Hawaiian Customs and Traditions

Hawaiian Food

Hawaiian customs and traditions stem from indigenous Hawaiian culture, rich and vibrant, with a deep history and a strong sense of identity. It is a culture that values family, connection to the land, and respect for the environment. Music and dance are integral parts of Hawaiian culture, with traditional hula being a widely-recognized form of expression. Traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts, such as lauhala weaving, canoe building, and net making, are still practiced today. Hawaiian cuisine is heavily based on local ingredients such as poi, luau, and kalua pork. Hawaiian culture is also known for its hospitality, often expressed through the practice of aloha.

Aloha Spirit

Hawaiian customs will seem logical if you understand the essence of the Aloha spirit, demonstrated in Hawaiian beliefs and values.

What are Hawaiian beliefs and values?

Hawaiian beliefs and values center around the Aloha spirit. It’s defined as the harmony between a person’s head and heart. It reunites each person with themselves. In the awareness and presence of life energy, each person must think positively and radiate that emotion to others.

The values embody the aloha spirit: generosity, caring, humility, respect, and kindness.

Hawaiian culture values family. The word Ohana means family, but in Hawaii, it also refers to extended family outside of a person’s blood relatives. It’s a sense of community. It can mean your work Ohana or your work family; Ohana can refer to your friends and community. It’s a group of people to care for one another or share a commonality. It’s a group of people you trust and looks after each other.

Aloha spirit is a way of being, a part of the Hawaiian culture that local people call “Hawaiian style.”

Hawaiian Woman

Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture today is a blend of native Hawaiian traditions with the customs of several other ethnic groups that have resided in Hawaii for almost two centuries. Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Korean, Puerto Ricans, and Portuguese workers were brought over to work on plantations. These groups imported their rich history of traditions and cultures. Over the years, they blended together to create unique local customs. 

The Traditions of Native Hawaiians

Native Hawaiians practice a variety of customs and traditions. These include hula, a form of traditional dance; lauhala weaving, a type of basket weaving; and poi, a taro root dish. Other customs include storytelling, chanting, and playing Hawaiian music. Native Hawaiians also practice the honi ihu, in which two individuals put their noses together to signify friendship, hospitality, and respect. It is believed that when you do this, you are exchanging your breath and connecting with the other person in a special way.

Ancient Hula

hulaHula is a traditional Hawaiian dance form that dates back to ancient times. It is believed to have originated as an act of prayer and praise for gods and goddesses. In ancient times, it was practiced as a form of storytelling, with dancers using their hands and body to tell stories. Hula is also regarded as a way of honoring the Hawaiian gods and goddesses and is still performed today in traditional ceremonies and festivals. The primary purpose of hula today is to preserve the culture and traditions of Hawaii, as well as to entertain. Hula is a way of expressing Hawaiian culture and connecting with the island’s spirit.

The Merry Monarch Festival is the most significant hula festival in Hawaii. Held yearly in April, it’s a hula competition that honors the legacy of King David Kalākaua, who inspired the perpetuation of native Hawaiian traditions, language, and arts.

Hawaiian Language

The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language spoken by the Native Hawaiian people. It is a unique language, important to the native Hawaiian people, as it is a vital part of their culture and identity. It is also used in many traditional ceremonies and festivals and is widely spoken throughout the islands.

The Hawaiian language uses 12 letters from the Latin alphabet, which are: A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, and W. There are also two additional letters, ʻokina, and kahakō, which are used to indicate glottal stops and vowel length, respectively.

The Hawaiian language is not widely spoken in Hawaii, where English is the primary language. However, it’s essential to the beautiful culture of Hawaii to keep this language alive. Refer to our guide to common Hawaiian words and phrases here.

Popular Hawaiian Customs and Traditions

Lei Day

Lei Day is a traditional Hawaiian holiday celebrated annually on May 1st. It is a day of celebration, where people give and wear lei to honor the culture and heritage of Hawaii. Lei Day was founded in 1927 to celebrate Hawaii’s culture and bring people of all ages together to enjoy traditional music, dancing, and food. Today, Lei Day is still a popular holiday in Hawaii and is celebrated with parades, festivals, and other events.

Learn more about Lei Day here.

Wearing and Giving Hawaiian Leis: The Most Popular Tradition in Hawaii

Maile lei

In the lush tropical paradise that is the Hawaiian islands, wearing leis is a long-standing Hawaiian tradition. Giving a lei is acherished custom that has remained a beloved part of Hawaiian culture since ancient times. Just as the first Polynesian settlers to these beautiful islands gave leis to each other as symbols of love and celebration, FlowerLeis.com continues that tradition today and makes lei-giving accessible to everyone in the US.

In ancient Hawaii, the islanders honored each other and the Gods by wearing leis. To differentiate the various classes of royalty, they wore leis of flowers, shells, leaves, seeds, and nuts. The maile lei, a peace offering, was the most important of all the leis and was exchanged by battling chiefs and given during weddings and other important ceremonies.

Today, a Hawaiian flower lei is a popular custom given to someone to recognize them. It’s customary to give a lei on a special day like their birthday, wedding, graduation, promotion, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or if they are a special guest. It shows respect and appreciation.

Traditional Hawaiian Luau

luau food

A traditional Hawaiian luau is a festive gathering that includes Hawaiian music, dancing, and food. It celebrates Hawaiian culture and brings people together to honor their ancestors and celebrate the present. Traditional Hawaiian luaus usually include a variety of traditional foods such as poi, lau lau, kalua pork, and lomi salmon, as well as classic songs and hula performances. Experiencing a traditional luau is a fun way to the culture and customs of the Hawaiian people.

Hawaii has a unique and vibrant culture, and its customs and traditions are essential to its identity. From traditional hula to the practice of aloha, there are lots of ways to experience and enjoy the Hawaiian culture. These customs are a beautiful way to honor the culture and heritage, and to connect with the spirit of the islands.