In this edition of “YGC Global Encounters,” we will introduce what it’s like to live in (and not just visit) the most unique American state.
Hawaii At A Glance
To many, Hawaii is a paradise. White sand beaches, swaying palm trees, crystal clear water, and warm weather year-round. On the face of it, there’s not much more you could ask for, right? It should come as no surprise, then, that Hawaii is one of, if not the, most desirable places to move to across the entire United States.
On a map, North America is pretty hard to miss. Hawaii, on the other hand, takes a little more effort to find. (Hint: It’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.) Did you locate it? Good. You’ve probably noticed by now that it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, roughly halfway between Japan and the west coast of the U.S. Naturally, this means that a lot of things – food, clothes, goods, etc. – have to be imported. That is, they have to be shipped to these remote islands, driving up the cost and forcing locals to shell out a pretty penny for daily necessities.
To make a long story short, Hawaii is expensive. In fact, it consistently ranks at the top of the list when it comes to the state that’s the least friendly on your wallet. Not only the above-mentioned food, clothes, and more are pricey, but real estate is too. An old, rundown, one-story house far out of Honolulu (the “city center”) will set you back $1,000,000. Buying – and renting – property on Oahu, where I’m from, is no joke. What makes matters worse is the job market is quite limited. Many of my friends and family have flocked to the mainland U.S. where there are infinitely more opportunities for work. To stay in Hawaii, or to pack up your life and move there, is not for the faint of heart.
Stereotypes
People are always confused: Wait, people actually live in Hawaii? Is it really part of the U.S.? Such are the questions I’ve been asked before (and a whole host of others, like, Do you surf every day?). The truth is, Hawaii is not exactly as it’s portrayed in mainstream media. Yes, people do dance the hula (a traditional Hawaiian dance) and people do surf. But by and large, these activities are reserved for a tiny fraction of the population. I for one have neither danced the hula nor surfed. The same goes for my family. It’s kind of like asking Japanese people, Do you eat sushi every day? Is your dad a samurai?). The answer of course is No!
Outsiders tend to also be confused with Hawaii’s place in the American landscape. Don’t you speak Pidgin, not English? “Pidgin,” as it’s commonly referred to, is essentially broken English. It’s similar to slang. For instance, in English we might say, How are you, my friend? But in Pidgin you would say, Howzit, braddah? Cool, right?
Now for the perception of “Hawaiians.” Firstly, it should be stated here that “Hawaiian” does not refer to someone from Hawaii (unlike “Oregonian” referring to someone from Oregon). Rather, “Hawaiian” refers to the ethnicity, to the aboriginal people of Hawaii. Interestingly enough, this ethnic group is a dying breed, and it is relatively rare for you to meet someone in Hawaii of Hawaiian descent. (I only had one friend growing up who was!)
Because of Hawaii’s proximity to Asia, many folks in Hawaii have some kind of Asian in their blood, be it Japanese (as I do), Korean, Filipino, etc. Of my dozen or so friends in high school, 11 of the 12 were “hapa”, or mixed race, with one side typically being Asian and the other being “haole”, or Caucasian. This is why Hawaii is often viewed as the most diverse state in the U.S. The demographic is changing as we speak, but from my experience, it’s totally normal to interact with locals who make you wonder, What are they? What is their background?
Wrap-up
Hawaii relies heavily on tourism. The housing market is competitive and daunting, to say the least. And for those who are born and raised there (their parents, and their parents’ parents, as is the case with my family), the rising cost of living and the shifting social, political, and economic situation can be a tough pill to swallow. But it’s still paradise. For all its shortcomings, for all the limitations life on “the rock” can bring, most locals could never see themselves anywhere else.
Hawaii’s culture is more laidback, more grassroots than what you’ll find in the mainland U.S. There’s a sense of community and a real friendliness pulsing through the air. That, I think, is what helps it stand out. That is why Hawaii will always be on its own, a cluster of islands that are misunderstood but deeply loved.
We look forward to hearing about your educational goals and interests abroad. If you want to learn more about schools in North America, please make an appointment with a YGC advisor by calling 03-3379-7771.
