Is Hawaiian life different? Difference #1: not layering your clothes

Hawaiian life can be different because you spend less time planning your outfit to adjust with the varying temperatures of the day.  For example, in Reno Nevada, the weather changes every hour so when I leave for work at the beginning of the day, I’m wearing layers to accommodate for the warmer temperatures in the afternoon.  However, it’s freezing when I walk outside the door in the early morning so I need extra layers for the early hours.  In Hawaii, you won’t need to take this much consideration into your outfit because the temperature remains the same all day, all year.  Of course there’s the variable of rain, which might be why most people in Hawaii carry an umbrella in their vehicles.  However, for the most part, you won’t have to plan your layers and coats out to the extent that you would need to on the mainland.  This is one reason why Hawaiian life is different.  

You’ll find yourself in a t shirt or tank top in late December – at night! Photo Copyright CyberCom, Inc.

Is Hawaiian life different? Difference #2:  beach every weekend

Weekend activities in the islands usually consist of going to the beach at least once. It’s a weekend activity for most locals here. Instead of meeting up with friends at a coffee shop, like you would in an urban setting, here in the islands we meet up with friends at the beach. This lifestyle can be a shift for those who are not accustomed to regular access to a nearby beach throughout the year. If you’re moving from Hawaii to the mainland, this can be a severe shift because you’ll have to find other things to do on the weekend than just go to the beach.

Your weekend activities will involve the beach.
Waikiki Beach by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original

Is Hawaiian life different? Difference #3: traveling less

If you haven’t figured it out already, Hawaii is a collection of small islands in the small Pacific. Flying to and from these islands can be expensive, especially during high season. Living in Hawaii means you will not be traveling as much because of this. Those that have friends and family working at Hawaiian Airlines can score some sweet buddy pass discounts. For the rest of us, we pay full price. In general, you’ll be traveling less to the mainland or other places when living in the islands. There are many that do short day trips to other islands, and that’s always a fun thing to do.

Get used to minimal flight time when living in the islands. Public domain. Source https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1509244

Is Hawaiian life different? Difference #4: being tan is the norm

I never noticed I was tan all the time while living in Hawaii until I moved to the mainland. Within a few weeks of moving to Nevada, I lost my tan and went back to being pale and white. I stayed that way throughout the winter until I visited home and regained my tan. Living in Hawaii means you are tan on a regular basis and don’t notice it. Even if you’re not going to the beach on a daily basis, you’ll probably be there once a week. That’s enough to maintain a tan. And even if you’re not there on the weekends, you’re still living in the rainbow state where there’s always sunshine. Just taking your dog for a walk will give you substantial sun exposure.

Tan like these burned spam musubis.
Spam musubi dllu by Dllu is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original.

Is Hawaiian life different? Difference #5: eating a lot of fruits

The islands have an amazing source of fresh produce pretty much all year long. The humid environment provides is one of the best for fruit crops and our local farmers’ markets are amazing. When I live in Hawaii, I had a few servings of fruit a day. Some may think this is a healthy diet, but it’s also very high in carbohydrates. If your metabolism isn’t accustomed to this, it can be an adjustment for you. Keep this in mind. However, the fruit and acai bowls are so abundant and popular that you’ll want one every day!

Fruit bowls are the go-to fast food here in the islands. Photo Copyright Cybercom, Inc.