Skip These Hawaii Tourist Traps: Travelers Share What’s Not Worth It

Ever found yourself stuck in a long line at a Hawaii “must-see” and wondered if you’re missing out on the real magic of the islands?

For many travelers, Hawaii’s top attractions seem like a dream come true, but beneath the hype, it’s easy to get caught up in crowded spots and miss what makes the islands special.

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If you want to skip the overrated and discover the authentic side of Hawaii, this episode is for you. Hear the most common mistakes visitors make and find out which tourist traps you can confidently avoid—so you can spend more time making real memories.

In this episode of Hawaii’s Best, we reveal the hidden gems, local food spots, and culture-rich experiences that will transform your trip from ordinary to unforgettable.

👉 In this episode, you will:

• Get the inside scoop on Hawaii’s most overrated attractions—and discover what to do instead.
• Learn how to avoid the biggest travel mistakes that leave visitors disappointed.
• Walk away with a list of secret beaches, local eats, and authentic adventures that locals love.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to unlock the secrets to an authentic Hawaii experience—and make every moment of your trip count.

🎧Related episodes:

• Should you drive the Road to Hana?
• 5 Mistakes When Planning a Trip to Hawaii

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💻Related blog posts:

• What Not to Do in Hawaii
• The Top 10 Best Places to Visit on Oahu (Besides Waikiki)

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🤓Chapters:

• 1:34 Personal Experience: The Dole Plantation Maze
• 3:20 Oahu: Tourist Spots to Avoid and Local Alternatives
• 7:37 Maui: Overrated Attractions and Hidden Gems
• 9:50 Kauai: Skipping the Crowds for Authentic Experiences
• 11:45 Big Island: Making the Most of Your Visit

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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

• 1:34 Personal Experience: The Dole Plantation Maze
• 3:20 Oahu: Tourist Spots to Avoid and Local Alternatives
• 7:37 Maui: Overrated Attractions and Hidden Gems
• 9:50 Kauai: Skipping the Crowds for Authentic Experiences
• 12:14 Big Island: Making the Most of Your Visit

Transcript

170_Skip These Hawaii Tourist Traps- Travelers Share What’s Not Worth It

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Have you ever felt trapped in a crowd of tourists? Wondering if you've wasted your precious vacation time? Well, in this episode, you'll discover the Hawaii tourist traps Travelers regret the most. Plus, you'll get the secret spots locals don't want you to miss. We'll uncover one big mistake almost everyone makes when planning their dream trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:20] Bryan Murphy: And how you can avoid it for a truly unforgettable adventure. Let's go

[00:00:29] Bryan Murphy: Aloha. Welcome to Hawaii's Best, the podcast helping Travelers plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips in featuring local voices. I'm Brian Murphy, a husband dad of three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news, sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo, all to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:57] Bryan Murphy: Hawaii draws millions of visitors every year. I think we all kind of know that. Really, the marketing promises paradise at every turn and every island and every beach. But if you stick to the typical tourist trail, it's easy to end up surrounded by crowds and spending more time and more money waiting in line than actually experiencing Hawaii.

[00:01:24] Bryan Murphy: So if you want to come home with. Real stories, unforgettable memories, not just the same photos as everyone else. This is the episode for you. Let me ask you, have you ever visited one of those, you know, must see attraction spots and only to realize halfway through that you would rather be anywhere else?

[00:01:44] Bryan Murphy: Honestly, that was me at the Doll Plantation Maze, and I'll get in a little bit more about the Doll Plantation later on. But my experience at the Maze, this is one of the spots that I kind of regret now. We were with our kids and thinking it'd be fun. You know that first, like as you get into it, you're filled with adrenaline and dopamine.

[00:02:05] Bryan Murphy: This 'cause it's gonna be awesome. It's gonna be a fun family. It's extravaganza. Something different, something you can't do at home. But after about an hour of wandering around the maze, one of the largest mazes in the world actually. And listening to our kids deviate on which way to turn in the sun because there's no shade in there, and the sun beating down.

