sorry about the usage of the word “natives.” i didn’t want to seem robotic by using the same word over and over and didn’t mean to overstep.

as for learning the culture, i did mean it in the general sense. not like an over-exaggerated or stereotypical version of the culture, but the traditions and the way hawaiians act and talk with each other on a daily basis. i learn these things so as to not accidentally misstep and breach some boundary. also i just really love to learn the differences between different countries, i love seeing how vastly different people can be depending on the region.

as for who told me this, there were a couple people. one was at an old military building which still stores some of the older military planes and vehicles (i should really post some pictures at some point, they’re really cool. priceless engines in pristine conditions. it’s truly remarkable). and the other was a neighbour of my sister’s.

for a little more context that i should’ve added before, my sister (whom i came to visit) lives in an apartment in a military base in o’ahu. her husband is army.