7 Must-Know Things Before Visiting Hawaii

For many visitors, Hawaii is more than a dream destination—it’s a place of breathtaking beauty, rich traditions, and unique local customs. But without the right preparation, even a well-intentioned trip can result in unintentional disrespect to the islands’ environment and culture.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your trip to Hawaii smoother, more meaningful, and more respectful, this episode is exactly what you need. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, embrace the spirit of aloha, and travel responsibly.

👉 In this episode, you will:

• Find out how to avoid the 7 most common tourist mistakes when you visit Hawaii, including etiquette, safety, and eco-friendly travel practices.
• Gain a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture and traditions to connect with the islands on a meaningful level.
• Discover essential travel hacks to save time, money, and stress during your Hawaii vacation.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to discover how you can create unforgettable memories while respecting the beauty and traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.

🎧Related episodes:

• Mistakes Visitors Make Visiting Hawaii (from a Native Hawaiian)
  • Listen
• 5 Dangerous Animals in Hawaii
  • Listen
• First Time to Hawaii
  • Listen

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💻Related blog posts:

• 5 Ways to Travel Responsibly to Hawaii
• Planning Your First Trip to Hawaii

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🤓Chapters:

• 3:14 - Tip 1: Lei Etiquette
• 4:04 - Tip 2: Bring Your Own Bags
• 4:48 - Tip 3: Respect Marine Life
• 5:37 - Tip 4: Ocean Safety
• 6:54 - Tip 5: Reef-Safe Sunscreen
• 7:34 - Tip 6: Learn Hawaiian Language
• 8:54 - Tip 7: Leave No Trace

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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

• 3:14 Tip 1: Lei Etiquette
• 4:04 Tip 2: Bring Your Own Bags
• 4:48 Tip 3: Respect Marine Life
• 5:37 Tip 4: Ocean Safety
• 6:54 Tip 5: Reef-Safe Sunscreen
• 8:10 Tip 6: Learn Hawaiian Language
• 9:30 Tip 7: Leave No Trace

Transcript

148_7 Must-Know Things Before Visiting Hawaii

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Before visiting Hawaii, there are a few things you need to know that'll help your visit be even more incredible. In today's episode, you'll discover the seven must know tips before visiting Hawaii. Along the way, we'll uncover some common missteps that might be hindering your plans, plus how to avoid them for a smoother, more enjoyable journey to Hawaii.

[00:00:23] Bryan Murphy: Aloha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. My name is Brian Murphy, and as a husband, data three and certified Hawaii destination expert, 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, up to date news and everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip to Hawaii

[00:00:48] Bryan Murphy: Loha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. On the show, we often highlight local businesses and voices to give you unique perspectives on visiting Hawaii and its culture, which helps all of us travel with aloha in these solo money episodes, they're a bit more content focused, giving you the latest Hawaii travel news and tips, and today.

[00:01:07] Bryan Murphy: We'll be covering seven must note things before visiting Hawaii. Some practical tips to help your trip even smoother and more respectful as you visit Hawaii. Planning a trip to Hawaii can feel overwhelming for sure. Definitely have been there many times, especially that first time, not sure exactly what to pack, and there's so many things that can easily be overlooked.

[00:01:28] Bryan Murphy: Some important details. Or accidentally just making a mistake. So by the end of this episode, you'll know how to avoid these seven common mistakes that people often make when visiting Hawaii. I'll explain how to adjust so you can have a more meaningful and enjoyable trip to the islands. Coming out this Thursday is part two with my conversation with Liza Pierce, who is a Maui travel expert and a local on Maui.

[00:01:53] Bryan Murphy: She'll give us her favorite local spots to eat on Maui's, south Shore and West Side, and that's including Laa as well. So be sure to take a second right now. To follow in the app that you're listening to this podcast on so you don't miss part two. Coming out this Thursday, some Hawaii Travel news is coming out of the West Coast.

[00:02:13] Bryan Murphy: That's a lot of you who listen to this podcast are located myself as well and has to do with Wine Airlines and LAX Wine Airlines is making a big move at LAX officially relocating all operations to terminal six, thank goodness. And that's starting April 22nd. This change eliminates the long, confusing walks and frustrating experience that Travelers previously endured at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

[00:02:40] Bryan Murphy: Terminal six shared with Alaska Airlines offers shorter walks, faster gate access, and easier baggage claim making a significant improvement for travelers. I haven't flown out of LAX in years. It was actually before the move to the Tom Bradley terminal. I think it used to be Terminal five. I now fly out of ONT, which is Ontario, California.

[00:03:00] Bryan Murphy: I love it. It's fast, convenient. They have a Chick-fil-A. I feel like I'm letting out a secret here because it's an amazing airport. Nice and quiet there. Anyways, back to today's topic, about seven things you gotta know before visiting Hawaii. Number one. Alright, first up is lay etiquette. So when you arrive or you leave, you may be given.

[00:03:20] Bryan Murphy: A lei and this is a, a gesture of aloha love of affection. So you should always graciously accept it and, and not reject a lei. And the hug or kiss on the cheek that comes with the lei more often than not is part of the customary of it. Now a closed or a tide lei should rest on the shoulders, so half drape in the front and half down the back.

[00:03:42] Bryan Murphy: An open untied lay are worn around the neck with each side hanging evenly down the front And. If you happen to be pregnant, you should wear only open Lei as closed Lays are considered bad luck. So if you're pregnant, wear an open lei. Number two. Number two, bring your own bags. Be aware that Hawaii has banned plastic bags because of environmental concerns.

[00:04:11] Bryan Murphy: So plastic is one of the major contributors to the huge garbage patches floating in the ocean. As a result, many marine animals become entangled in it and they eat it. So mainly because of this, Hawaii has banned plastic bags, so carry your own bags when you shop, or you'll be charged for each reusable bag that the store provides for your purchases.