[00:02:25] Bryan Murphy: I just was done. I just wanted to cut my way back through the maze. We, we weren't having any fun at all. Felt like we wasted our money, we wasted our time, and it just felt stuck, like we just needed to get this over with. Obviously the excitement was gone for us and it was replaced by that sinking feeling of that we wasted our time.

[00:02:44] Bryan Murphy: We wasted our money. Now, if you've ever had a moment like that where the hype just doesn't match reality, you know how frustrating it can be, that experience kind of sparks a thought. You know, there's gotta be a better way to really experience Hawaii beyond some of these. Tourist traps and away from the crowds and really to support the local community.

[00:03:05] Bryan Murphy: And this episode is really all about that. I'm gonna help you skip some of these Letdowns, some of them, yeah, you, you might wanna do once and some of them you might want to definitely avoid altogether. And depending on the type of year, we're gonna break all of that down. We're gonna impact this island by island.

[00:03:20] Bryan Murphy: So let's go ahead and get started with the island of Oahu. A couple tourist spots right off the bat to consider avoiding would be Waikiki Beach in international marketplace. And obviously Waikiki Beach is really the most recognized beach in all of Hawaii, and it's usually packed. The sand is real. Well, sort of, a lot of it gets barged in from other islands and other areas, but I digress.

[00:03:48] Bryan Murphy: There's lots of crowds. There's high rise hotels and there's busy sidewalks, but it does have that iconic diamond head view. It's probably worth doing maybe once, but if you don't do it at all, you're really not missing out on a lot. And the other one is the international marketplace, and it was once an eclectic collection of local vendors and stalls, and it's now just a modern shopping mall filled with big brands you can find anywhere back at home.

[00:04:16] Bryan Murphy: So if you're hoping for a peaceful beach day or you know, one of a kind shopping experiences, these spots really fall short. What's funny is I'm a saved by the Bell fan. I grew up on that show. They have this movie about the crew going to Hawaii for summer vacation, and there's a shot of Lisa going to shop at the international Marketplace.

[00:04:40] Bryan Murphy: This is like mid nineties, and it's got that cool, just iconic international marketplace feel with the Baan tree and the outdoor vendors. And really that iconic view of the old international marketplace. It's really a far cry today of what it used to be, even back in the nineties and obviously before the nineties as well.

[00:05:03] Bryan Murphy: So what do you do instead? If you want a quieter beach, one that a lot of locals go to and there's plenty of space, plenty of parking, I definitely would re. Why Manalo Beach Park? It's on the east side. It has that iconic, you know, lon Kai views, but without all the crowd and without all the parking issues.

[00:05:22] Bryan Murphy: For shopping in local finds, you want to head to the Aloha Stadium swap Meet, or also on the east side of Oahu there is the Lokahi Kua market, which happens every Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. And also throughout the year, you can find events like the Made in Hawaii Festival, which happens on the island of Oahu.

[00:05:43] Bryan Murphy: The other things to avoid on Oahu would be, obviously I already mentioned it, but the Dole Plantation, it's, you know, it's advertised as fun, family friendly destination, but for most visitors they find it crowded commercial. The maze and the famous pineapple ice cream are really the main draw. They also have a train ride there.

[00:06:01] Bryan Murphy: Our kids used to love that when they were younger, but we've kind of have stopped doing that. Kinda use the doll plantation as a pit stop to go to the restroom on our way up to North Shore. Also, the other thing is resort Luaus Resort. Luaus promise an introduction to Hawaiian culture, but they're usually staged for large groups.

[00:06:21] Bryan Murphy: They're expensive and kinda light on real tradition. Now, most of them are, but some aren't. This is generalizing for a better taste of Hawaii's agricultural sites. Maybe visit a spot like Kahuku Farms or. Check out, you know, local farmer's markets, you'll support local growers and get more personal look at island life.

