Filipino Time, Hawaiian Island Time, and the California Rush Hour

Some people measure life in years. I measure it in time zones, not the kind on your phone, but the ones you feel in your bones.

I’ve lived in places where “on time” means three different things:

• Filipino Time. Where “6 PM” means “show up around 8 PM, or maybe later.

• Hawaiian Island Time. Where “when the time is right, things will happen.”

• California Rush Hour. Where “on time” means you were supposed to be there ten minutes ago.

  
  

Filipino Time: Fashionably Late, Always

Filipino time started back when the Philippines was under Spanish rule. It was a status symbol for the wealthy to arrive late to events where "important" people were worth waiting for. Over time, it became part of the everyday life.

Fast forward to today, and it’s woven into the culture. Parties start at “5:00 pm,” which everyone understands means “See you around 7, or maybe 8-ish.” You don’t want to be the first one there, standing awkwardly while the host is still in the kitchen, cooking pancit and lumpia, and yelling for someone to help set up the karaoke machine.

Arriving “on time” is almost considered impolite. You might accidentally see the host with curlers in their hair, still marinating the barbecue. Better to stroll in fashionably late, when the food is ready, the mic is warmed up, and there’s already a half-sung power ballad echoing through the house.

Because in true Filipino fashion, nothing officially starts until someone sings “My Way”… whether or not the lyrics are correct.

Hawaiian Island Time: The Flow is the Schedule

On Hawaiian Island time, there’s no rush. The idea is that certain things happen when they’re meant to. The surf is good? Time to hit the beach. The rain’s coming? Time to rest. Saturday? That’s Aloha Stadium Swap Meet day.

It’s not laziness, it’s alignment. People adapt to nature’s rhythms instead of forcing life into a rigid plan. It’s about living in tune with the day, not against it. A lunch “at noon” might start at 12:30 because Dad stopped to talk story in the parking lot. A beach day might last until sunset because the water is warm and no one feels like checking the time. Things happen when the time is right, and no one’s blood pressure spikes if it’s a little later than planned.

I remember one weekend barbecue where the host said, “Come by around 2.” By 3, we were still setting up tables. By 4, the grill was going. By 5, everyone was eating and laughing, and nobody cared that we were “late.” On Hawaiian Island time, late doesn’t exist; there’s only now.

When you live surrounded by the ocean and trade winds, your calendar bends to the tide, the weather, and the mood of the day. Life feels lighter. You’re not rushing from one thing to the next. You’re letting the day take you where it wants to go.

And then there's the California Rush hour! Filipino time waits for people. Hawaiian island time waits for the day. But California rush hour is a whole different ball game. It waits for no one. If you are not already moving, you are already late.

California Rush Hour: The Schedule Runs You

California didn’t exactly catch me off guard. I already knew the rat race was alive and well. At my first corporate job here, I arrived exactly on time for my initial meeting. One colleague looked at me and said, “You’re late.”

How? The meeting hadn’t even started.

Turns out, everyone had already met for coffee and croissants before the meeting. The small talk, the catch-up, the casual networking? That was the real start time. By the time I walked in, they were all ready to get to business. Lesson learned: In California, being “on time” often means being early enough for the pre-meeting.

And it’s not just meetings. Traffic adds a whole new layer. If it takes 20 minutes to get somewhere without traffic, you’d better plan for 40 minutes, or an hour if the universe decides to throw in a fender-bender, a stalled car, or “mystery congestion” where no one knows why traffic has stopped but everyone is stuck anyway.

Here, efficiency is survival. Schedules are tight, calendars are color-coded, and coffee orders are longer than some wedding vows. You move fast, talk fast, and think fast because the second you slow down, the wave of deadlines and back-to-back appointments will catch up to you.

Where I’ve Landed

From Filipino Time to Hawaiian Island Time to California Rush Hour, the shift has been an adjustment.

Filipino time taught me to savor the build-up and never rush a good meal. Hawaiian island time taught me to slow down and be present. And California rush hour taught me to add buffer time, carry snacks and my Owalla water bottle, and always expect traffic even when there’s “no traffic.”

Somewhere in the middle of these three is my own pace now. I like my deadlines. They keep me focused and moving forward. But I also like my sunsets, those moments that remind me to pause and take in the beauty around me. I believe in showing up, honoring commitments, and being present. And sometimes, I believe in taking the long way, letting myself wander into unexpected moments that make life richer.

So, Which Time Zone Are You?

We’ve all got our own “internal clock” shaped by where we’ve lived, how we were raised, and what pace feels natural. Some of us run on island breezes, some on party mode, and some on double-shot espressos. Let’s see which one sounds most like you.

1. A party invitation says 5 PM. When do you arrive?

A) 7 PM, with lumpia and karaoke energy.

B) Whenever I feel like it, but probably after the rain stops.

C) 4:45 PM, coffee in hand, ready to go.

2. You’re meeting friends for lunch. They’re late. What’s your reaction?

A) No problem, I’m still on my way.

B) I’ll wander around, maybe hit the beach until they show up.

C) Annoyed - we said noon for a reason.

3. You’re stuck in traffic. How do you handle it?

A) Call the host and tell them to start without me.

B) Roll the windows down and enjoy the ride.

C) Stare at the GPS and calculate exactly how many minutes you’re losing.

4. Your work meeting starts at 9 AM. When do you get there?

A) 9:15 AM - meetings always start late anyway.

B) Whenever I get there, the meeting will start when it starts.

C) 8:45 AM - with time for coffee and small talk.

Your Results

Mostly A’s: Filipino Time - You’re all about connection, food, and never showing up empty-handed. You believe the party starts when everyone’s ready, and you’d rather wait than rush.

Mostly B’s: Hawaiian Island Time - You live by the rhythm of the day. You know things will happen, and you don’t stress about when. Your schedule has space for the tides, the sunsets, and the unexpected.

Mostly C’s: California Rush Hour - You thrive on punctuality and efficiency. Your schedule is your lifeline, and you secretly enjoy the adrenaline of making things happen fast.