Why you might think locals in Hawaii are rude to you reason #1: They aren’t as cheerful as the people who picked you up at the airport.
The personal hotel chauffeur service that picked you up at the airport were probably the happiest, cheerful people. They brought leis for you and your visiting family members, and greeted your late night flight arrival with a cheerful smile. This is because they were paid to do so. Locals in Hawaii may come across as rude just because they are not paid to greet you with leis and flowers 24/7. This is our home. We don’t go hiking for the sake of pleasing others and educating those who are new to the islands. We go hiking because we take our dogs there every Saturday with our families. This is our home. So if it seems like Hawaii are locals are rude to you, just remember that this is their home, and you are a visitor. Not all locals are paid to keep tourists happy. Most are not.
Why you might think locals in Hawaii are rude to you reason #2: They see a lot of tourists all the time.
Locals are accustomed to seeing tourists around the island. Just like in any community, tourists are really easy to identify. The awkwardly vibrant Aloha shirts, cheap straw hats, and fake shell necklaces usually give it away. It’s ok, they can’t help it. But, locals are used to seeing this all over the place so they are not interested in pleasing every tourist they see. Hawaii is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the world, so there’s a lot of tourists here at any point in time. Summer time is high time, but any other point in the yea also sees a lot of tourists. So, Hawaii locals are not interested in pleasing all of the tourists they see in public all the time. They just want to go out to the grocery store, not have to provide driving directions for parking lots all the time. They just want to go to the beach, not have to run in and rescue uneducated tourists who dove into dangerous waters.
Tourists atop Diamond Head pillbox hike overlooking Kapiolani Park and Waikiki
. . . . aaahhh TOURISTS . . . . by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original
Why you might think locals in Hawaii are rude to you reason #3: Expectations are different from reality.
Those who are not native to the Hawaiian Islands probably hold an idealistic, unrealistic expectation of locals. Most envision the idea of locals wearing flower leis and sewing grass skirts for work, and eating pineapples for dessert. That’s not always the case. It’s actually never the case. Hence, locals may come across as rude just because they are not meeting commercial expectations of what it looks like to live in Hawaii. People who live here work full time 40 hours a week, staying busy with kids’ soccer games on Saturdays and hula competitions on Fridays. We live “normal,” lives unlike what most think. Life in Hawaii is an amazing experience, but it’s not perfect all the time. There’s traffic, high taxes, and expensive living standards. Expectations for living in Hawaii can be very different from the reality of it.
I lived on Oahu in ‘89-‘91. There was some definite prejudice attitudes towards tourists/white people by the locals. But if given the opportunity to get to know them, they are very nice people, just like people are everywhere else. I’m in Colorado now and tourists from other states are making CO more difficult to live in as well. I feel people in general, act more entitled to do as they see fit, and not be respectful of others. When vacationing, act like you would like people to act if they’re renting your neighbor’s place. Don’t litter, stay on trails, etc., simple manners.
Don’t remember being treated rudely on any of several visits, 4 different islands. “Aloha” and “Shaka” spirit goes a long way.
San Diego is a popular tourist destination too. I have lived here since 1968. I feel you are going to find all times of attitudes regarding tourist. It’s not one size fits all. I agree, some of it is what you put out there, you will receive back. I also agree that the islands can be clickish. Been vacationing for years on the islands. Most have been very pleasant. Have found that most Islanders like San Diegans. But then maybe it’s because as a middle class everyday not an Orange County pretentious Housewife, but a down to earth – hey I shop at Walmart kind of person, Islanders can be themselves. Or maybe my husband and I have just been pretty luck. We have been invited to locals home, had a homemade lei made for me from the plumeria tree in their yard. So I guess we have been pretty lucky
I think the Natives feel the same everywhere – as a native Californian, my neighborhood has turned to ruins and rude people in the last 50 years. The Natives in Hawaii feel the same resentment plus they are conflicted because the economy IS tourism. We have to move to places that are not so pleasant weather-wise – places that are not desirable to nearly all people! I have wanted to move to Kula for decades and now that I can afford it, I worry that it will change just like every other popular place. When there are too many people, it strains the natural resources and people’s tempers. I don’t feel I have a right to spoil Maui or any other part of the islands. Maybe there should be limits on the number of persons per sq. mile allowed on each island. A Trump wall is not the answer, of course, and these ideas may seem ridiculous, but all too often we don’t act quickly enough to prevent a problem!