[00:06:42] Bryan Murphy: If you want a more of a Hawaiian cultural experience, look for community run Luaus. Or there's this luau called TOA Luau on the North shore of Oahu in Wabe Valley that I definitely would highly recommend looking into. The other thing in general, but especially on Oahu, especially in Waikiki, there are a lot of familiar chain restaurants.

[00:07:04] Bryan Murphy: They're easy and predictable, but eating at them means missing Hawaii's unique food culture. So to be honest, you know, are you traveling all the way to Hawaii for the same burger you can get back at home? You know Cheesecake Factory instead. You know, try a local plate lunch spot, a Poque bowl stand or food truck near the beach.

[00:07:25] Bryan Murphy: Places like Helena's Hawaiian Food and Rainbow Drive-in are known for serving the dishes. Locals actually love and eat local food is really one of the best ways to connect with real Hawaii. Alright, so let's talk about Maui and some of the tourist traps to potentially avoid there. The first one is probably controversial.

[00:07:43] Bryan Murphy: It's the road ohana. It always ranks on, you know, the must do list when visiting Maui. And the reality is that drive is long, it's windy and often packed with tons of rental cars and tour vans. Many travelers report spending more time in traffic and searching for parking than actually enjoying the sites along the way.

[00:08:05] Bryan Murphy: Tons of people mention stops can feel rushed, and by the time you actually reach hana, it's common to be too tired to appreciate what's actually there. If you're set on doing a drive, consider staying overnight in hana. This can take the pressure off and allow you to see the less crowded waterfalls and beaches at your own pace.

[00:08:26] Bryan Murphy: And also it might be worth looking into a reputable tour company so you're not having to feel rushed doing the driving, finding the parking. You can at least take that pressure off of you. Another spot is Malini Crater. It's another one of those popular recommendations for snorkeling in all of Hawaii, but especially on Maui.

[00:08:47] Bryan Murphy: It's advertised as a marine sanctuary, but in practice it's a busy, busy spot with several tour boats arriving around the same time throughout the day. Many people have Mentioned that the site can feel crowded and the coral and fish are sometimes. Underwhelming compared to less trafficked areas.

[00:09:06] Bryan Murphy: One review I thought was interesting, someone wrote was too many boats, too many people in the water, and not as much marine life as expected. Now, I've never personally have done Molokini crater. If you wanna avoid the crowds and still enjoy Maui scenery, there are better options out there. Why? Hey, hey, Ridge Trail is often described as one of the best hikes.

[00:09:26] Bryan Murphy: It's less busy than the big name attractions and the views stretch from the valley floor. All the way out to the ocean for snorkeling, skip the big group tours and try Honolua Bay. The Bay is favored by locals for its clear water and healthy coral. Many visitors highlight the chance for seeing sea turtles, many types of fish, and just a handful of other people around, especially early in the morning.

[00:09:50] Bryan Murphy: All right. Next we're gonna skip over to Kauai. Now I get it as I'm going through this list of tourist traps, some of you may have had great experiences at some of these spots, and I know I have at a few of them. But the main thing is that overwhelmingly, if these spots are skipped, you're not missing much and there's plenty of other great options and great local spots that are alternative to some of these high traffic tourist spots.

[00:10:18] Bryan Murphy: For Kauai, the fern grotto and the Kilo Hana plantation are two of Kauai's most advertised stops, but many visitors find them underwhelming Fern Grotto is, is accessible only by riverboat tour and many reviews. Note that the site has lost much of its lushness due to storm damage. Visitors often mention the experience feels rushed and crowded with comments like just wasn't as impressive as expected and the tour felt commercialized.

[00:10:46] Bryan Murphy: Kilo Haa Plantation is promoted as a historic estate with a train ride, and shops. The grounds are great, they're beautiful, but the shopping can be generic. And experiences feel more like a tour stop than actually an immersion into Kauai's culture. So if you're looking for something a bit more meaningful, Kauai has plenty to offer.

