10 Hawaii Travel Tips in Under 10 Minutes

Did you know that a single travel mistake could cost you time, money, and peace of mind on your Hawaii vacation?

For many travelers, Hawaii is a dream destination, but planning your trip the wrong way can lead to unnecessary stress and missed opportunities.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get the most out of your Hawaii trip while avoiding common mistakes, this episode is for you. Learn how to plan smarter, travel safer, and experience the islands like a pro—all in under 10 minutes.

In this episode of our travel podcast, we’re sharing 10 essential Hawaii travel tips to help you make the most of your time in paradise while saving money, staying safe, and traveling with aloha.

👉 In this episode, you will:

• Find out why renting a car is a must for exploring Hawaii.
• Learn crucial ocean safety tips that could save your life.
• Discover how to immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture for a more authentic experience.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to uncover the secrets to an unforgettable trip to Hawaii!

Planning a trip to Hawaii doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Whether you’re visiting Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, Lanai, or Molokai, these travel tips will help you travel responsibly, support local businesses, and have a meaningful experience in the Hawaiian Islands. From must-know travel hacks to advice on connecting with Hawaiian culture, this episode is your ultimate guide to a stress-free Hawaii vacation.

🎧Related episodes:

• When to Visit Hawaii
  • Listen
• Things to Know Before Visiting Hawaii
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• How to Travel Responsibly to Hawaii
  • Listen

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💻Related blog posts:

• Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes
• 8 Best Things to Do in Maui With Kids
• 5 Ways to Travel Responsibly to Hawaii

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🤓Chapters:

• 0:49 - Car Rentals
• 1:40 - Ocean Safety and Physical Limits
• 2:48 - Hawaiian Culture
• 3:43 - Local Cuisine and Activities
• 5:16 - Your Itinerary and Best Time to Visit
• 6:52 - Sun Protection and Safety

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🤙Show Aloha

• Buy me a coffee

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📲Connect

• Facebook Group
• Business Sponsor Inquiry (let's work together!)

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This podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a vacation to the Hawaiian islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)

Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)

Chapters

• 0:49 Car Rentals
• 1:40 Ocean Safety and Physical Limits
• 2:48 Hawaiian Culture
• 3:43 Local Cuisine and Activities
• 5:16 Your Itinerary and Best Time to Visit
• 6:52 Sun Protection and Safety

Transcript

143_10 Tips in 10 Minutes_01

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: In this episode, you'll discover 10 Hawaii travel chips in under 10 minutes that can transform your experience on the islands. 10 minutes starting the clock. Let's see if I can do it. Aloha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. My name is Brian Murphy and as a husband, dad. Three and certified Hawaii destination expert.

[00:00:21] Bryan Murphy: It's my joy to help you discover the best of Hawaii here. We often feature local businesses and voices to give you the best travel tips, UpToDate news, and everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip to Hawaii. Welcome to episode 1 43 of Hawaii's best Planning a trip to Hawaii is exciting.

[00:00:43] Bryan Murphy: Definitely been there many times. But it can also feel overwhelming, especially if you're doing it for maybe the first time. Number one, renting a car in Hawaii is essential, especially on the neighboring islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Hawaii Island. The islands don't have great public transportation, and rideshare quickly becomes expensive.

[00:01:04] Bryan Murphy: Oahu does have a public transportation. They do have the bus, and there is a line that runs up to the North Shore. But that can just take a long time. So rent in a car. Maybe even for the day is definitely recommended. Now on Maui, Kauai, and especially Hawaii Island, the big island, renting a car isn't optional.

[00:01:26] Bryan Murphy: It's really necessary. Most of the best locations, waterfall, scenic, lookouts, hiking trails, and best beaches aren't reachable otherwise. So rent a car to fully experience everything all the islands have to offer. Number two. Always prioritize ocean safety. Hawaii's ocean is beautiful, but it's also extremely powerful and can be unpredictable.

[00:01:49] Bryan Murphy: So swim at beaches with lifeguards who post flags and signs about water conditions. So always pay attention to those warnings. It's also important to understand how rip currents work as they can quickly pull even strong swimmers away from shore. And in addition to this, always respect marine life and coral reefs by giving them plenty of space.

[00:02:09] Bryan Murphy: Hawaii's ocean is amazing, but just stay alert, informed, never turn your back against the ocean. And when in doubt, don't go out. Number three kind of goes along with number two, but know your limits, especially your physical limits. Hawaii is famous for outdoor adventures, but trails can be slippery and steep.

[00:02:27] Bryan Murphy: Snorkeling and swimming, especially if you're not used to it can quickly become exhausting, especially in conditions if they change quickly just because they hike or an activity is popular or something that you've really wanted to do. Doesn't mean it's right for everyone. So be honest about your current fitness level and pick activities that match your abilities.

[00:02:48] Bryan Murphy: Number four, immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture. Just taking a little bit of time to experience Hawaiian culture is essential. Surveys show that about 80% of visitors say their trip was more meaningful when they participated in authentic cultural activities. So go beyond the resorts and busy tourist areas and visit local museums.

[00:03:08] Bryan Murphy: Culture centers or historical sites that are across all of the islands. Guided tours led by locals. Give perspective you won't get anywhere else. And just a quick announcement, our friend Kama, who was on the podcast just a couple weeks ago. He started a brand new tour company and he's guiding people through Waikiki and a lot about what we talked about in that podcast episode, and I'll link it below.

