First time trip to Hawaii?! Things NOT to do 🌴 Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island 🌴 Hawaii travel blog

ALOHA!

So you’re planning your first trip to Hawaii!

When you’re looking for the best things to do in Hawaii, like the best beaches in Hawaii and the best hikes in Hawaii, it can be good to start with what NOT to do when you’re in Hawaii as a first-time visitor.

These could have been mistakes you make on your first trip to Hawaii.

But after reading this, you will know better. 😉

If you haven’t decided on which of the Hawaiian islands to visit…

Be sure to see: Maui vs Big Island

👆 How to start using this map: Click the top left icon! Or just zoom in to start looking and clicking around! If you start off by clicking on the gold stars, that will tell you the basics of each of the major islands. See more about how to use the Hawaiian islands map to help decide which island to visit!

🌴 Side note!

Also see some of the most popular items bought specifically for a trip to Hawaii:

• swim shirts can be perfect for snorkeling
• water shoes can be perfect for snorkeling with rocky beach entrances
• a CHEAP waterproof phone case can be perfect to take underwater pics with your phone
• the highly encouraged reef-safe sunscreen for Hawaii
• hiking sandals can be perfect for hiking in hot weather

/end side note 🌴

Now…

Things to keep in mind as you’re planning your first trip to Hawaii

Mistake #1: Touching the turtles

If you’re at a beach known for turtle sightings, or you go on a snorkeling tour, you may get excited when you spot a turtle.

But just know that in Hawaii, it’s a big deal to make sure you respect the turtles aka honu.

This mainly means avoiding doing anything that could potentially disturb them.

Turtles in Hawaii are protected by both the federal government and state government under wildlife conservation laws.

The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources “urges people to give basking honu space to allow them to rest undisturbed, and suggests keeping a 6- to 10-foot buffer as a best practice for sea turtle viewing.”

So don’t be an uneducated tourist! Don’t touch the turtles!

And if you do see an uneducated tourist touching a turtle, please don’t bite their head off! It’s probably just that they really don’t know, and it’s an innocent mistake.

Instead, politely explain to them that it’s not a good thing to be touching the turtles.

See more for planning your first trip to Hawaii:

• trip to a turtle beach in Hawaii
• trip to a seal beach in Hawaii

Mistake #2: Not knowing how to say “thank you” in the Hawaiian language

Thank you = MAHALO!

You will probably learn this word pretty quickly once you get to Hawaii because you will hear it so much.

But now you can be even more ahead of the game by knowing MAHALO before you even arrive on the islands!

Other useful Hawaiian words to know

These are a few more Hawaiian words that you may come across when you go to Hawaii:

• honu: turtle
• e komo mai: welcome
• ohana: family
• keiki: child
• kamaaina: local
• kokua: help
• heiau: ancient Hawaiian temple

And of course, you know ALOHA!

You likely learned aloha as a kid to be a greeting to say instead of hello. You can also say aloha as a substitute for goodbye too.

Although, there is a deeper meaning to ALOHA than just being a greeting.

However, as a tourist you will likely be excused for saying aloha all the time when you’re in Hawaii. 😉

And one more word to know: humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

The Hawaiian state fish.

Learn this word before you go to Hawaii and you might impress some people. 😉

It’s actually not as difficult to say as it may initially seem. Break up the word and there are also some repeats:

• humu-humu (hoo-moo-hoo-moo)
• nuku-nuku (noo-koo-noo-koo)
• a-pu-a-a (ah-poo-ah-ah)

NOW SAY IT!

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa!

Mistake #3: Walking on coral reef

With lots of good snorkeling spots in Hawaii, you may end up snorkeling in Hawaii.

And sometimes, when you’re wading in the ocean, coral reef looks like rock.

And so if you’re wearing water shoes, your inclination is to be happy that you brought water shoes with you to Hawaii, and then walk right over reef.

But coral reef are living organisms, and walking on them can damage them.

