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The Locals Aren't Called "Hawaiians"

In Hawaii, there are two different types of people. You have those whose ancestry can be traced back to the same islands, and then there are those who have traveled over from different areas of the world and now call the islands their home. However, not everyone in Hawaii can be called "Hawaiian." Semantics matter in Hawaii, and only those with specific Hawaiian ancestry have the honor of calling themselves Hawaiians.

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Those who grew up in Hawaii but don't have Hawaiian ancestry are instead called “kamaaina,” which roughly translates to "child of the land." Alternatively, they are just called "locals." And this is something that native Hawaiians take very seriously.