A L O H A !
Like many other Japanese, I also love Hawaii very much.
I've been there 3 times and still feel like to visit there again and again.
We sometimes say jokingly to refer Hawaii as 窶愿コ窶怒ツ坂?佝地ニ陳照辰ナ陳ァツ(Hawaii Prefecture, Japan)
But, It's only for a JOKE and there is no intention to offend any Americans or Hawaiians.
It's because Waikiki beach is full of Japanese tourists, so you don't feel like you are in America.
Also,since one third of the Hawaiian population is made up with Japanese descent,
we feel very welcoming atomosphere compare to other U.S.cities or states.
If you are from English speaking countries, you can travel to USA, UK, Australia, NZ, Canada. Etc..
without any language barriers. And most of the countries you don't need to speak languages other than English.
So, it may be hard to imagine for you how the Japanese (especially, older people who don't understand English at all)
feel relaxed when they stay in Hawaii.
I admire the early Japanese migrants to Hawawii for their struggle in harsh work conditions and
the way they gained reputation there. And I'm proud of them.That's one of the reason I love Hawaii.
Anyway, Hawaii's got a perfect mixture of Polinesian, Western and Asian cultures and I felt the all of these cultures have a equalities
of statas.
Though, I felt very uncomfortable when I visited the Pearl Harbour Memorial.
Some western visitors gave us a look of reproach saying "Dirty JAP!" :sorry: