Hawaiian Tourists Find Unexpected Pieces of Home Abroad in Rare Discoveries
Three groups of Hawaiian tourists recently stumbled upon unexpected reminders of home while travelling abroad. Each encounter involved Hawaiian-themed businesses in cities far from the islands. These rare discoveries surprised the visitors, who had not anticipated finding such connections overseas.
In Tokyo, Maelene Yamaguchi of Pearl City and her granddaughter Kylie Ito were exploring the city when they came across Pua Lei, a flower shop near Nezu Shrine. The shop's name and Hawaiian-themed decor stood out in the bustling neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, in Osaka, Harris Ichida from Ewa Beach found the Hawaiian Pancake Factory inside Links Umeda mall. The restaurant's familiar branding offered a taste of Hawaii in an unexpected location.
Halfway across the world, Glenn and Hope Okimoto from Honolulu were chasing a solar eclipse in Cleburne, Texas. While there, they spotted a sign referencing Hawaiian culture—an unusual sight in the small American town.
Records show no other documented cases of tourists encountering Hawaiian-themed businesses abroad in the past five years. These chance discoveries highlight how rare such experiences have become for travellers from the islands.
The encounters left the tourists with a sense of connection to home while far away. Each discovery—whether a flower shop, a pancake restaurant, or a sign—stood out as a unique moment during their travels. No similar cases have been reported globally since 2021, making these finds even more notable.