So next time a local is rude, don’t take it personally, and imagine how you’d feel if your hometown was paradise but becoming overrun with people to the point you feel you have to move!
Hawaii has the border wall beat by a wide margin with the greatest border security on the planet: The Pacific Ocean under the watchful eye of the US Navy at Pearl Harbor.
I think most people from most urban areas with a fairly strong tourism industry understand that crowds go with the territory. That said, if you live in an area with heavy tourism, you know how and where to ovoid the tourists for the most part. I also believe most Hawaiians know that tourism is by far the largest local industry but, rude people are not exclusive to the big cities. However, like a previous blogger pointed out, you will come across rude people in every walk of life, sorry, welcome to the real world.
I’ve always found the “locals” to be like locals anywhere – they’re busy living their lives. Respect that and they place they call home and they’ll respect you. Act like a rude, entitled jerk, and you’ll get the treatment you deserve.
I’d say that’s pretty accurate.
I moved here 3 years ago. I don’t find locals rude but more stand off-ish. It has been very difficult to make friends. My daughter who is in college has found it nearly impossible to make friends. Her work colleagues always leave her out of conversations and any after work events she does not get invited to. I have experienced the same thing. She can’t wait to move back to the mainland. I have wanted to live here all my life so I’m staying and hoping I can prove to people here I love the aina as much as they do!
Well-said. Hawaii is very, very clickish. Tell your daughter to join as many volunteer groups as possible. That will help.
Another reason might be the runaway proliferation of short-term housing rentals (Air B&B and such). In my condo complex a large number of units have been purchased by absentee owners who rent exclusively to tourists who stay a day or two, (maybe three) never learning the lay of the land, the association rules, or the local culture.
Gets old fast!
That STR (short term rentals) is quickly becoming a huge problem.
I’ve lived most of my life in a tourist destination (Monterey Peninsula) and understand the relationship with tourists. Yes, our economy depends on them and generally they aren’t a big problem. There are times during the year when we are overrun with tourists for large events (Car Week, AT&T Golf, US Open Golf, Jazz Fest, etc.) and our traffic is beyond insane for a small area. We don’t have the infrastructure to support the event population swells. Locals wind up staying home as much as possible because you can’t get anywhere and there’s nowhere to park when you get there.
I assume Hawaii might be similar, or worse. I can understand locals being weary of tourists: too many people in a small area is always uncomfortable. Restaurants are crowded, natural areas are overrun with humanity…it’s just “too much”.
My plan is to be somewhat “Invisible”. I don’t want to stick out like an annoyance, I don’t want to come across as rude or demanding or entitled. I just want to blend in; enjoy all the islands have to offer in a more quiet way. I tend to smile and say “hello” to strangers here, so I hope that will be okay in Hawaii also. I just want to be peaceful, calm, grateful and happy.
People are people everywhere: treat everyone with kindness and respect and you get treated the same most of the time. Once in the while when you get a negative reaction — you never know — that person has their own personal issues going on; don’t take it personally; smile and keep going on.
I look forward to moving to the Big Island and making it my home.
These are great conversations. Thanks for sharing.
Great article. The same exact thing could be written about Las Vegas :) Well minus the leis and hula lessons :)
I tried moving back in 03, when I still had lots of working years ahead of me and I didn’t have a year’s savings, didn’t think ahead, and I crashed and burned. I’m not coming back until retirement time.
But you know what, the US economy sucks everywhere. High tech doesn’t pay except for a fraction of a per cent of superstars, everyone else gets paid about the same as working in a warehouse or “back of house” restaurant work etc. It’s not a great golden land here on the mainland. And it’s NOT less expensive!
So the average person is just getting by, and has tension because of financial reasons. And they’re not going around smiling and greeting people unless it’s their job. Same as anywhere.
Hawaii is not one big theme park!