Best products from r/Hawaii

Yeah, I know.

I originally lived in Hawai'i back in the mid-90s. I moved there for college and thought I'd be in a carefree paradise -- I was a malihini through-and-through. I ended up flunking out of U.H. (long story) and moved back to the mainland, and when I went I was actually glad to go. At that time I had been disappointed by Hawai'i and came to not like it much, for the same reasons that afflict so many other newcomers. Basically, because it didn't fit my pre-conceived narrative and I resented it for that.

However, after moving away I thought about the experience, the place, the folks I encountered from a new angle. I realized the problem had been in me (forgive me; I was young and a little more naïve than most people my age at the time). Once I let Hawai'i tell me what it was all about, I started to fall in love with it. So I began the process of educating myself. I always wanted to move back and I got that chance after Peace Corps, and I would have stayed gladly (there's no place in the world I feel more vital and connected) but I just couldn't find any full-time work. Granted, my field sucks (I have an M.A. in Creative Writing) and I don't have many other skills, so it was a pipe dream.

Anyway, "Hawaiian" in this context obviously doesn't mean "I'm of Native Hawaiian descent," but more like "I identify with Hawai'i." I would never try to claim to know it well, but I want to. In fact, I support Hawaiian self-determination and would love to see it become a sovereign nation once more, so much so that I wrote a novel about it that was a finalist in last year's Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. They did a write-up on it in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. That book is really my love poem to Hawai'i. I hope I get to live there again someday, and that the third time will be the charm.

This blog has some good hikes and ranks them on difficulty: http://www.unrealhawaii.com/

This book is also fantastic and helped me find and navigate a bunch of hikes when I was learning the trails: https://www.amazon.com/Hikers-Guide-Oahu-Updated-Expanded/dp/0824838998

You want views, you gotta work them (mostly):

• Pauoa Flats via Kalawahine will get you to an overlook over Nuuanu valley and this hike isn't too difficult because you start up on the ridge.
  
• Kuliuouou requires some effort, but both the hike and view are amazing. Bring lots of water and snacks.
  
• Wiliwilinui is probably the shortest hike with the best view. One big up. It's in a gated community, limited parking, get there early.
  
• Hawaii Loa is the ridge directly east of Wiliwilinui, similar view, a bit more difficult, also a gated community.
  
• Diamond Head (I know, I know), but its an easy hike with a nice view of the South shore.
  
• Mt. Olympus will give great views of Manoa and Palolo. Best to turn around when the sanctioned trail ends, but you can continue on the the summit. Though this can be a bit sketch. Turn back if you don't trust yourself.
  
• Lanipo is a LONG hike, but it does eventually summit.
  
• Aiea Loop is a nice trail that has a great view above H3 at around the halfway point.
  
• Koko Head climbs up old railway tracks and provides a nice view of the south east side.
  
• Puu O Hulu if you find yourself on the west side. Quick steep up, but great views of Waianae valley and the west side.
  
  If you're trying a new hike, don't hike alone. If you do decide to hike alone, let someone else know your plans. Always bring water (2-3 liters for the hikes mentioned above) and some snacks. Also, bring your cell phone.

So uh, at first it looked like you were severely misinterpreting what they were saying... but based on their comments in this thread, yikes. Yikes Edit: Read even more of their comments. YIKES

Personally, I'd feel weird as heck if I went to a place the US had attacked. It's weird enough being in a place that the US took over (Hawaii), or even the mainland since most of it was Native American territory. It's weird to think about something that you identify as objectively bad that you can't do anything about because it was so far in the past that you just have to sort of go with it, even though you know the original situation was wrong. There's probably a better word for it than "weird," it's really a type of dissonance I suppose, maybe sociopolitical dissonance? I'm going to call it that.

When I was first learning about Hawaii and the tourist spots, I mentioned to a friend that the Japanese people (meaning tourists from Japan) must feel weird at the Pearl Harbor memorial. But that's weird in that sociopolitical dissonance sense, not weird in a "how dare they" sense. I think it's a reasonable and not racist expectation that others would feel sort of weird about it as well, and that thus the tourists from Japan might be less likely to go to that particular memorial. My (local) friend (who also happened to be half Japanese) said that they were mostly just curious about it and wanted to understand it better.

I do think it's not totally beyond the realm of possibility that tourists were disrespectful, but it also sounds a lot like the original OP (not the OP of this thread) might not understand Japanese culture well enough to accurately interpret what their tourists may do or the meaning or intent behind their behavior. My understanding is that there has been some amount of militarist presence in Japan, so I guess MAYBE this person just happened to encounter a tourist group that was part of such a militarist group? Kind of grasping a bit, but that's the best I can come up with.

A bit of a tangent... Most people in Hawaii are probably more familiar with the details of Japan's involvement in WWII, but for anyone that is interested in learning more, I highly recommend the book Ten Years in Japan. It's by the US diplomat to Japan in the years leading up to WWII. Not only is it interesting insight, but he's also an excellent writer. Obviously don't only exclusively read that book, but it really is a worthwhile read.

Yes! Good advice above!


