Directions
If you ask for directions in Honolulu, you'll probably hear back something like this: "Go Ewa on Beretania and when you get to Ward, turn makai then head Diamond Head on King. It'll be on the mauka side of the street."Instead of north, south, east and west, locals give directions using landmarks and Hawaiian words. Ewa means to head toward the town of Ewa, which is in the opposite direction of heading toward Diamond Head. In Hawaiian, mauka means mountain and makai means ocean.
Traffic
Never blast your car horn in Hawaii. It is considered by locals the ultimate rudeness. About all that is considered acceptable is to give a light beep if you're waiting behind a motorist who hasn't noticed the light has turned green.
Hawaii drivers are among the friendliest on the road. If another driver gives you a break, give them a thank you wave. It's a very local thing to do.
Parking meters
Street parking costs a lot more in Honolulu than it does in downtown Salt Lake City. Expect to pay a nickel for three minutes, a dime for six minutes and a quarter for 15 minutes.
Shave ice
Shave ice is an island delicacy that we here on the mainland make poor attempts to replicate as Hawaiian ice. Proper grammar would dictate it be called "shaved ice." But say that to a local and if your sunburnt nose doesn't give you away as a visitor, your language will.
Shave ice in Hawaii, when it's done right, is as fine as snow and drenched in a lot of your favorite flavored syrup.
Radio
If it's Hawaiian music you want to listen to while driving around Oahu in your rental car, tune your radio to 105.1 KINE. It's as local as it gets.
-- Wendy Ogata