What are some of the mistakes you’ve made on your Hawaii vacation? No matter where we travel, there’s always a new learning experience. Sometimes, good, and sometimes, not. You’re assured of a great time in the islands by staying clear of these errors.
Forgetting how the surf changes with the seasons. Simple, right?
We hear this a lot. There’s a common misconception that a favorite beach to swim in summer will also be the same in winter. For example, our beloved Hanalei Bay is perfect for swimming in summer with little to no waves. Editor Rob competes in the Hanalei Bay Swim Challenge there every year in July. The competition is not held in winter because the surf goes way up on the North Shore then, and the South Shore (Poipu) is where the ocean surface is calm. As you decide what part of the islands to stay, remember to pick the ocean environment that is right for you.
Advance reservations have become more important than ever before.
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It’s not possible to show up at Hanauma Bay, the road after Hanalei, or at Diamond Head without advance reservations. These are examples of places where visitor numbers are limited each day, and you’ll need to reserve your spot before leaving. As we’ve just traveled in Europe, we see this as the new norm as destinations try to protect the environment from worldwide over-tourism.
You may also want to book some activities and restaurants in advance or at the start of your Hawaii vacation to avoid disappointments.
Swimming or snorkeling close to Hawaii wildlife is trouble.
Volunteers usually rope off areas where Hawaiian monk seals and turtles are resting on the beach so you know the boundary not to pass. If the area is not roped off, a 50-foot distance is required for your safety and wildlife.
But what about in the ocean? It’s a 10-foot distance. We can do that most of the time, but once, Jeff had a turtle suddenly appear on his face while he was swimming. The main lesson here is not to be the one to approach wildlife, and if that turtle does appear up close, let it swim by to give both of you the required distance for safety.
Showing up without a gift if you are invited to someone’s home?
If you are lucky enough to be invited into a local residence, consider it an honor that few visitors ever experience. But there’s more to removing your shoes at the door. Sharing Aloha goes both ways. If you know about the home visit before you leave, it’s nice to bring something from where you live to share with the host. Otherwise, consider a gift from Hawaii to show your appreciation. It will make a big impression – especially if this is a new acquaintance.
Missing out on Hawaii’s truly unique and diverse culinary scene is a loss.
We like to start by exploring local farmer’s markets, sampling foods not commonly found on the mainland, and savoring the unique flavors of Hawaii-style cuisine. Our favorite in Oahu is the Saturday KCC farmers’ market, which is not far from Waikiki. It’s the ideal spot for breakfast. We tend to head for the Pig and the Lady food stand when we go there for the most unusual ever breakfast. Be prepared to wait in line and then sit on the curb with others to eat.
And that’s just for starters. Do some research and find great, award-winning, and often reasonably priced Hawaii restaurants, particularly in Honolulu. Those include award winners not to miss. Consider avoiding chain restaurants entirely.
Local customs: please do not remove rocks, coral, or sand.
Did you know that it is not only discouraged due to Hawaiian cultural beliefs but it is also prohibited by state laws? Removing lava rock, in particular, is considered offensive. Additionally, don’t take rocks from heiau (Hawaiian temples). The stacking of rocks as a form of recreation is considered offensive to Native Hawaiians.
Ignoring Hawaii ocean safety can be deadly.
From snorkeling drownings that we’ve written about scores of times to being struck by waves standing on rocks, the dangers of the ocean here are very real and largely underestimated by many visitors. Remember that, on average, a visitor dies here in the islands each week. The risk of serious ocean incidents happening to visitors is 10 times that for residents.
Failing to explore beyond the beach is truly another missed opportunity.
While Hawaii’s beaches are prominent visitor destinations, and there’s nothing wrong with limiting your time there, there is much more to Hawaii. Seek, and you will find cultural events and hula. Waikiki is an iconic destination, but there’s much more to discover on Oahu, including the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and cultural venues like Iolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art, and the Bishop Museum. And as beautiful as our beaches are, the islands’ interiors offer incredible hiking, as another example.
Speaking Pidgin English?
We’ve said this before. That can undoubtedly raise many eyebrows unless you were raised in Hawaii, and it isn’t the same as trying to order in French in Paris. Hawaii Creole is similar to English but distinct. It is primarily spoken by those who grew up in the islands, no matter their ethnic heritage, and it’s often heard in neighborhood conversations. Listen and enjoy.
Getting sunburned to the point of misery is a guaranteed trip-wrecker.
This is common due to the deceptively strong Hawaii sun in combination with the cooling tradewinds. Even on cloudy days, sunburn is very real. The wind also tricks you into thinking the sun isn’t as strong as it is. Hawaii state law mandates the use of reef-safe sunscreen to protect the environment.
Being frugal when tipping? What that isn’t encouraged.
It’s still true that Hawaii’s hospitality employees most often work multiple jobs to make a living and afford to stay in Hawaii. So it’s obviously appreciated when visitors are generous. At the same time, we’re not the ones to try to tell others what to do, so we consider this to be our best suggestion.