If she was born and raised in Hawaii and went to school here, she will definitely be familiar with li hing mui! The seeds are these little sour dried plums, and like /u/thefightclubber said above, it is also very popular in powdered form. Along with pineapple, it basically goes well with all sorts of fruits from apples to oranges. Things like li hing mui gummy bears and other gummy snacks coated with the powder are also very popular here.


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Another suggestion I have are these Hawaiian Sun Pancake mixes: http://www.amazon.com/Hawaiian-Sun-Pancake-Assortment-6-ounce/dp/B00GHYP9EA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414756606&sr=8-1&keywords=hawaiian+pancakes


They're relatively new and popular among tourists here to take home as souvenirs. So although, these won't invoke nostalgia for her since these pancake mixes weren't around 20 years ago, the "Hawaiian Sun" brand also produces a well known fruit drink that she might be familiar with.


It's very nice of you to be helping her with her homesickness! Good luck! :)

Depends on where you land, so to speak. I lived on Maui for a bit and fell in with some welcoming locals, but they were more open than some of the more militant nation pockets I ran into. Respect the Hawaiian nation folks and recognize that some just aren't going to like you, and you'll do better than jumping in and assuming that you just need to be friendly and learn their culture and things will change.

Also helps if you try and learn some pidgin - the first time my shift lead came up to me and said, "'hey brah, you pau?" I just looked at him like an idiot. I picked up this book after I left as much for fun & remembrance, but it may help. I also found that comedy was a fun way to get used to both the language and cadence as well as a good insight into the culture. After 5-6 months I was able to hold whole conversations in pidgin - I'm sure with an accent and sounding totally haole, but still trying. I miss pidgin.

I am Maoli, Native Hawaiian. I don't find it disrespectful at all when a non-polynesian person feels a powerful connection to my culture. I find it extremely respectful. There are certain kapus (taboos) about specific design not being allowed for certain people. I suggest doing your homework.

If you don't live in Hawai'i then I suggest reading one of the fantastic books published in the last few years about polynesian tattooing. The museum I work at in the UK has many fantastic books on the subject. My boss is actually and expert from the on the subject from the anthropological point of view.

Obviously each design, it's usage and placement mean something specific and are meant as a form of communication. Speaking solely for myself, if you like Travis Browne's tattoos for their aesthetic purpose, that's great (and i agree they are beautiful), but do some digging yourself to see if you can express yourself using my culture's imagery. That way when people ask you about them, or give you shit for not being of that culture, you can respond intelligently and with knowledge, proving that you're not just some fake person following a trend. I know lots of non-polynesians with polynesian tattoos. Almost all of them have done their homework. The ones that are most impressive can also speak the language (which seriously shuts up most haters bc most Hawaiian's can't even speak Hawaiian).

Edit: I would also like to add, if anyone is interested in acquiring one of the aforementioned books feel free to PM me. I don't know if any of them are available outside the UK. We also have some pretty rad books on broader aspects of Polynesian culture. Lots of amazing research and conservation is being done in the UK right now.

Hey! Your on Big Isle eh? UHH? Sorry Im on Oahu but I've coached these lifts tons. Good resource would be http://startingstrength.com/
and deff Mark's Books http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/0982522738/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

If you have any questions feel free to PM me. The form for these is theoretically pretty simple but doing them correctly is important esp when starting like yourself. You don't want to develop bad habits.

Also I know it can be expensive but I do know that most of these gyms offer a student discount. Check out https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiIslandBarbell/ They are pretty cool people.

Also another option may be http://www.fivemountainfitness.com/#!personal-training-fees/csya

They offer private training for 75$ an hour. That's not too shabby and you would only really need an hour MAYBE two to have them walk you through and show you these three lifts properly. I would suggest asking a private trainer to specifically teach you the Starting Strength versions of these lifts and not the Olympic style.

If you ever take a trip to Oahu hit me up, Ill help you as much I as can. Cheers!

Hi!

Thanks for links and the informed response.

Yeah, I fall into the Language Geek category (I'm coming to study Linguistics) and look at learning Hawaiian as a chance to learn about the system of the language in comparison to other languages, since I have basically zero knowledge of Polynesian languages, and as a chance to learn and experience the culture.

The Pidgin website is quite useful. It gives me a starting point for trying to get an idea of what I'm likely to hear. Pidgin, as a creole language, is also very interesting to me coming from a linguistics background.

I've seen Da Jesus Book before, but I'm not religious and I'm not really interested in using it as a resource, unless there's nothing else. I saw Da Word on Amazon, but I don't know if it's any good. I'll definitely have to check out the Kumu Kahua Theatre when I get there. I see they have a prize for writing a play, so I might consider entering next year if I get inspired.

I'm just really excited that I'll have new languages buzzing around me, and I made this thread so I could start collecting information about everything.

My basic teriyaki sauce is definitely just shoyu and sugar. If you're looking to do more gravy-ish, make a tiny amount of roux, and then mix it in, maybe with some water if it gets too thick.

My personal katsu sauce is ketchup, shoyu, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and a dash of sriracha sauce (or whatever your preferred hot sauce). I don't know measurements since I just do it to taste - just add a bit at a time of everything until it tastes right. It's not quite as good as some of the commercial ones I've had, but it works for me.

