Things to do / Travel Guide
Oahu has a population of about 1 million, including military personnel stationed on the island. About half of the residents live in the greater Honolulu area. The major ethnic groups represented in the population are Caucasian (20%), Hawaiian/Polynesian (20%), Japanese (20%), Filipino (15%), and Chinese (5%). Like the rest of Hawaii, Oahu is a great “melting pot,” with the remaining 20% of the residents being from various and mixed ethnic backgrounds.
As it is part of the U.S., English is the official and predominant language in Oahu. You will, of course, hear other languages in certain locales, such as Chinese in Chinatown. Although Hawaiian is the state's native tongue (as reflected in place names), the language is rarely, if ever used by the locals. Many Hawaiian words, however, are liberally sprinkled in to conversations in day-to-day English. There is also a local “slang language” of Hawaiian Pidgin, which is a mixture of English, Hawaiian, and other Asian languages.
While the predominant ethnic groups on Oahu are Polynesian/Hawaiian and Asian, there is a large percentage of Caucasians and mixed population (made up of other various ethnic groups). Perhaps the most “dominant” ethnic presence on the island, in terms of tourists, business, and government, are the Japanese.
The locals in Honolulu are much like residents of other large urban centers, although perhaps a bit more “laid back.” Outside of Honolulu, the locals are more true to the stereotype of residents of an island paradise. Tending to be warm, giving, and friendly, the people are emotionally linked to the land and water and everything it has to offer.
Most of Oahu is tourist-oriented, and some say that “true Hawaii” is absent from Oahu because of this. This is surely not the case on the island's northwest coast, including the town of Waianae. There, you can see the locals in a more Hawaiian environment.
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