[00:04:31] Bryan Murphy: So be aware of that extra expense. The best way is just to bring your own bags and just the bonus tip, that prices are just higher in Hawaii. Then the continental US, because many goods have to be shipped to Hawaii. Number three. Number three, keep your distance from marine life. While Hawaii is home to so many stunning sea creatures, it's important to respect marine life and their habitats as human interference could have serious impacts.

[00:05:02] Bryan Murphy: One such federal law requires all people in the oceans to stay at least a hundred yards from the humpback. Well for other sea life, including dolphins and endangered green sea turtle and monk seal, 50 yards is a recommended viewing distance while on the shoreline. It is also important to remember that it is illegal to closely approach, touch or feed any marine mammal or sea turtle in the wild.

[00:05:26] Bryan Murphy: Now. Additionally, please don't step on or remove pieces from reefs as they're built by Coral, another marine animal number four. All right, number four, going alongside of marine life. Uh, ocean safety. The waters in Hawaii are warm and inviting, but they also can be very dangerous and can change pretty quickly at any given time.

[00:05:51] Bryan Murphy: So swim at beaches, staffed by lifeguards. Always go into the water with somebody else and be alert. One of the phrases that you'll hear a lot is. When in doubt, don't go out, and that's just great advice. And also, never turn your back to the ocean and look for beach hazard rating signs and always heed warnings and closures.

[00:06:13] Bryan Murphy: You can check out Hawaii beach safety.com for current ocean conditions. Also be aware of boxed jellyfish, which their stings can cause swelling, itching, welts, rash, burning pain, which is terrible. So jellyfish usually peer off south facing beaches eight to 10 days after a full moon to get an idea of what those times are.

[00:06:37] Bryan Murphy: I'll link. In the episode description about the box jellyfish calendar, and you can go ahead and see when to be aware of when those jellyfish are more likely to appear. Number five. Number five. Most sunscreen is illegal in Hawaii. Any sunscreen that isn't saf, the sale of it is banned from the Hawaiian Islands and recently Maui County, which includes Maui, Lenae, and Molokai.

[00:07:08] Bryan Murphy: They have, when a step further, they are now making it illegal to use those types of sunscreens. If you're not sure if the sunscreen you're bringing is reef safe. I would just recommend to wait and buy that in Hawaii because everything that is sold in Hawaii is supposed to be reef safe according to the law.

[00:07:31] Bryan Murphy: Number six. Number six, Hawaiian language. Learn some common Hawaiian words by checking out the article that we've written on the on the website. But here are a few to know a who ho means until we meet again. Another one you might hear is aa, which means land alii royalty. Ima ma welcome. Hano Ho means Encore.

[00:07:57] Bryan Murphy: One more time. Hey, Al is a place of worship. Kane is man. Waine is woman. Kapu means forbidden. Keep out. Kiki is Children. Lanai is patio, Mahalo. Thank you, Ohana. Family On Delicious or Delicious, and those are just a few probably as you're there, you'll see some of those as you go about your day. But feel free to use Aloha, Mahalo, just.

[00:08:30] Bryan Murphy: Get in the aloha spirit, get in, you're in Hawaii. Using those phrases is totally acceptable and you're not being awkward or anything like that for using those phrases. And, and along with that, feel free to, to throw the chaka that, um, that is totally acceptable as well. And finally, number seven. Alright, number seven.

[00:08:54] Bryan Murphy: The last one, leave no trace. Hawaii has strict laws about trespassing on both private land and government land, not intended for public use. Trespassing is always illegal no matter how many other people you see doing it. It reminds me of the episode that we just released about the Haku stairs or the stairway to heaven.

[00:09:16] Bryan Murphy: No matter which way you go about climbing up the mountain, as soon as you step on the structure of the Haku stairs, it is considered trespassing, also known as being illegal as a visitor to the islands. It's important to respect all kapu, so if you see that sign or hear that. It's, uh, the keep out, no trespassing signs.

[00:09:34] Bryan Murphy: Same thing. So always keep clear from Kapu throughout the islands. You'll see signs that are carved, they might be printed, doesn't matter, but if this has kapu on it, simply put it. This means keep out. However, the deeper meaning is forbidden or taboo. And it references the ancient Hawaiian system of laws known as the Kapu system.

[00:09:57] Bryan Murphy: That's kind of an interesting system. Maybe we'll cover that in a future episode, but these laws are to help keep a sense of sacredness to these areas. For example, ancient burial grounds or sacred meeting places. So please be respectful and honor. The surrounding land and customs. Also with leave no trace.

[00:10:16] Bryan Murphy: If you are hiking, make sure that it is a maintained trail, so anything that you are, you, you, you hike in, make sure you hike out with it. So if you see any trash, you can pick it up. If you have trash, be sure to pack it out as well. Also. A lot of the trail heads have brushes for your shoes. You wanna make sure that you, you do that before you hike the trail and then after you hike the trail, so not to cross contaminate any of the land.

[00:10:49] Bryan Murphy: And that's a wrap for today's episode. We cover seven must no tips for visiting Hawaii. From understanding lay etiquette and respecting marine life to keeping your trip more eco-friendly with Reef safe sunscreen. These are the small yet impactful steps that can make your trip smoother, more enjoyable, and more respectful of the islands culture and environment.

[00:11:10] Bryan Murphy: Mahalo again for listening and spending time with me on this episode. If you found this episode helpful, please make sure to hit Follow on Apple Podcast or Spotify so you don't miss future episodes. And if you know someone planning a trip to Hawaii. Share this episode with them. It might just make their trip even better, and until next time.

[00:11:28] Bryan Murphy: As always, live with Aloha

[00:11:34] 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.