7 Things Not to Do in Hawaii

FREE Guide for Avoiding Common Mistakes in Hawaii

What if the difference between being a respectful visitor and an unwelcome tourist in Hawaii comes down to just seven simple guidelines?

Hawaii isn't just a vacation destination. It's home to vibrant communities and fragile ecosystems that need protection. Yet many well-meaning travelers unknowingly make mistakes that damage coral reefs, disrespect sacred sites, or alienate local residents.

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Whether you're planning your first Hawaiian adventure or returning to explore deeper, this episode will transform how you experience the islands. Discover the seven most common visitor mistakes and learn practical alternatives that honor Hawaii's people, culture, and natural beauty.

👉 What you'll discover:

• Cultural awareness: Navigate local customs and language with confidence
• Safety essentials: Protect yourself while respecting Hawaii's powerful natural forces
• Mindful exploration: Find authentic experiences beyond typical tourist attractions

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Scroll Up and Hit play now and learn how small changes can make your Hawaiian experience more meaningful for you and the islands.

🎧Related episodes:

• Maui Food Guide Pt. 1
• Maui Food Guide Pt. 2
• Skip These Hawaii Tourist Traps

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💻Related blog posts:

• 5 Ways to Travel Responsibly to Hawaii

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🤙Resources mentioned:

• NOAA Report
• 2020 Census

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🤓Chapters:

• 2:18 - Hawaii Travel Mindset
• 3:18 - Respecting the Islands
• 4:31 - Staying Safe in Hawaii
• 5:55 - Local Culture & Etiquette
• 7:00 - Food, Fun, and Final Thoughts

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📲Connect

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

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This Hawaii 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)
Talk Story, Hawaiian Style Band (w/ permission)

Chapters

• 2:18 Hawaii Travel Mindset
• 3:18 Respecting the Islands
• 4:31 Staying Safe in Hawaii
• 5:55 Local Culture & Etiquette
• 7:00 Food, Fun, and Final Thoughts

Transcript

178_7 Things Not to Do in Hawaii

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Most people when they are planning a trip to Hawaii research what to do, you know, pack the sunscreen, book the tours, find the best beaches, but really knowing what not to do can make or break your trip. In this episode, you'll discover seven important things of what not to do in Hawaii. Plus we'll talk about what to do instead.

[00:00:20] Bryan Murphy: So you can truly travel with aloha to Hawaii. Aloha and 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, three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news sometimes with guests across Hawaii.

[00:00:47] Bryan Murphy: And sometimes solo all to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:55] Bryan Murphy: Today we are kind of flipping the script a little bit. We've done a few episodes about what not to do, and these are seven more things of what not to do in Hawaii. Things I haven't really talked about too much in past episodes. So instead of, you know, another list of must see things to do, I'd love to share more of what to avoid to help you travel with.

[00:01:15] Bryan Murphy: Aloha to Hawaii. You know, staying safe and actually connecting with the people and the islands. And I promise you these aren't like typical travel warnings. I'm not gonna talk about don't forget your passport, which spoiler alert, you don't need a passport if you are a US citizen. But if you are traveling internationally, you do need a passport to visit Hawaii.

[00:01:34] Bryan Murphy: Not gonna talk about, you know, booking early. Best prices. I don't even think I mentioned sunscreen on the list, but these are the mistakes that can actually hurt Hawaii's environment. Honestly, offend local communities and put you in genuine danger. And honestly, a lot of people visiting have no idea about some of these things.

[00:01:52] Bryan Murphy: So whether you're planning your first trip or you've been to Hawaii before, these seven points will help you travel more thoughtfully because really that's what it is all about. Traveling to Hawaii with aloha. So let's go ahead and let's get right into it. Oh, also the first link in the show notes below, I included a free PDF guide to help you follow along with today's episode.

[00:02:12] Bryan Murphy: Or you can download it after the episode so you can hold onto it for later planning. Alright. Number one, don't misuse the word Hawaiian to describe all locals. This is actually something that a lot of visitors get wrong. You know, the land in Honolulu. Meet someone who's lived there their whole life and immediately think, well, I'm talking to a Hawaiian person.