[00:11:06] Bryan Murphy: Why? Mea Canyon often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, delivers dramatic views in hiking trails. Another is Lima Hui Garden and Preserve on Kauai's North Shore. This botanical garden is dedicated to native plant conservation in traditional Hawaiian agriculture. If you want more adventure, the Nepali coast stands out as one of the most unique and incredible spots in all of Hawaii, but the best way to see it is by boat or air.

[00:11:33] Bryan Murphy: Hiking. The Kalo al Trail can be really tough to see those views. So if you really see the Nepali coast, I definitely would recommend either a helicopter tour or a boat tour. Alright, now over to the big island of Hawaii. The first one up on our list to consider skipping would be Alii Drive. This is the strip that is in Kai Kona.

[00:11:56] Bryan Murphy: It's a popular. Strip aligned with souvenir shops, bars, chain restaurants. It could be good for a quick stroll if you want something a bit more unique and true to Hawaii's history. The big island offers many sacred sites and historical parks to visit and enjoy, even on the west side of the island.

[00:12:17] Bryan Murphy: Another tour spot on the big island would be Hawaii Volcano National Park. Now kind of say that with an asterisk next to it because this park can be amazing. It's an incredible national park, but it also could be. Extremely crowded, hot, and honestly a letdown. If the lava isn't flowing, it's kind of a catch 22.

[00:12:38] Bryan Murphy: If there's no lava flowing, you might feel like you missed out. If there is lava flowing, it's probably gonna be really crowded. It's worth doing once. Just be aware if you are staying on Kona side, it is a full day activity. You know, driving across islands about two, two and a half hours. And then once you're at the park to really enjoy it is gonna take a couple hours and then you gotta drive back over to Kona.

[00:13:03] Bryan Murphy: So it's an all day thing. One of the best tips that you can do. If you are wanting to do the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is to definitely check the conditions on their website prior to visiting. This will just help prepare you of what to expect. Their Instagram page is actually really helpful and they do UpToDate tips and UpToDate conditions.

[00:13:27] Bryan Murphy: So always just when you're on island and you're thinking about visiting, just be aware of what's going on at the park because it changes quite a bit. So when choosing to do alternatives to some of these tourist traps, to avoid, it's important to ask yourself why does local choices matter? I know we've talked about it before.

[00:13:43] Bryan Murphy: You probably heard it before. You know, support local. The reality is, travelers to Hawaii spend billions of dollars every year, but where that money goes can really make a big difference. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, local businesses recirculate nearly three times more money in the community compared to national chains.

[00:14:04] Bryan Murphy: That means every dollar spent at a family run restaurant like my friends over at B Side Kitchen. Or on a small farm, help support local jobs, cultural preservation, and even environmental efforts. You might be wondering, does it really matter where you eat or shop, why you're there in Hawaii? And the answer is yes.

[00:14:23] Bryan Murphy: It does really matter when you choose. A community run luau. You're not just getting a more authentic cultural experience. You're probably getting better food too. You're helping local performers and artisans keep their traditions alive, and when you buy fruit from a farmer's market or art from a local craft fair, you're putting money directly back into the hands of Hawaii residents and not just big corporations.

[00:14:48] Bryan Murphy: The impact is clear. Supporting local businesses and experiences helps keep Hawaii unique and vibrant and support its local economy. And a challenge for all of us on our next trip, whenever you're visiting, whenever I'm visiting next, is to pick at least just one new local experience that's off the usual tourist path.

[00:15:08] Bryan Murphy: So whether it's a hike through a native garden, a botanical garden, a meal from a food truck, or a ticket to a small town festival, these choices really do add up. They make your trip better and they matter to the community you're visiting. So there's more to Hawaii than the headlines, the tourist brochures, the choices you make, what to see, where to eat, who you support, really shape the kind of trip you have and the kind of impact you leave behind.

[00:15:34] Bryan Murphy: Mahalo for joining me on this episode of Hawaii's. Best and until next time, as always, live with Aloha

[00:15:45] 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.