16 Things People Who Grew Up In Hawaii Know To Be True

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  1. Students do not make volcanoes for their science project. Volcanoes are considered sacred and taken seriously.
  2. Slippers (NOT flip-flops) are the normal footwear.
  3. Aloha wear is what is used in place of “semi-casual/semi-formal.”
  4. There’s a clear distinction between “local” and “Hawaiian.” Just because we are from Hawaii, that does not automatically make us Hawaiian.
  5. Cruising means to just lay back and chill — not to go see what’s happening out on the town.
  6. Your Instagram is overloaded with sunset pictures on the daily – the pictures are uploaded around the same time and every picture looks the same.
  7. The word “Aunty” and “Uncle” is used as a term of endearment/respect. It shows the hierarchy within a household and clarifies that they are the ones obeyed.
  8. 75-degrees Fahrenheit is very cold and much appreciated.
  9. Geckos are our best friends. They eat all the insects for us and they do not make any noise or mess. Also, they’re super cute and cool – they can regenerate their tail if it gets cut off. It’s a cardinal sin to kill a gecko in Hawaii.
  10. You know what people are talking about when “ice” is mentioned – it’s the drug, not the frozen substance that makes/keeps things cold.
  11. Speaking “pidgin” is not referring to being able to speak like a bird. It is a spoken dialect amongst Hawaii locals, especially the older generation.
  12. Ewoks have nothing to do with Star Wars. Instead, it is slang for “easy women of Kailua”.
  13. Waikiki will forever be a challenge to navigate for locals since we never go there unless absolutely necessary.
  14. Zippy’s is the late night hot spot – it’s a local diner chain and there’s about three in every neighborhood and the BEST. Everyone has their favorite location and know who’s working. A friendship is developed between the drunkards and the servers.
  15. Local food – spam, mahi mahi, rice, shoyu chicken, oxtail soup, spicy ahi, lau lau, malasada, haupia, pipi kaula, kulolo, saimin, and poi are sold everywhere. Although, only the locals know where the best and cheapest are and yes, the long drive is worth it.
  16. When every single song about marijuana hits number one in Hawaii.