Say, "bonjou" or "bonswa." Bonjou means good morning or good day in Creole. Bonswa means good afternoon in Creole. Greet the person according to the time of day. If a person enters a room, that person is expected to be the first one who says "bonjou" or "bonswa."
Shake hands. Men usually greet each other with a handshake. Strangers also greet each other with a handshake, whether it is a male or a female. Sometimes if men know each other very well, they can greet each other with a handshake and a hug.
Kiss the person on the cheek. If you are a woman or a child, you are expected to greet people in this way. You are expected to do this with elders, friends and families. Sometimes you are expected to do this with strangers. Even young girls are expected to greet older men with a kiss on the check. If women and children do not kiss someone on the cheek when greeting them, it could be considered a sign of disrespect.
Greet an entire group of people with a kiss on the cheek. If a group of people are standing together and a woman knows someone in the group, that woman is expected to greet everyone in the group with a kiss on the cheek, not just the one woman she knows.
Shake hands if you are a young girl and a young guy about the same age. Usually, a girl must kiss the cheek of someone she knows. However, if the person is a guy who is around her age, she must greet him with a handshake. A kiss would be considered inappropriate.