One of the most common places that tourists are walking over coral reef on Oahu is at Hanauma Bay.

Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular snorkeling spots on Oahu.

And remember that the reason that it’s popular is because of the colorful tropical fish that you can see.

The reason the fish are there is because of the coral reef.

So if the coral reef continues to get damaged, there could be less and less fish that come around.

And if it becomes drastic… no more fish means no more top snorkeling spot.

So be sure to stay off the reef whether you are snorkeling on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island.

See more for planning your first trip to Hawaii:

• Best Oahu snorkeling spots
• Best Maui snorkeling spots
• Best Big Island snorkeling spots
• What to wear snorkeling in Hawaii

Mistake #4: Not wearing sunscreen that’s safe for coral reef

Along the same lines of taking care of the coral reef, the sunscreen you wear could also affect the reef.

How worried are the Hawaiians about the effects of sunscreen on the natural environment?

So much so that they passed a law that will be banning the sales of certain sunscreen in Hawaii.

This law went into effect in 2021.

So what type of sunscreen is best in Hawaii?

The best sunscreen to wear in Hawaii is the type that doesn’t contain the ingredients that are a part of Hawaii’s sunscreen ban.

Because it’s these chemicals that a lot of sunscreen products are made with that is said to be harmful to marine life.

So you can also look for sunscreen that’s deemed to be reef-safe sunscreen.

See more for planning your first trip to Hawaii:

• Best sunscreen for Hawaii

Mistake #5: Not getting to know Hawaiian culture

You’re on vacation, so no one expects you to be an expert in Hawaiian culture by the time you leave Hawaii.

But as a state that’s home to a culture that is far different from any other culture you’ll find in the rest of the United States, it’s always a good idea to learn a little something about the culture you’ll be around!

Just a few places you can visit for a bit of Hawaiian culture on Oahu:

Duke Kahanamoku Statue

Go here when you’re in Waikiki

Puu o Mahuka heiau

Go here when you’re on the North Shore

If it’s not enough to visit this ancient Hawaiian sacred place for the Hawaiian culture, you MUST visit it for the views!

This heiau is located at the top of a hill so it means sweeping views of the North Shore!

See more for planning your first trip to Hawaii:

• Things to do on the North Shore of Oahu

Kukaniloko birthstones

Go here before you head to Dole Plantation

King Kamehameha Statue

Go here when you’re exploring downtown Honolulu

Hawaii Five-0 anyone?!

The King Kamehameha statue signifies the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters on TV.

Just across the street from the King Kamehameha statue is the Iolani Palace.

This is said to be the only official royal palace located in the United States.

Mistake #6: Not going for a hike in Hawaii

The scenic views are everywhere in Hawaii.

But what makes those views even better?!

When you have to work for them. 😉

And when they are from up high!

No matter which island your first trip to Hawaii is – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island – be sure that you find a hike to do!

Best hikes on Oahu

Koko Head Hike

Lanikai Pillbox Hike

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail

Kuliouou Ridge Trail

See more for planning your first trip to Hawaii:

• Best Oahu hikes
• Best Maui hikes
• Best Big Island hikes
• Best Lanai hikes

Mistake #7: Not being prepared for a hot weather hike in Hawaii

So now that you won’t be making the mistake of NOT hiking in Hawaii, the next mistake you want to avoid is being absolutely miserable on your hike because of your lack of preparation!

Hawaii is hot.

When you’re hiking, you’ll probably feel hot whether it’s winter or summer.

So one of the most important things you can do is to make sure you bring water on your hike with you.

Snacks are also a good idea. It’s really amazing what a couple hundred calories can do for your energy levels when you’re feeling down on the trail!

Having the proper footwear can also be important.

Trail running shoes can be perfect for hiking in Hawaii.

For most of the shorter popular hikes in Hawaii, hiking sandals can work out well too as the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii.

HAPPY PLANNING YOUR FIRST TRIP TO HAWAII!