[00:02:32] Bryan Murphy: You know, if you live in California or California, but that's really not how it works in Hawaii. Hawaiian means someone of native Hawaiian ancestry, or more appropriately kaka maoli. So that's really it. The hotel concierge, who's third generation Japanese, they're not Hawaiian. The bartender whose family's.

[00:02:50] Bryan Murphy: Came from Portugal in the 18 hundreds. Also not Hawaiian. Really, only about 10% of Hawaii's population is actually native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, according to the latest census data in 2020. So the right words would be local or ina these work for anyone who lives in Hawaii or who has been a resident of Hawaii for a while, regardless of their background, it is a small change, but it also shows some big respect to the native population.

[00:03:18] Bryan Murphy: Number two, don't stand on or touch coral reefs. This one is simple, but it's crucial. Coral isn't a rock. It's beautiful, but it's not a rock that you can just step on. It's alive, and each piece of coral is made up of thousands of tiny animals called polyps. So when you step on coral, you're potentially literally killing living creatures.

[00:03:40] Bryan Murphy: And what makes it even worse is that coral grows incredibly slow. Some of the reefs you're snorkeling over took decades to form, and one careless step can destroy years of growth in seconds. And Hawaii doesn't mess around with this either. Damaged coral. You're actually looking at fines of up to $3,000, but just forget the money for a second.

[00:04:03] Bryan Murphy: Over 50% of Hawaii's coral reefs have already been damaged by human activity according to NOAA or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That's a mouthful. Every person who floats instead of stands helps protect what's left, and the fix is easy. Float. When you're snorkeling, keep the fins off the bottom in your photos will still be epic.

[00:04:26] Bryan Murphy: And also wear reef face sunscreen. Sorry, I didn't think I'd mentioned sunscreen, but yeah, wear reef face sunscreen. Let's move on to number three is don't swim without a lifeguard nearby or where no one else is in the water. The ocean is beautiful and honestly, it can look friendly when it's not. But crystal clear water, gentle ways, perfect weather.

[00:04:47] Bryan Murphy: It all looks so inviting, but Hawaii's ocean can. Turn dangerous, fast, even for strong swimmers and even for swimmers who have grown up on the beach, maybe on the continental us, you know, west coast. The ocean in Hawaii is just different. The unfortunate fact is that drowning is the leading cause of fatal injuries among visitors to Hawaii, and over 60% of those drownings happen at unguarded beaches or beaches without lifeguards.

[00:05:15] Bryan Murphy: So if you don't see other people swimming at a beach that you're checking out, there's usually a reason why it's not that you've stumbled across like an unmarked beach or a a secret beach. Maybe there's a strong current that day. Maybe the shore break is too powerful. Maybe there's a rip that locals know about.

[00:05:34] Bryan Murphy: Lifeguards aren't just there for emergencies. They're really your best resource for current ocean conditions. You know, they'll tell you where it's safe to swim, what to watch out for, and when conditions change, they can let you know. So when a doubt don't go out, but also ask the lifeguard there, and that's will be one of the best ways to enjoy Hawaii's water safely.

[00:05:55] Bryan Murphy: Number four. Don't hike illegally or start your day late if a trail is closed. It's not a suggestion. Those closures are there for your safety and often for cultural protection. Some trails cross sacred Hawaiian land and others are closed because of rockfall danger, unstable conditions or just renovations like Cocoa Head was just um, I think about a year or so ago.

[00:06:19] Bryan Murphy: But what's really concerning with this is that rescue operations for lost or stranded hikers have increased by 30% over the past five years. And most of these happen because people either altogether ignore trail closures or they start their hike too late in the day. Hawaii's sun sets fast and trails can seem easy in daylight, but become treacherous in the dark.

[00:06:42] Bryan Murphy: So you don't want to be that person who. You know, needs a helicopter rescue because you thought you could squeeze in a quick height at 4:00 PM. Really, the solution is simple. Start early. If you see a kapu sign, just make sure That means you stay out. That means forbidden and stick to legal, maintain trails.

[00:07:00] Bryan Murphy: Your safety and the safety of potential rescuers and Hawaii's resources really depend on. Number five. Don't forget to throw the chaka when someone lets you in while you're driving. It's kind of a do, but you know, I turned it into a, don't see what I did there. Don't forget the chaka. It's important.

