When you think of Hawaii, do you envision everyone lined up doing the Hula sipping on a pineapple coconut beverage with a small umbrella in it? Well, that is part of the tourism of Hawaii and some of its culture, as well; however, it’s not all that Hawaii stands for in all its essence.
There are quite a few misconceptions about Hawaii and here is a sampling of a few of them.
Not all Beaches are White Sand Beaches
While Hawaii is the epitome of paradise, there is so much more depth to it. There are beaches – endless sugar sand beaches and even black sand beaches just to name a few. Some of the beaches have colored sand, as well, due to the volcanic activity in the region.
Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach is a perfect example of a one-of-a-kind beach. While not for swimming and just for viewing, this beach is an exquisite find. If you like to hike and are up for an adventure, a trip to Kaihalulu Beach will leave you amazed. You may want to consider hiring a tour guide to get you over the terrain and down close enough to view.
Halawa Beach Park is another striking beach that has a black sand beach. If you have heard about the black sand beaches of Hawaii and have not yet visited, this one might be intriguing for you, especially if you’ve never seen a black sand beach before.
Everyone in Hawaii is Native Hawaiian
Contrary to popular belief, not every individual in Hawaii is native Hawaiian. According to suburbanstats.org, for the 2014/2015 year, only nine percent of the total population in Hawaii was Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander and only five percent was Native Hawaiian. As a matter of fact, the Asian population came in at thirty-eight percent while the white population came in second with twenty-four percent.
Moreover, in order to be considered a native Hawaiian, you must have the Hawaiian ancestry in your background. Moving to Hawaii – even if you’ve been there for decades – does not account for being a true native Hawaiian.
Everyone in Hawaii Speaks and Knows the Hawaiian Language
Hawaii has two official languages; Hawaiian and English. A very small percentage of the population of those living in Hawaii speak the native Hawaiian language. There are some unique and interesting components to the Hawaiian language.
For example, there are only thirteen letters in the Hawaiian alphabet and every word should end in a vowel. One of the consonants in the Hawaiian language is the glottal stop otherwise known as the ‘okina. The ‘okina is an important consonant because, depending on where it is placed, it has the power to change the meaning of a word. A small little character with a lot of power.
It Never Rains in Hawaii
Winters in Hawaii can bring a passing trade shower or a full-on rain depending on where you are located. For the most part, it is typical to see a rain shower during the day while the sun is beaming during the summer months. This is almost always followed by a majestic rainbow. It is no wonder why Hawaii’s rainbows are the most photographed.
Did you know that one of the wettest places on earth is in Hawaii? Mt. Waialeale on the island of Kauai gets close to five hundred inches of rain each year. That’s quite a bit of rain. No wonder why it boasts the title of one of the wettest places on earth.
Hawaiian Volcanoes are Asleep
Many people planning to visit Hawaii go with the intention of soaking up paradise. They are not even aware that Hawaii Volcanoes National Park even exists, nor are they aware that they can view surface lava in action. While the black sand beaches are there due to the remnants of previous volcanic activity, some of these volcanoes still make some waves – lava waves, that is.
Maunaloa and Kilauea are two volcanoes that are still active and part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can visit the park, go on a guided tour, and possibly see a surface lava flow.
The Big Island of Hawaii is the Most Popular
Most people believe that the Big Island of Hawaii is the most popular and the most populated. While the big island is certainly full of tourism activities, Oahu remains the most popular and the most populated of the eight Hawaiian Islands.
Oahu is the most popular possibly because the well-known area of Waikiki offers everything a tourist could ever dream of in a Hawaiian vacation from an assortment of hotels, restaurants and nightlife, not to mention miles and miles of sugar sand beaches. The convenience of getting to the major city, Honolulu, and world-class surfing experiences elsewhere on the island offer a mix of just about every vacation experience you could possibly seek. So whether you want to visit, the USS Arizona Memorial or get lost in Oahu’s endless beaches, you can find an eclectic assortment of experiences on the island of Oahu.
Now that you know these misconceptions about Hawaii, you may want to keep some distance between you and Mt. Waialeale so it won’t rain on your parade. You may even want to make plans in advance to visit Oahu or stay away completely if tourist destinations are not your style of vacation.
No matter what you choose, knowing what to expect and what not to expect will open up new experiences on your next trip to Hawaii.
