7 Things to Be Thankful for When Living in Hawaiʻi

It’s easy to take things for granted when you’re living in paradise—so here’s a little reminder.

November 22, 2017

Lennie Omalza,

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

If you were born and raised in the Islands—or even if you just recently started to call Hawaiʻi “home”—chances are there are aspects about living here that have simply become a part of everyday life. It’s easy to get caught up with work, school and family responsibilities, but ’tis the season to be thankful! So take a breath, look around and remember why we truly are so lucky we live Hawaiʻi.

1. We don’t have to check the weather report before getting dressed in the morning.

Yes, we love Guy Hagi—and we appreciate the hilarious memes that are all over the internet—but seriously, when was the last time you checked the weather before choosing your OOTD? We can wear what we want to wear, when we want to wear it, because there’s no such thing as a winter wardrobe in Hawaiʻi. Scarves, gloves and the like are fashion accessories—not necessities to get us through the day.

2. We can go to the beach every single day, if we want to.

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

If you’ve ever spent some time on the Mainland, there’s a good chance you met people who have never even seen a beach before. That’s right: There are people who have never even seen a beach in real life, much less set foot in the sand. But we’re all just a drive away from some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, with the beautiful blue Pacific ready and waiting for us night and day.

3. We have access to practically any type of cuisine one could want.

Photo: Steve Czerniak

Obviously, the best Hawaiian dishes and local specialties (Hello, Spam musubi and loco mocos!) are found here. But if you’re craving a different taste, you can find pretty much anything here. Looking for French or Italian cuisine? We’ve got it! Feeling ʻono for some Mexican, Cuban or Indian food? We’ve got that, too! With so many eateries in the Islands, the options are almost endless.

4. We have shave ice. Like, actual shave ice—not snow cones.

PHOTO: ODEELO DAYONDON

Shave ice is one of those things that is loved by all. Some visitors—and, let’s be honest, some kamaʻāina, too—aren’t exactly fond of certain local dishes, like raw fish or poi. But who can say no to shave ice? Unlike the Mainland’s crunchy snow cones, our shave ice is legit—and with so many flavors and add-on options, like ice cream, azuki beans and condensed milk,it’s a treat that will never go out of style.

5. We have a unique official language. (You neva kno’?!)

In case you missed the memo, Pidgin English was added as an official language of Hawaiʻi in 2015. It made national news and was a welcome addition to the more than 100 languages that were already on the census list of our little melting pot. We take the language for granted when we hear it daily, but if you’ve ever been away for a while, you know that hearing Pidgin spoken somewhere else is like having a little piece of home.

6. We’re on Hawaiian time.

Yes, a lot of things get to us late—trends, Mainland chains, Amazon packages—but do we really want everything on the Islands to start moving at the speed of light? Sure, Sunday drivers and that one co-worker who is always, always, always late to meetings might drive us crazy sometimes, but our slow pace and relaxed culture are a part of who we are and what makes us unique.

7. We have Aloha Spirit.

You know what it means, but did you know it’s acknowledged in chapter five of Hawaiʻi Revised Statues? It states: “ʻAloha Spirit’ is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.” If we continue to evoke the Aloha Spirit to one another every day, we’ll always have something to be thankful for.