“Aloha”, a common greeting in Hawaii (and of course, a movie starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, and Rachel McAdams), but Aloha actually means so much more than just hello. It means love, affection, peace, compassion, sympathy, kindness, and breath of life. Although Aloha can mean so many different things, it is not exactly something that can be explained in words; it’s an experience, human-to-human and human-to-nature. The locals don’t just say Aloha; they live it and breathe it. The true Aloha experience is taking in all that Hawaii has to offer.
While staying at an all-inclusive hotel can be enjoyable and relaxing, it takes away from this experience. Get out, explore the island, immerse yourself in the culture. Find out where the locals play and eat, not just the tourists. The concierge will probably suggest a Tony Roma’s (it’s basically a fancy 99), skip out on that and hit up Leonard’s for some authentic malasadas, or find a small hole in the wall Thai restaurant (just be sure to specify your spiciness limit).
Despite the fact that Pearl Harbor and Luau’s seem like tourist traps, they can actually teach you a lot about American history and the Polynesian culture. Lets face it; being at an actual historic site is a lot more exciting than reading about it in a textbook. A tragic event like that, feels a lot more real when you’re standing in the exact location where those 1,177 men lost their lives. As for Luau’s, they’re not just for the all you can eat buffet and “getting lei’d”. You’ll learn HOW they cook the food, WHY they perform the dances, and the meaning behind their many tattoos (which, yes, are all real).
In Hawaii, you’ll quickly realize that “ohana” means everything to the locals, whether you’re family or not, they’ll sure treat you like you are. There is a strong sense of community on the island; they respect each other, they appreciate everyone’s differences, and they live in harmony. In order to get a true Hawaiian experience, you must first learn the meaning of “Aloha”, and understand why it means so much to those on the island.