Vacationing in Hawaii? Don’t Make It Weird, Bruh

Blending in—Hawai‘i style. Slow down, smile, and let the island embrace you. Just maybe skip the sunscreen fog.

Know the Basics Before You Go

After years working as a tour guide and in the hospitality scene, I’ve heard some of the funniest — and most head-scratching — questions from visitors.

Here are my top five, starting from the bottom up:

#5. “Why did you guys import all this rock?”

#4. “Aren’t you afraid of the volcanoes here?”

#3. “Do you accept US currency?”

#2. “Do you speak English?”

And for the #1 spot — nothing shouts malihini (outsider) louder than a tourist telling a local that we’re not Americans.

(Yes, that actually happened.)

So… let’s start with the basics before vacationing in Hawaii:

Hawai‘i became a U.S. state on August 21, 1959. We speak English. We accept U.S. currency.

Kamaʻāina means “Child of the Land.” Many locals are Kamaʻāina, but not all are Native Hawaiian.

Hawai‘i Island is made up of five volcanoes — Kohala, Maunakea, Hualālai, Maunaloa, and Kīlauea.

Of the five, Kīlauea is the youngest and most active, but it only makes up about 14% of the island.

Locals don’t fear the volcanoes — we respect and celebrate them.

And those “imported rocks” you see? They’re the island’s bones, formed by fire and time.

E kala mai (please forgive me) if this sounds unbelievable, but yes — these questions really happened.

You have no idea how often I’ve been tempted to say, “No, we don’t accept U.S. currency — coconuts only.”

Or, “Eh… no speaka da English.” 🤣

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Act and Speak Naturally

Another funny thing I’ve seen? Visitors shouting the wrong Hawaiian words at locals like we’re hard of hearing.

I once picked up a group from their hotel, and before I could say a word, someone shouted,

“MA! HA! LO! ARE YOU OUR TOUR GUIDE!?”

Bless their hearts — they meant well, but there were so many things wrong with that moment.

Here’s a tip: act and speak naturally.

We speak English. And even if we didn’t, shouting wouldn’t help.

“Aloha” means hello or goodbye.

“Mahalo” means thank you.

If you want to show respect, learn a few Hawaiian words — and remember what they mean.

And if you do accidentally make things awkward, don’t worry — just tip your guide generously at the start of your tour. It buys patience. 😉

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Calm Down with the Sunscreen Spray

Then there are the “foggers” — the folks who coat themselves in a visible haze of spray-on sunscreen.

If you’re one of these people and you notice locals giving you the look, that’s not admiration.

That’s stink-eye.

Here’s why: those aerosol sunscreens full of oxybenzone and avobenzone don’t actually protect your skin well,

but they do kill coral reefs.

Protect your skin and the ocean by using reef-safe mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Avoid sunbathing between 10 AM and 2 PM, and for an extra layer of protection, nourish your skin from the inside out.

My wife (a fair-skinned redhead) swears by vitamin D-rich mushrooms and astaxanthin supplementsfrom BioAston — no sunburns, no guilt.

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Watch the sunset and let the wave set your tempo. You’ll pick up the local rhythm naturally.

Let the Island Embrace You

A wise manager once told me, “Let the island embrace you.”

It’s still the best travel advice I’ve ever received.

In other words: don’t try too hard to fit in.

Be humble, respectful, and genuine.

The locals will notice — and they’ll welcome you in.

You’ll pick up the local rhythm naturally, learning the flow of aloha without forcing it.

Even if your stay is short, when you slow down and move with the island’s pace,

you’ll experience the true warmth of Hawai‘i — no weirdness required. 🌺