the pressures of high living costs and over-tourism.