Over-planning and underestimating your Hawaii vacation is a common mistake.
Hawaii’s relaxed pace and changeable weather may not perfectly align with an overly planned and highly ambitious schedule. Plus, use Google Maps to estimate sometimes unexpectedly long travel times between destinations before you set out, as we who live here do. That can avoid so much frustration and keep your Hawaii vacation moving smoothly.
Jaywalking in Hawaii is more dangerous than you think.
We see this all the time, and it presents significant dangers in Hawaii. On the surface, our roads don’t look as dangerous as those on the mainland. But in reality, they are. That two-lane road on Kauai, for example, is our highway.
Please don’t get ripped off in Hawaii.
Crimes here are often petty and can be avoided. Leaving items visible in your rental car poses a real safety risk. To prevent problems, move your belongings to the trunk first, before heading to the beach.
Please give us a hand with your suggestions! Mahalo.
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For my money, the Kalaheo Cafe is the best breakfast on Kauai. Frequented by many locals, though, don’t be a jerk from the mainland — blend in and enjoy the pace and the food.
Even going there is a mistake because of the price gouging Even if you have the money it offends you to be totally ripped off on everything..it’s simply not worth the money anymore there’s far better places to go at a third the price… I won’t be back.. I’ve been coming for decades no more… Everybody I know feels that way…
We visited last year in early March to honolulu. We only scheduled one thing, which was kayaking (it was great but so much more work than a river lol) me and my husband both chose things we wanted to check out. We avoided at all costs any overly touristy type things (mostly due to the insane costs)and most beaches, but we were there for 3 days and touched each corner of the island! We even made sure to stop by the Sunday swap by the stadium on our way out. So much more to do than typical tourist stuff. Plus avoiding that saved a whole lot of money and made it extremely affordable! We walked to Waikiki every night and bar hoped, got tattoos and took in the sights! Had to grab a pin from hard rock for my adventure collection though!
Hello,
If truly the percentage of ratio has reduced of tourists returning back, the hotels and time share rentals should reduce their cost or pricing especially if the individual tourists will spend at least one week or more of there establishments. If the tourists spend less than a week, then I can see paying more. The hotels, motels and time share rentals need to realize credit card rates has increased so much. Many tourists prefer where there cash or credit card gets more for the bang especially in countries like Mexico, and the Caribbean. Lowering price rental fees for hotels motels and time share rentals need to think out of the box to persuade all tourists to visit Hawaii.
Supply and demand dictate the price of everything. Hawaii will always have demand and with less supply the rates will go up not down. Just as the Governor wanted. Unfortunately this will benefit the accommodation rentals but less tourism will harm all other businesses.
I don’t really understand the suggestions that Maui is overpriced. If hotels and STRs are not maximizing profits, they will decrease prices until they are. In other words, Maui may be out of the budget for many, but there are still lots of people willing to pay the going rate . No different than a trip to Disney World or any other place. That said, Maui does seem to be bumping up against the maximum supply/demand equilibrium.
Well said and very true. Rates are demand driven.
And make sure your accommodation isn’t next to the homeless camps. Prepare to be shocked by the thousands of people living rough on or beside the beach. Bansai pipeline and sharks cove have no visible signage. Tourists are blamed for Hawaii demise yet we pay exorbitant taxes and resort fees that aren’t being used to improve local infrastructure. Waikiki beach beside the Hilton is so rocky it’s dangerous. Tell us where the tourist taxes are spent? The 3 and 4 star hotels aren’t up to world standards and cost twice as much. It’s not surprising the Japanese market has dropped off. Who wants to see world class beaches hidden by homeless shacks mile after mile.
We found out the hard way when our last night at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach was during the Honolulu Marathon. The hotel management put up posters in the elevators alerting guests that Kapiolani was shutting down at 3AM and not reopening until 4PM. Since we had a flight back home that day we had to move to a hotel near HNL. I will always call the hotel before making reservations to find out any road closures that could affect our travel plans.
Had the same problem last week with the Honolulu Triathlon. Had an early morning flight and most of Ala Moana / Nimitz / 92 was closed at 3 am. The Hale Koa gave us enough notice so I could take an alt route but heard a lot of folks had trouble. The Hawaii DOT Highway site is very handy to see what’s closed and what’s coming up roadwork wise. BOH – Hope it’s OK to post this link…
hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/
Best Regards
Excellent tip!
Mahalo
I might also suggest “have adequate cash on hand” since so many small businesses don’t take credit cards. Many of the small local ATMs will charge you some exorbitant usage fees.
Best Regards
Sorry but for the most part if they won’t take a credit card I don’t need their product. I’m not going to start traveling with a bunch of cash just in case a business(es) don’t want to deal with the cost of credit etc., sorry but it’s part of the deal if you want a successful business. And I’m certainly not going to add to my vacation costs with ATM fees.
One more minor pitfall… overpacking.