[00:07:15] Bryan Murphy: Driving in Hawaii operates on island time and the aloha spirit for most people who live in Hawaii. Traffic runs a bit slower. People are more. Patient typically, and there's really an unspoken agreement to be kind to each other on the road. And so when someone lets you merge in or gives you space and traffic, acknowledge it with a quick wave or even better a chaka, that's the hang loose gesture with your thumb and pinky extended out.

[00:07:42] Bryan Murphy: It really goes a long way. It's even such a big deal that the bus that runs in Hawaii on the back of it, if you let the bus in, they're gonna flash a chaka on the back of the bus. I haven't been that person yet. That's like one of my life goals is to get the chaka by the bus. If you have an opportunity to let the bus in while you're in Waikiki Honolulu area, be sure to do that so you get the chaka.

[00:08:05] Bryan Murphy: Number six is don't only eat at chain restaurants. You flew over 2,500 miles just to eat at Applebee's. Nothing against Applebee's, but you get what I'm saying. You, you go down in Waikiki and you got California Pizza Kitchens, you got Cheesecake Factory, et cetera. Nothing against those places, but. Hawaii has one of the most unique food cultures in the world.

[00:08:31] Bryan Murphy: It's really a, a melting pot. You've got plate lunches that blend Asian and local flavors. You got poke. That's nothing like what you've had on the continental us. Simon noodles, Masada shave ice with flavors. You just local and amazing. What's a surprising fact is that roughly 70%, that's seven 0% of Hawaii's food is imported.

[00:08:55] Bryan Murphy: So when you eat at local restaurants, you're supporting businesses that source from local farms and fisheries as much as they can. You're keeping money in the community instead of spending it to some corporate headquarters on the mainland. A good little tip is ask your hotel concierge for their favorite local spot.

[00:09:13] Bryan Murphy: Find the food truck that everyone's talking about. I got episodes also talked about, we had Liza from a Maui blog on talked about. We had a whole two-part series about where to eat on Maui. That's local. I'm definitely gonna link those episodes below, so go ahead and check that out. And number seven, probably one of the most important things of what not to do is don't.

[00:09:34] Bryan Murphy: Overload your itinerary, and I totally get it. You've saved up for this trip. It's time you're here. You're in Hawaii and you want to see everything, do everything, experience everything. But Hawaii isn't meant to be conquered like Disneyland. It's meant to be savored, pack your schedule too tight, and you'll spend more time rushing between activities than actually enjoying them.

[00:09:57] Bryan Murphy: You'll miss the spontaneous moments like finding that. Perfect beach that no one told you about, where they're still lifeguards or sitting with locals who want to share stories about their island. You, you don't want to rush those moments and island time. It's just, it's not a cute saying. It's not just a cute saying.

[00:10:14] Bryan Murphy: It's, it's a reminder to slow down, leave gaps in your schedule plan for maybe one big thing per day. Five and give yourself permission to change plans. If you discover something better or unique along the way. The magic of Hawaii happens in the spaces between your plan activities. Don't just schedule it away.

[00:10:34] Bryan Murphy: Kinda reminds me of that John Lenon quote from the song, beautiful Boy Life is what happens when you're busy making other plants. So take time for that as you are in Hawaii. Really what this all comes down to is mindful travel. Respectful travel, traveling with aloha, all those catchphrases, because when you follow these tips, you're not just avoiding problems or following the rules, you're actually contributing to something positive in the islands and leaving it better than you found it.

[00:11:02] Bryan Murphy: People who live in Hawaii, they notice. They notice when visitors care about their home. They notice when you take the time to learn the difference between Hawaiian and local, and they notice when you're careful around the reefs and respecting trails and the culture and that respect. It goes a long way.

[00:11:18] Bryan Murphy: It comes back with maybe better recommendations, warmer interactions with others, and experiences that you can't get. Any other way. Again, if you wanna hold onto this info, just go to the first link in the show notes below. And I included a free PDF guide. And if you wanna dive even deeper into all things Hawaii, check out our super cast page.

[00:11:38] Bryan Murphy: I also linked that in the show notes below. And there are episodes that are unreleased that you can have access to by signing up for a super cast account. Alright, and I'll see you again next week. So until then, as always. Live with Aloha

[00:11:57] 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.