What It's Like Being Raised In Hawaii

I was requested to write a Hub on what it is like to be raised in Hawaii. I get that questions a lot and even when I'm not asked that questions I still find myself referring to my homeland. When people find out that I'm from Hawaii they often ask why I ever left and I simply respond by saying, "I got island fever."

Growing up in Hawaii, I often stared at the empty horizon with its broad arms encompassing my vision and wondered what was out there. When you are on any of the eight islands of Hawaii, you can't escape the fact that you're in the middle of a big, big ocean. During my childhood, I never wanted to stay there forever and when I got the chance I would fly over the Pacific and experience the excitement of the "mainland" (what locals call the rest of United States).

Now that I have been residing in San Francisco for almost six years, I can't stop prefacing a lot of what I say with "In Hawaii..." or "Back home...". And this knee-jerk reaction to referencing Hawaii used to make me feel fustrated because I would tell myself that I wanted to leave when I was younger so I should stop talking about Hawaii. But now I realize that it's where I from that makes me who I am and I can't escape that.

Now memories of growing up in Hawaii. Well I grew up in a small valley called Pauoa and it is located in the state's capital, Honolulu. Everywhere in Hawaii the air smells like a mixture of Plumerias (a fragrant flower that grows rampant in the islands), grilled meat, (strange but true, Hawaii locals loved their special take on BBQ), and the faint smell of rain (one of the Hawaiian, Kauai, has a location where is constantly rains). The greens, blues, blacks and reds are so vibrant in Hawaii. I don't know why but maybe it has to do with the way the sun hit everything or maybe its the reflection of the surrounding ocean that puts a certain gleam to everything. And there is a lack of footwear in Hawaii. I remember during my first year in foggy San Francisco I refused to wear shoes. I told people I don't like the way covered footwear makes my toes feel claustrophobic, but I soon realized that my frost-bitten island feet needed the warmth of socks and sock and slippers (what locals call flips flops) is a fashion no-no.

I'm Filipino-Irish and my background is just a sample of the patchwork that makes up local lifes in Hawaii. My family, on both my mother and father's side, arrived to the islands to work on its numerous plantations. My mom's family grew up on a pineapple plantation in Maui. In fact, I never seen anyone who can cut a pineapple as fast as my mom. My father's family worked on a sugar plantation in Oahu. My narrative is so common to the islands. Most of my friends are a hodgepodge of ethnicity and it all reflects the various immigrants, from Chinese to Puerto Ricans, who came to Hawaii to work and build a better future for their children.

I think growing up Hawaii has also made look at cultures differently. For example, Asian and Polynesian cultures are like second nature to me because I was surrounded by it. But when I moved, I was exposed to European, Latin, and Middle Eastern cultures. It's the sheer exposure to the what lies beyond the horizon that also made me realize how sheltered I was. I lived in paradise and didn't know anything else. I guess in that sense, my experience is similar to anyone who lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere. I still believe that growing up in Hawaii gives way to a certain naivete and close-mindedness but maybe that can be said for people growing up anywhere.

The diversity and hybrids of culture in Hawaii can be seen, tasted, and heard. I can figure out if someone if is from Hawaii just by listening to that person speak. Pidgin is defined as being a simplified version of a particular language used to make communication easier. Locals love to speak pidgin. "Ya" "Da kine" "Laddat" are all phrases that come from Hawaiian pidgin. I also consider the local patois of Hawaii a type of creole because it combines the languages of those who lived on plantations. You can hear Hawaiian, Japanese, and Chinese words laced throughout locals' everyday speech.

Let's not forget the food of my childhood. From Japanese ramen and Chinese dim sum to Hawaiian Luau and Filipino roast pig, Hawaii's local cuisine is anything but simple but you can count on everything being served with rice- two scoops of rice to be exact. And it's not a myth. Local Hawaiians love their spam. I remember growing up and eating spam and eggs for breakfast, spam for lunch and then spam for dinner. This luncheon meat delicacy has a special place in my heart and locals living abroad often have at least two cans of Spam in their pantry. Trust me, fried spam, eggs and rice is the best hangover cure.

I guess finally for this trip down memory lane I can't leave out the importance of Aloha. This is one touristy thing about Hawaii that's true and I often get slightly irritated when I see any Hawaiian stereotype (because its not all about grass shacks and coconut bras). Aloha is a Hawaiian word that means many things. From hello to goodbye to kindness and love, Aloha means a lot to locals and its what I think hypnotizes those who come to the islands. It's not just a saying that tourists learn to say but its an idea or motto. The Aloha spirit is welcoming and loving. It will feed you and make you laugh. It will be never leave you even if you're not in Hawaii. Maybe that's what makes me the person I am today, not Hawaii but Aloha.