I love this bronze statue in Waikiki.
It's just before you get to the Waikiki Wall. It shows a young surfer sharing a moment with a seal. That's SO Hawaiian. I don't ever remember learning how to swim or surf growing up. You just grew up in the ocean. Even today I probably have more salt water than blood in my veins. As a child and youth, I was able to spend almost every day at the beach. Adults weren't so blessed. They had to work all day. That's why you see so many families at the beach on the weekend. They all seem so in tune with nature.
Hawaiian culture is rooted in a love for the sea. The ocean (kai in Hawaiian) is the lifeblood of the islands. Of course, there are people who live in Hawaii that don't care for the ocean. For some it's as simple as not wanting to track sand into the house. Others don't like the feeling of salt all over their body. Some don't care to surf or swim. Lots of people prefer Hawaii for the mountains and hiking. I don't think it has to be either/or.
But for me, the beach will always be where it's at.