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Once a local form of etiquette that can differ in many ways from that observed on U.S. mainland. As the perception of behaviors and actions vary, intercultural competence is essential. Image File history File links Circle-question. ... It has been suggested that Office etiquette be merged into this article or section. ... The continental United States is a term referring to the United States situated on the North American continent. ... In psychology and the cognitive sciences, perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing sensory information. ... Behavior (U.S.) or behaviour (U.K.) refers to the actions or reactions of an object or organism, usually in relation to the environment. ... Intercultural competence is the ability of successful communication with people of other cultures. ...

Below is a partial list of some of the customs that are widely observed in the Islands. In most cases, these will be observed by long-time residents of all ethnicities. Some customs that are known to most residents, but usually practiced by members of a particular ethnic group, are noted as such.

General customs

• The customary way to welcome or congratulate someone is to present him or her with a lei, a garland of flowers (or other decorative items) strung together and worn around the neck. One puts the lei over the recipient's head and if the relationship is close, gives the recipient a honihoni or a kiss. Lei are especially appropriate for high school and college graduations, birthdays etc. Children often appreciate candy or money lei. It is considered bad luck to throw a lei away. When the lei is no longer wearable, some people cut the string and cast the individual flowers into the ocean. Others may hang the withering lei somewhere inside or outside the house. A lei is love, and one doesn't throw away love.

• Older people may be called "auntie" or "uncle" by friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers. No blood relationship is implied. While "aunties" and "uncles" are often old family friends, it can also be appropriate to address an elderly stranger as "auntie" or "uncle." This is considered respectful but friendly. The use of formal titles such as "Mr." or "Mrs." feels cold and unfriendly to many island residents.

• Everyone is expected to remove his/her footwear before entering a home or other place of residence (Garages don't count!).

• In most settings (with the exception of sporting events and concerts), it is considered rude to speak loudly or act as if one were entitled to special treatment. Politeness and reserve are considered to show good breeding.

• It is considered rude to stare or make excessive eye contact in public places.

• For men in business or professional roles, an aloha shirt and slacks are the norm. Suits and ties are rarely worn.

Woman wearing a lei and making the shaka sign Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. ... Aloha shirts are usually adorned with repeating tropical patterns. ... International standard business wear, for men, is a suit -- an ensemble composed of a pair of trousers with a matching jacket. ...

Visits and gifts

• When visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift (for example, a dessert) for one's host.

• The offering of food is related to the gift-giving culture. The pidgin phrases "Make Plate" or "Take Plate" are common in gatherings of friends or family that follow a pot-luck type format. It is considered good manners to "make plate", literally making a plate of food from the available spread to take home, or "take plate", literally taking a plate the host of the party (or the aunties running the kitchen) has made of the available spread for easy left-overs. It is gracious to take the plate, or make a small plate, even if you don't intend to eat it. In part, this tradition is related to clean-up, being a good guest by not leaving the mass of left-overs at the party-throwers house and making them alone responsible for clean up. In more recent times, this has also evolved into donating your left-overs to the homeless population, especially if you're having a get-together at a public park or similar location, as it is likely there is a homeless population living nearby as well.

• It is considered thoughtful to bring back gifts from a trip for friends and family. Some people use the Japanese name for such gifts, omiyage. Others use the Hawaiian word, "makana". Gifts of special foods unavailable outside the region visited are particularly appropriate.

Driving

• Drivers in Hawaii are generally easy-going and courteous, almost to a fault. In general, one should avoid using his or her car horn except to warn of an imminent accident.

• If someone makes a point of letting you change lanes, turn onto the street from a driveway, or any other act of courtesy, it is polite to give a shaka sign or wave one hand in thanks.

• Do not tailgate or get upset if someone is driving the speed limit in what is typically known as the fast lane. There's a bumper sticker that you might see around the islands that says: "Slow down. This ain't the mainland."

The shaka sign is a common greeting in beach and surfer culture. ...

The birthday luau

• It is customary for Hawai‘i families, regardless of ethnicity, to hold a lū‘au to celebrate a child's first birthday. In Hawaiian culture (and also in Korean culture), the first birthday is considered a major milestone.

Dancers and musicians at a commercial luau A luau (in Hawaiian, lū‘au) is a Hawaiian feast. ... Native Hawaiians (in Hawaiian, kānaka ōiwi or kānaka maoli) are the Polynesian peoples of the Hawaiian Islands who trace their ancestry back to Marquesan and possibly Tahitian settlers (starting circa AD 400), before the arrival of British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. ...

Wedding customs

• It is customary for a Japanese-American bride to fold 1,001 paper cranes prior to her wedding for good luck and long life. (The traditional Japanese custom calls for 1,000; people in Hawaii add one more for good luck.)

• At Japanese weddings, it is customary for friends and relatives to offer "banzai" toasts to the bride and groom, wishing them long life.

• It is customary at Hawai'i weddings, especially at Filipino weddings, for the bride and groom to do a "money dance" (also called the pandango). As the bride and groom dance, the guests express their best wishes to the newlyweds with a monetary gift.

The traditional crane and papers of the same size used to fold it A paper Pegasus designed by F. Kawahata Origami ) (literally meaning folding paper) is the art of paper folding. ...

For visitors from the "mainland"

• It is considered impolite to refer to the U.S. mainland as "the States" or to otherwise imply that Hawaiʻi is not part of the U.S. Asking, "Do you accept American money?" or "How do you like the United States?" would be considered rude and ignorant.

• It is also considered boorish to visit Hawaiʻi with the idea that everyone lives in huts and wears grass skirts and coconut bras. Although there are some regional differences, people in Hawaii generally wear American-style clothing and live in standard American-style houses.

• It is rude to refer to the locals as "natives." Only native Hawaiians should be called "Hawaiians." Native Hawaiians, especially those involved in the sovereignty movement, sometimes refer to themselves as "kanaka maoli" or "poʻe ʻōiwi." Non-Hawaiians who were born on the islands are generally referred to as "locals." Print media recommends that one refer to non-Hawaiians as "islanders" or "Hawaiʻi residents." In daily speech, few people use these words.

• Unless fluent, one should not attempt to speak pidgin English.

• If you are living or visiting on Oʻahu, do not refer to the other Hawaiian islands as "outer" islands. Refer to them as the "neighbour" islands.

• If you are "white", do not be upset if someone calls you a haole. The Hawaiian word "haole" as now used just means "white" or "Caucasian"; it originally meant foreigner. It does not have a negative connotation in itself unless used in a derogatory manner (c.f. paleface). It is wise to pay attention to the speaker's tone of voice rather than the word itself.

• The Traditional Hawaiian Luau is something seen most frequently as a tourist event, as opposed to a regular occurrence in local culture. Some exceptions apply, such as the abovementioned "Baby's First Birthday" or Weddings. The local Luau has evolved more into a 'potluck' type get together. Some aspects of the Luau, such as traditional Hawaiian foods, or roast pig from Imu remain, but for local get togethers are most often provided through catering services rather than individual family activities.