I’m shocked by the massive suitcases people pack to Hawaii. Do they really use everything they bring? When I travel, even for several weeks, I bring the smallest carryon wheeled bag and a small backpack. I realize not everyone wants to do that, but sheesh, 2 giant suitcases to haul around? That’s not a vacation, that’s a job. Hawaii is generally very casual. Unless you are in a wedding or other formal occasion, keep it simple. You’ll enjoy yourself more with a mix & match of tops and bottoms (wear more than once), a hat, 2 swimsuits, a light coverup to toss over the swimsuit, a light jacket or hoodie, flip flops and closed-toed shoes with good soles for hiking. A nice shirt or sundress. End.
Oh brother.
You have touched on all the things that took us 30-years and many many trips to learn. I am betting, however, that for those new to Hawaii they will be overwhelmed by what they see and forget it all – and will need to learn from experience (good or bad) like the rest of us. I’ll add that Oahu never gets the love it deserves. I tell new visitors to start there with all the things you list (and more) and then branch out to another island. The first time you look out your plane’s window and see all the skyscrapers touching the sky from that beautiful island beach is pretty stunning. It never gets old.
Also, I’m wondering if anyone might have any information about a rental we stayed in back in 2012. It was, IMO, the best rental of all time: Rice House at Haena Point. We rented via Kauai Vacation Rentals and they no longer manage the property (they managed it for years). I don’t think anyone is managing it at this point because I can’t find anything about it online. It seems like there are no longer any vacation rentals west of Haena Place. Thanks in advance for any input!
It is my understanding that Haena Beach Park (not Haena State Park) does not require reservations in order to park. We’ve been there many times before and understand that it’s a get there early thing or arrive late in the day. I’m just trying to make sure I understand the “past Hanalei Bay” part of all this. Is it possible to drive to Haena Beach Park without a permit?
Yes, you can drive about as far as Limahuli Garden just before Haena State Park, but unless you really have to, the local residents would be happier if you took the shuttle and parked your car in the shuttle lot.
We were advised when visiting new Hawaiian islands to just “get lost”. See what’s there around the next corner, explore local sights, take it at your own pace, and don’t get stuck on super traditional tourist tours where stops can sometimes be only 20 minutes at an epic site that needs an hour or more to really see.
Love Hawaii!
“ The risk of serious ocean incidents happening to visitors is 10 times that for residents.” That “for” or that “of”? Two different meanings. I the context you gave that would mean 10 times a week for residents. I was not aware of that many ocean fatalities for Hawaii residents.
Be prepared for Ants! Last October in Kauai there were aggressive insane ants everywhere, even in the best rooms in best properties on the island … and the management didn’t seem able to do anything about it.
I would just like to add to your “…ripped off” advice that it is best to not take anything with you in your car that you won’t need once you arrive. If you do hide anything in your trunk, place it there before you reach your destination. Petty thieves will wait and watch for parkers to put items in their trunk and walk away before helping themselves. Also, many Hawaii car rentals are ‘pushing’ convertible top Jeeps. You can’t hide anything in those, even if your top is on. One can easily see right into the vehicle all around and just unsnap the top off!
FYI I left my personal items in my trunk on a holiday weekend and they were stolen anyway. Take your stuff with you.
To avoid losing your valuable items from your rental car, don’t put them in the trunk when parked. Instead, take them with you. Trunks can be pried open fairly easily.
A mistake I made on a Hawaii Island trip was assuming the current lava feature would last until the end of the week. It didn’t! Just because it has lasted for weeks doesn’t mean it’s going to continue to fit your schedule.
As a former kamaaina now living on the mainland, I still treasure my memories of Oahu’s Waimea Bay. Before I moved, I decided to venture out there on a weekday. This was in the 80s and nobody (seriously) swimming in the Bay.
The water was blue and clear. I was out floating enjoying the magic of Waimea. I looked to my left and saw a turtle (honu) right next to me looking at this human in his domain.
Probably one of the most surreal moments in my long life.
A special memory that shall always be in my heart. Times have surely changed, but the Islands will Always be
“The Pearls of the Pacific”.
Aloha No!
Mahalo, editors! My addition for your list is to pack out whatever you pack in when visiting beaches, parks and everywhere else. Leave no trace! And don’t stop there…I always pick up trash left behind by others. It makes me sad when people disrespect these gorgeous, spiritual islands.
The road past Hanalei is open. Only Ke’e beach and Haena State Park require permits.
Thank you for these tips and all the great Hawaii information through the years!
We just completed a very muddy hike up the Wiliwilinui ridge trail on Oahu last week. The views were amazing and it was a nice change from our usual hike up the Kuli‘ou‘ou ridge. But I am reminded of how often I see people hiking in shoes that are not meant for the muddy trails on Oahu. If you plan to hike during your visit to Hawaii bring good hiking shoes and assume that you will get wet and muddy.
Hi Stig.
Thank you! We are always in shock and sometimes take photos of weird shoes. Like the high heals going up Diamond Head.
Aloha.
Aloha,
I always tell my guests to bring their oldest hiking socks so if necessary they can be left here on Kaua’i. Sometimes socks will get so muddied with Kauai’s red dirt that they will not be worn again!