In all reality, though, see if you can find anyone who will mail you some of the local "fundraiser" type cookbooks. You know, the ones schools and sports groups compile every few years to fundraise for a tournament or whatever. Almost all of those have at least a few winners in the "local food" category like shoyu chicken and sushi rice. I personally remember the Central Union Preschool cookbook (but that was when I was in preschool which was... a long time ago), the Honolulu Waldorf School cookbook... Oh, not a fundraiser, but "Taste of Aloha" - I think there are at least two volumes. You'll appreciate that one, I'm pretty sure. Looks like there are some good choices on the Amazon vendors thing although Amazon proper doesn't sell it. Dude. Now that I think about it, you MUST buy it. There are so many good recipes in there.

Yeah, that commenter had said that Hawaii was a better place pre-colonialism.

Here is another free book if you want some good reads. This is Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo. Also, Captive Paradise is a good read which covers post-Colonial discovery.

I'm definitely agree that I want the power on a more equal distribution scale with fewer mechanisms to concentrate power to certain individuals. It is my belief that education is the answer and it's frustrating that education is so low on the priority scale in the islands.

First, let me recommend this Rowenta fan. It is nearly silent. I accidentally forget to turn it off all the time because I cannot hear it. I know it looks like it was made in the 80's, but I don't care. I value peace and quiet over style. I own two of these and am considering buying more. Five people have bought this fan based upon my recommendation and they all love how quiet it is.

Second, I've noticed that the air outside my house is cooler than the air inside my house. So I set my fan in my window and blow the cooler outside air into my house. To me, this works better than just circulating the hot air inside my house around and around.

When I shower, I try to slowly adjust the water so it gets colder and colder. After a few minutes, I'll usually be showering under water than is all the way cold. It feels nice and helps to cool me down.

Another vote for Alaskan. They also accept the soft sided carriers which are obviously a little more flexible. I used this one

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YHWAU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

19” L x 11.75” W x 11.5” H

(It actually exceeded Alaskan rules by quite a bit but they didn't say anything. I did research the specific aircraft to make sure it would fit under the seat, which it did).

and these are the Alaskan rules:

Kennel size chart for travel in cabin: Hard-sided 17" x 11" x 7.5"

Soft-sided 17" x 11" x 9.5"

Check out the books Fishing Hawaii Style. I think there are four in the series. Start there and then try to find someone who fishes regularly and hang out with them. Chat up the fishermen you see and offer them a beer or a bowl. You should know how to tie your own lines and you should have your own basic gear before asking for help. Good luck.

I would start with this book.

You can get a copy in almost any place that sells fishing supplies.

Great introduction to a lot of different techniques and types of fishing. The other books in the series are good, too.

This is the book that my friends and I read as kids, and is a good primer for Hawaiian legends and myths.

My wife ordered a few reusable metal straws for herself, but then I pointed out this article where a woman was killed by one: https://www.livescience.com/65925-metal-straw-death.html Although in this case, she fell on her straw and it pierced her eye, it's fairly easy to imagine someone getting one shoved through their head when using one in a car (New "Final Destination" scene right there).


So I ordered us a 100 pack of these Hay Straws to try out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MXQ2NHS

I hope they work well, because for 50% more you can get 10 times the number of regular plastic straws: https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Drinking-Straws-Inches-Standard/dp/B07B4K2FXV

The go to book for Hawaiian History is Shoal of Time but Daws is not an Ethnic Hawaiian. If you want primary source history from an ethnic Hawaiian you could go with Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen. Again, if you are specifically looking for a book of Hawaiian history written by a native Hawaiian you could also try Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii, notable as Kamakau wrote it before the fall of the monarchy.

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/Hawaiian-Dictionary-Revised-Enlarged-Edition/dp/0824807030/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397273210&sr=8-1&keywords=hawaiian+dictionary) for Hawaiian, and [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Pidgin-Da-Max-Anniversary-Edition/dp/1573062502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397273298&sr=8-1&keywords=pidgin+to+da+max) for Pidgin.

Shoal of Time - Gavin Dawes

Shoal of Time ?

https://www.amazon.com/Shoal-Time-History-Hawaiian-Islands/dp/0824803248

Maybe some Mark Twain?

https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Twain-Hawaii-Roughing-Sandwich/dp/0935180931

edit: adding Broken Trust

https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Trust-Mismanagement-Manipulation-Charitable/dp/082483044X

(you can also check out the "Other books people looked at" section in those also)

'Shoal of Time' is a really good nonacademic history.

https://www.amazon.com/Shoal-Time-History-Hawaiian-Islands/dp/0824803248

It will explain a lot of the 'why' questions about Hawaii. There are excerpts from Captain Cooks log and journal, especially considering he was writing before being killed by Hawaiians. One thing he wrote about was his regrets with Hawaii. He regretted he didn't keep his men with gonorrhea and syphilis on board, he had seen entire islands wiped out by the time he found Hawaii. He also regretted not shooting a Hawaiian on his first landing, like he had been doing on his previous island discoveries, demonstrating the "power of the Crown and the gun" to the "savages".