Growing up, whenever my dad would go out-of-town on business he would return with gifts for our entire family. This was customary in our home, not just because my dad is a nice guy, but also because it is a cultural tradition in Japan. My mother is Japanese and I was raised in Hawaii, a state with a large Asian population. Whether you are Hawaiian, Filipino, Samoan, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, or Caucasian, if you live in Hawaii, you adhere to the Japanese tradition of returning from your travels with omiyage.
Omiyage (pronounced: oh-me-yah-gay) are gifts given to bosses, co-workers, family members and friends upon returning from a trip. In Japan this is done to keep the harmony of the office environment by illustrating that the vacationing worker was thinking of his fellow colleagues while he was away. Gift giving is something of an art in Japan. Traditionally, (when done correctly), omiyage encompasses not only what you give, but also how you present it. The gift itself must successfully honor the recipient; quality and attention to detail are hallmarks of well-chosen omiyage. The quality of the presentation is also important. Gifts are traditionally wrapped in beautiful printed squares of fabric called furoshiki and presented reverently to the recipient.
In Hawaii, the act of giving omiyage is a long standing local tradition, but it is done in a far less formal fashion than in Japan. For instance, during a recent trip to San Francisco, I picked up a few boxes of Ghirardelli chocolate and upon returning to work I placed them in the office break room for all to enjoy. While there are no hard and fast rules regarding the type of omiyage you return with, typically you choose products unique to the state or country from which you just returned.
For example, when I would return to Wisconsin from a trip home to Hawaii I would bring my colleagues macadamia nuts and Hawaiian chocolates. However, when I was working in Hawaii, BEFORE leaving on vacation my colleagues would put in their requests for various omiyage. It may seem pretentious, but in Hawaii it’s considered: “local style.” In essence, omiyage is a way of sharing your good fortune (traveling) with those who must stay behind.
In Hawaii, the distance you travel is not a factor as to whether or not you return with omiyage. In fact, many locals traveling to neighbor islands take an extra bag specifically for omiyage. It’s an unwritten rule that you bring back delicacies from the island you visited. For example, if you were to visit Hilo you would return with items from Big Island Candies. If you were to travel to the island of Kauai you would bring back Kauai Kookies. A trip to Molokai would mean bringing back Molokai hot bread for friends and family members. To make omiyage shopping even easier, many local stores have created “omiyage aisles,” where you can find various treats to take back to your loved ones.
The custom of omiyage dates back centuries and even though I no longer live in Hawaii it is a tradition I continue with my own family.
What travel customs do you practice?