Essay On Hawaii Culture

“The Aloha State” was annexed to the United States in 1959, but its history can be dated back centuries earlier. Approximately 1,500 years ago, Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands first set foot in Hawaii. Hawaiian culture, a mixture of many Polynesian traditions, flourished over the centuries. The arrival of Captain James Cook, Protestant missionaries, and European diseases in the late 18th and early 19th centuries stunted the growth and development of the native Hawaiian population. Western influence continued to grow and by 1893, American colonists, who controlled much of Hawaii's economy, overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom. Although many natives died in the hustle of their history, their culture lived on. When on vacationing in Hawaii, tourists can experience the vibrancy of the Hawaiian culture firsthand. One of the most common ways to identify culture is through food. Hawaiian cuisine is informal and can be found at the side of any road. A few well known Hawaiian dishes include poke,
In Hawaii, snorkeling, surfing, and hanging out at luaus is very common activities. Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities to do in Hawaii. Swimming throughout the beauty that makes up Hawaii’s marine life is nothing less than amazing. While snorkeling takes you inside the clear waves of Hawaii, surfing lets you ride them. The Islands of Hawaii still are on the forefront as the best place in the world for surfing. All of the snorkeling and surfing could prove to be tiresome, which is why a luau is the perfect way to end a day in paradise. Luaus are a great way to experience, celebrate, and appreciate the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures. A luau involves a large feast with local foods, learning Hawaiian crafts like basket weaving, and watching cultural presentations, such as the Hawaiian hula and fire dance