Western customs and habits

After many orientals came to Hawaii, they found that many customs and habits in Hawaii are very similar to their own countries. Judging from the population composition of Hawaii, 60% to 70% of the population are orientals or descendants of orientals. Perhaps orientals, especially new immigrants from the East, find that Hawaii is one of the 50 states in the United States, but it has more oriental characteristics than the United States, and there is no racial discrimination that orientals often encounter in the United States, so they are willing to stay in Hawaii despite the high cost of living.

What are the customs of Hawaii? Tourists take a quick look at Hawaii, and the Hawaiian style they see is actually superficial.

In the past 100 years, Hawaii has become a world-famous tourist destination because of its beautiful scenery. Thousands of tourists spend their holidays in Waikiki beach area every day, the whole golden coastline. In fact, more than 90% of the people tourists meet there come from all over the world, just like him. In tourist areas, all service industries revolve around tourism services, from sightseeing during the day to hula dancing at night. In order to create a friendly atmosphere and enhance the cohesion among tourists, professional service personnel often teach tourists some Hawaiian greetings, such as "hello, thank you, goodbye" and so on. "Aloha" is a greeting in Hawaiian dialect, including "Hello", "Thank you" and "Goodbye" in China language. Tourists are willing to learn and practice, and they are also willing to take them back to China and teach them to relatives and friends. Over time, Waikiki residential area has formed such a special living habit, that is, when people meet, they say "Alouha" whether they know each other or not. According to the market survey, nine times out of ten tourists who have been to Hawaii think that the Hawaiian habit is to shout "Aloha" at everyone. Even I, a Hawaiian born and raised for fifteen years, went to other countries, where I met people who had been to Hawaii, and their first greeting was "Aloha"!

In fact, modern Hawaiian customs have been integrated into the customs of all ethnic groups around the world. For example, when you visit a Hawaiian home, you must take off your shoes before you can go in. This habit was actually moved from the Japanese. Besides, wearing a suit is only for weddings, courts and funerals in Hawaii. This habit is a compromise between Hawaiian local customs and western customs. Because it's very hot in Hawaii, it's impossible to wear a suit at all, but occasionally to show respect and solemnity. Student graduation ceremony, wedding, birthday, etc. The most common gift is a wreath made of flowers; When guests come from far away, or want to send their loved ones away, sending flowers rings can show love and care ... Sending flowers rings is a real ancient style in Hawaii.

To truly understand the customs and habits of Hawaii, we must understand the customs and habits of Hawaii before the white civilization entered, that is, the customs and habits of the Karp system in Hawaii. Karp system died out around 1820 (see Karp system).

In old Hawaii, society was hierarchical. Karp system divides people into grades and stipulates that men are superior to women. Chiefs and priests are the highest social classes, slaves are the lowest, and civilians are the middle. Karp system stipulates that people of different levels should fish and hunt, farm and harvest, swim and play on the beach, what kind of food to eat and how to dress. Criminals are capital crimes. Hawaiians believe in God and fate. They believe that the power of God depends on the generation and age of God's family, so the status of people also depends on the family's position in society and the generation and age of people in the family. The higher the qualifications, the older the people and the older the qualifications. Hawaiians believe that living things have "magic", and magic is the air and aura obtained from ancestors and gods. Hawaiians believe that souls are immortal, and the souls of ancestors often come back to bless their descendants. It's just that ordinary people have very little hemp, so they can't get it from the gods in heaven like chiefs. In order to protect their numbness, people are very afraid to give their personal clothes to others.

In the aboriginal community, you sometimes hear the curse of Hawaiian aborigines when they quarrel: your ancestors tied a gourd around their necks. Gourd is a bit like a "magic bottle" in the Middle East for China people, which is associated with longevity and divine power, so if you come from China, you won't think that this is the most vicious swear word that Hawaiians think. /kloc-More than 0/00 years ago, slaves were still used in Hawaii. Slaves in Hawaii may be the most miserable slaves in the world. These people are born to be the private property of chiefs, no different from chickens, dogs and pigs. People call slaves "dirty things", and slaves often have the following totem marks on their foreheads: half moon, triangle or dot. When the festival of offering sacrifices to the gods comes, the chief's men will come to the place where the slaves live, arrest the slaves used as human sacrifices, put them in cages and tie a gourd around his neck.

