Weekends and holidays are filled with shopping expeditions to regional shopping malls, discount retailers, swap meets, or the father of all shopping centers, Ala Moana Center. Cultural activities and entertainment abound at the Neal Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, intimate neighborhood theaters, college amphitheaters, churches, and neighborhood centers. There are outdoor festivals, craft fairs and numerous sports events, including the Honolulu Marathon, Pro Bowl, Rainbow Classic basketball tournament and the Hawaiian Open golf tournament. Most local residents avoid Waikiki when there are other, less crowded alternatives, such as the Aloha Tower Marketplace, Kahala Mall or Pearlridge Center. The public bus system, TheBus, is reliable, economical and is commonly utilized by local residents to commute to work or as an alternative means of transportation.
Island life is one of sharing and obligation.
You will usually get a dinner invitation or a bunch of bananas on your doorstep in return. As a newcomer, you will find that others are curious to know about your family, where you live now, where you're from, who else you may know from the same place, and what you do for a living. In most cases, people will ask because they are genuinely interested in getting to know you and are looking for a common bond or point of reference. Family activities typically occupy a big part of local residents' lives. Many are centered around celebrations, sports or the church.