What do I need to know about Hawaii culture before visiting?

12 things to know before visiting Hawaii
  1. Decide the best time to go. ...
  2. You'll need to make some reservations in advance. ...
  3. Respect Hawaiian culture. ...
  4. Underdress for success. ...
  5. Know your ?okina. ...
  6. Learn the local surfing etiquette. ...
  7. Be aware of floods. ...
  8. Protect your belongings.




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Hawaiian culture is based around age-old legends and superstitions, ranging from traditional gods and goddesses like Maui (a demi-god who pulled up the island from the sea bed), Pele (a wicked and deceptive volcano goddess) and her sister Poliahu (a snow god).

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RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ITEMS:
  • Pineapple and bromeliad plants and fruits.
  • Passion fruit plants and seeds.
  • Cruciferous root vegetables (radish, turnip, daikon, horseradish, rutabaga)
  • Corn on the cob.
  • Citrus and pulpy fruits from Florida & Puerto Rico.
  • Taro and dasheen.
  • Coconuts.


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How strict is Hawaiian Airlines with carry-on size? It's best to be safe and ensure your carry-on bag can fit under the seat in front of you, and not exceed 9 x 14 x 22 inches (23 x 36 x 56 cm) or weigh more than 25 pounds (11 kg).

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Never Refuse a Lei In Hawaii, receiving a lei as a gift is a high honor. Therefore, people consider it very rude to refuse a lei when someone offers one. The proper way to accept a lei is to bow your head and allow the giver to place it around your shoulders.

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  • Don't remove sand from the beach. A small container of sand sounds like a cool souvenir, especially if taken from a black- or red-sand beach, but doing so is considered bad luck. ...
  • Don't take any lava rocks from Volcanoes National Park. ...
  • Don't take any pork over the Pali. ...
  • Don't bring bananas on a boat.


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Here's a quick guide to some local customs and traditions: The Hawaiian way to greet someone is with a kiss on the cheek. Always remember to remove your shoes before entering someone's house. When you are invited over to someone's house for a get together, don't show up empty handed.

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The State of Hawai'i is home to eight invasive species of mosquitoes - six that bite humans and two that feed solely on plants.

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One last note about respect; and please, we cannot emphasize this enough: Unless you are Hawaiian or are very intimately familiar with the culture, do not throw or attend a party deemed a “luau.” Culture is an identity- not a party theme.

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One last note about respect; and please, we cannot emphasize this enough: Unless you are Hawaiian or are very intimately familiar with the culture, do not throw or attend a party deemed a “luau.” Culture is an identity- not a party theme.

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Hawaiian people have their way of living and too revealing a style goes against their culture and values. It's considered a form of disrespect if you don't dress modestly in Hawaii. So, if you don't want to cause any offense or make anyone feel uncomfortable, make sure to cover up when you're in Hawaii.

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The 3-1-1 liquids rule limits your carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols to a maximum of 3.4 ounces (or 100 ml) per container. All containers together must fit inside a resealable quart-sized bag and one bag is permitted per person. In short, the 3-1-1 rule stands for 3 ounces, 1 bag, 1 person.

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- Large containers of non-solid foods should be securely packed in your checked bag. Only small containers less than 3.4 oz. (100 mL) may be carried on. Exception: baby food sufficient for the flight may be carried on.

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