When tourists come to Hawaii, they often visit polynesian cultural center, and when they go there, they will marvel at Hawaii's past system that men are superior to women. Shanghai women, in particular, who enjoy considerable rights on the issue of equality between men and women, are very glad that they were not reincarnated as women in Hawaii a hundred years ago. Hawaiians once thought that men and women were opposites, that men were bright and women were dark; Men are strong and women are weak; Men are pure and women are evil; Men are good and women are evil. In this conceptual society, women are subject to many restrictions, such as not being allowed to eat at the same table as men, not eating coconuts and bananas, not eating roast pork and nail fish, and women on official holidays have bad breath, which brings bad luck to men. What's more, men and women can't share the same bed, and the favored woman can lay a floor bed beside the man's bed.

This historical concept has formed many unique social habits in Hawaii, such as shipbuilding, fishing nets and farming, which are not women's business, and women are not allowed to appear on such occasions. They think that the boat touched by a woman will overturn, the fishing net touched by a woman will not catch fish, and the woman will not even grow seedlings in the ground. Women's business is to have children, make clothes and wallpaper from bark, and weave baskets, shoes, hats and cushions from leaves.

Until now, many traditional Hawaiians still think that pillows can't be stepped on or sat on. When a man goes fishing, his family can't ask him where he is going, nor can they entertain guests when he is not at home. People who go fishing in the sea can't bring bananas, otherwise it will be unlucky.

As a woman living in Hawaii, I am really glad that these customs disappeared with the spread of Christianity to around 1820. But even so, traces of history will occasionally appear on future generations, and I have experienced it. Some indigenous communities occasionally encounter the following customs. It may come in handy if you come to Hawaii.

receive wounds in battle

Hawaiians send wreaths of flowers to express their joy or congratulations, and they will put them around your neck for you. Don't take it off immediately after you accept it, and you can't take it off immediately and give it to others unless you give it to your family. Otherwise it will be considered impolite.

eat something

When eating, it is polite to invite others to have dinner with you, whether you know them or not. If you visit someone and the host invites you to dinner, it will also be considered impolite if you refuse to eat. The host will think that you don't eat his food because you think it is poisonous.

The concept of extended family

Hawaii used to be polygamous, and a big family had many children. Brothers and sisters love each other, which is a happy event for Hawaiians, especially for the ruling class. It is a good thing to keep pure blood. This is very similar to the concept of the Egyptian royal family. Until today, Hawaiian natives dare not offend Hawaiian aborigines, because if you wronged a person, his cousins, seven aunts and eight aunts will come out to deal with you, making you more than you can bear.

grow

A Hawaiian woman is pregnant with a child. If she wants to know whether the child is a boy or a girl, she will go to a witch. Witches will make pregnant women reach out. If the pregnant woman reaches out her right hand first, the child will be a boy; If the pregnant woman reaches out her left hand first, the child will be a girl.

After the baby is born, the placenta must be washed and buried under the tree. If it is buried without washing, the child will have eye problems in the future.

After the child is born, if he turns to see his mother first, then the child will be very filial to his mother all his life. If he sees his father or midwife first, the child will be filial to his father. If a child is born with his head down, his memory will be good.

Hawaiian parents teach their children not to spank, but to kick their children's kneecaps. A child's head can't be touched casually. Hawaiians believe that the head is a human temple, and touching the head means offending and disrespecting.

behaviour

Thieves' hands hurt, they get tinea, and promiscuous people hurt. People whose feet hurt for no reason when walking should be careful. Maybe you're going the wrong way.

funeral

If someone at home is sick or injured and needs to be carried out of the house, be sure to put your feet behind your head. If you raise your head first and then lift your feet, it will be considered as lifting people to death, which is very unlucky.

When someone dies in the family, it is the custom in Hawaii to mourn for the whole family. The sadder the better. Many family members knocked out their front teeth and hurt their faces and bodies, expressing their most sincere condolences.

I'll believe that when I see it. Welcome to Hawaii! For the convenience of your travel plan and budget, please refer to the "Travel Package Budget" on our website.

See you in Hawaii!