First home to a Polynesian population, the kingdom of Hawai’i - or “the Sandwich Islands”, as Cook called them in 1778 - Hawaii is known for its tropical and volcanic climate, although its agricultural focus has led to an influx of labourers from China, Japan, the Philippines and Portugal as well as Christian missionaries. "Hawaiian pidgin" is a common tongue amongst this wide blend of cultures. Magical families here tend to be close-knit: most young witches and wizards are educated at home or in small community groups by older family members, often with a practical and observational leaning. Family (yes, “ohana”!) is extremely important; insults to one’s relatives are taken very seriously.

Many stories told by Hawaiian wizards and witches centre around Māui, the mischievous demi-god - said to be one of the earliest and most powerful wizards of Polynesia. While Hawaii still has a king, Kalākaua, the United States has recently been renewing attempts to take control of the islands, so - needless to say - indigenous Hawaiians are not particularly fond of Americans.

Sport is a popular form of recreation, although at home quidditch matches are not usually played over land... but instead over the water offshore between islands, with floating platforms constructed for spectators. No wonder that Hawaiian players are known for their lightning-quick reflexes - if they get too clumsy, dropped quaffles can easily become food for the sharks. The national penchant for surfing has also given Hawaiian players some fancy flying moves - although “broom-surfing” is not for the faint of heart! Of course, no game of quidditch is ever complete without festivities afterwards, with Hawaiian communities gathering for food, hula dancing, traditional chants and music on guitars and ukeleles.

Find out more:

— Pictures of late 1800s Hawaii
— On Hawaii’s history and culture
— On mahu, Hawaiian “third gender” / non-binary persons
— Timeline of Hawaiian history