[00:03:33] Bryan Murphy: And jet community calendars for local festivals, free Hulu shows or farmer's markets. These experiences help you understand the islands and their people in a deeper way. Number five, try local Hawaiian dishes. You just need to try some local dishes. Period. 'cause Hawaiian cuisine is diverse, it's flavorful, and one of the best ways to experience the islands.

[00:03:55] Bryan Murphy: So maybe it's not doable every single day, but as much as you can skip the fast food chains and the national chains and look for local restaurants and food trucks serving authentic dishes, and it doesn't have to just be Hawaiian dishes. There's so much fusion in Hawaii that you just gotta try some of the best local spots.

[00:04:15] Bryan Murphy: Just a quick tip that many of the food trucks and many local spots are cash only, so just be aware of that. Really eating local in Hawaii is one of the most authentic ways to connect with Hawaii and its people. Number six, book your must dos in advance booking your must do activities ahead of time is essential.

[00:04:35] Bryan Murphy: So popular spots like luaus, restaurants, helicopter tours, whale watching tours, they all fill up pretty quickly. For example, old LA Luau on Maui, which I think they opened like just two months ago. They typically sell out weeks in advance. Mama's fish house can be booked solid for three to six months, and Kauai's Nepali coast boat tours and helicopter rides all require early reservations.

[00:05:01] Bryan Murphy: In addition to the big island, Hawaii Island, Manaret snorkel tours have limited spots as well. And this all heightens during summer and peak seasons. Book early on. Those must do activities in Hawaii. Number seven, don't stuff your itinerary. So think about those must dos and those could dos and try to separate them the best you can.

[00:05:25] Bryan Murphy: One of the biggest mistakes visitors make is overpacking their schedule. It's tempting to plan every hour. You wanna see everything. You wanna get your money's worth. You're gonna once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii, totally get it. But Overplanning leads to stress exhaustion, and feeling rushed and just needing a vacation from your vacation.

[00:05:45] Bryan Murphy: According to a Hawaii Tourism Authority survey, visitors who left room for downtime reported higher overall satisfaction. So when your schedule is packed, you'll miss some spontaneous moments that really make the trip memorable. So leave breathing room each day to experience Hawaii's relaxed pace.

[00:06:02] Bryan Murphy: Number eight, don't overthink when to visit. A lot of people stress about what's the perfect time to visit Hawaii, but honestly, Hawaii has typically warm, comfortable weather all year round. And yes, there's some rainy seasons and, and more chance for rain, but the average daytime temperature typically ranges from the mid seventies to the mid eighties, no matter when you visit winter months, November through March.

[00:06:26] Bryan Murphy: They do bring slightly more rain and bigger surf, especially on the North Shores. Summer tends to be drier, calmer, but brings higher prices and bigger crowds for fewer crowds and better deals. Consider visiting April, may, September, October. October's one of our favorite months to visit, but bottom line, no time is truly bad for Hawaii.

[00:06:47] Bryan Murphy: Pick the dates that fit your schedule and budget because Hawaii is really beautiful year round. Number nine, protect yourself from the sun. Sunburns can ruin your trip pretty quickly. In Hawaii, being closer to the equator, Hawaii often has a UV index above 11, which is fairly extreme, and at that level, skin damage can happen in as little as 10 minutes.

[00:07:08] Bryan Murphy: So. Make sunscreen a priority every single day, not just on the beach, but just as you're, you're going about use a high SPF reef. Safe sunscreen. Hawaii has bands on sunscreen with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Brands like raw elements, sun bomb and cocoa Sun Care have reef safe options. In addition to sunscreen, wear hats, sunglasses, lightweight protective clothing, and fine shade whenever possible.

[00:07:33] Bryan Murphy: So protect yourself to avoid spinning your vacation with a bad sunburn. And number 10, never leave valuables unattended. Hawaii is relatively safe, but petty theft does happen often according to Honolulu Police Department. Data theft from vehicles account for about 40% of all crimes in tourist areas like Waikiki, beaches, hikes, popular attractions and hotel pool areas are hotspot for quick thefts, keep beach visits light.

[00:08:01] Bryan Murphy: Bring only essentials. Consider a waterproof pouch or dry bag that you can keep with you while swimming. Always lock your rental car and never leave belongings visible inside. Take your gear with you or leave it back in the hotel. Spending your vacation, filing police reports and reporting loss items definitely isn't fun, so just play it smart.

[00:08:21] Bryan Murphy: Alright, that wraps it up for today. We covered 10 essential tips to help you plan a smoother, safer, and more enjoyable time. In Hawaii to review them real quickly. Number one, rent a car. Number two, always prioritize ocean safety. Number three, know your limits. Number four, immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture.

[00:08:39] Bryan Murphy: Number five, try local Hawaiian dishes. Number six, book your must dos in advance. Number seven, don't stuff your itinerary. Number eight, don't overthink when to visit. Number nine, protect yourself from the sun. And number 10, never leave valuables unattended. If you found these tips helpful, make sure to hit follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

[00:08:59] Bryan Murphy: Your support really helps us keep sharing insights to help make your visit to Hawaii better. Thanks again for tuning in, and until next time, as always. Live with Aloha

[00:09:14] Bryan Murphy: Mala for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of shore break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends. Stick figure.