Mahalo.

We're on our way to Hawai'i for a vacation with Kristin's family. We are flying Hawai'ian airlines and just landed in Honolulu. We have a brief lay-over before we fly on to Maui. We're in the interisland terminal and every annoucement over the intercom system is ending with "Mahalo!", the Hawai'ian word for 'thank you'.

I'm feeling like this is a total gimmick. Do normal Hawai'ians say mahalo instead of thank you? Or is this some touristy thing that the airline does to 'get you in the island spirit'?

Well guess what? My point was just proven. I went up to talk to one of the gate people, she asked me for something, I handed it to her and she said "Thank you." Not mahalo. Thank you.

IT IS A SHAM. NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T SAY MAHALO.

So I am convinved.