Planning a trip to Hawaii? Find out the top things not to do in Hawaii when you are on a budget so you’ll have a truly amazing Hawaiian vacation!
This what to avoid in Hawaii when on vacation post was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Planning a trip to Hawaii? As a Hawaii travel expert who’s visited 40+ times, I’ve seen (and made) plenty of mistakes.
Here’s what you need to avoid so you can actually enjoy paradise instead of dealing with expensive problems, legal trouble, or just plain missing out.
Trust me, I learned some of these lessons the hard way.
1. Don’t Show Up Without Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Here’s a mistake I’ll never make again. A few years ago in Kona, I forgot to pack reef-safe sunscreen. No big deal, right? I’ll just grab some at the hotel.
Wrong. I ended up spending $50 at the resort shop because I didn’t check the price tag first. Ouch.
But here’s the bigger issue. Hawaii takes reef protection seriously, and the sunscreen laws vary by island.
Statewide: Since January 2021, stores can’t sell sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate anywhere in Hawaii.
Maui County (Maui, Lanai, Molokai): This is the strictest. Since October 2022, you can’t sell, buy, OR USE any non-mineral sunscreen. Only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are allowed. Period. Break this rule and you could face a $1,000 fine.
Big Island: Since December 2022, stores can’t sell non-mineral sunscreens, but technically using them isn’t banned.
Oahu and Kauai: The statewide ban applies, but stores can still sell other chemical sunscreens as long as they don’t have oxybenzone or octinoxate.
Here’s my advice: just bring mineral sunscreen no matter which island you’re visiting. Pack it from home (way cheaper than buying at the resort) or grab it at Costco once you arrive.
Look for brands like Kokua Sun Care, Mama Kuleana, and Little Hands Hawaii.
They’re all made in Hawaii with non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and they actually work without leaving you looking like a ghost.
2. Don’t Touch the Wildlife (Seriously, It’s a Felony)
I get it. Sea turtles are adorable. Monk seals look like puppies. But touching them isn’t just disrespectful, it’s illegal and expensive.
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under federal and state law. Touch one and you could face up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine. That’s a felony, not a slap on the wrist.
Sea turtles aren’t much better. Fines range from $1,000 to $10,500 for harassment, which includes touching, chasing, or getting too close.
Stay at least 10 feet from sea turtles and 50 feet from monk seals. I know you want that perfect photo, but it’s not worth the fine or stressing out these endangered animals.
If you see someone getting too close, honestly, speak up. The wildlife needs us to protect them.
Want to see turtles up close? Book a snorkeling tour on Viator where guides know how to approach responsibly.
3. Don’t Take Lava Rocks, Sand, or Coral
You’ve probably heard about Pele’s Curse. Legend says that Pele, the volcano goddess, will curse anyone who takes lava rocks from Hawaii.
Here’s the thing. The curse itself probably started as a story by park rangers trying to stop tourists from stealing rocks. But whether you believe in curses or not, it’s actually illegal.
Hawaii Revised Statute §171-58.5 and §205A-44 prohibit taking sand, dead coral, or coral rubble from anywhere in the state.
Taking anything from National Parks like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a federal offense.
Every year, park rangers receive thousands of packages from tourists mailing rocks back, begging for forgiveness and blaming their run of bad luck on Pele.
Coincidence? Maybe. But why risk it?
Leave the rocks, sand, and coral where they belong. Take photos instead.
4. Don’t Go to Timeshare Presentations (Unless You Have Serious Willpower)
I still remember going to a timeshare presentation with my parents as a kid, just so we could get a dinner voucher for a nice restaurant.
Looking back, I’m impressed they had the willpower to say no.
Timeshare presentations in Hawaii promise you free stuff or huge discounts. What they don’t tell you is that you’ll sit through 90 minutes to 3 hours of high-pressure sales tactics designed to wear you down.
Even if they say “90 minutes,” expect longer if you’re not showing interest. Multiple salespeople will rotate in. They’ll create false urgency (“this deal expires today!”). They’ll make you feel guilty for “wasting their time.”
Unless you’re extremely good at saying no and have time to waste on your vacation, skip them. Your afternoon at the beach is worth way more than a $100 gift card or discounted dinner.
If you actually want to stay somewhere nice, book through Expedia or look at vacation rentals. You’ll save money and sanity.
5. Don’t Try to Do Everything (You’ll Just Exhaust Your Family)
On my first few trips with kids, I made this mistake hard. I wanted to see everything, do everything, experience it all.
My poor kids were exhausted. We rushed from beach to waterfall to luau to snorkel spot, and honestly? We didn’t really enjoy any of it because we were always running to the next thing.
Island time is real. Things take longer than you expect. Traffic happens. Kids need downtime. You need downtime.
Pick one or two must-dos per day, max. Build in time to just relax at the beach. Let your kids play in the sand without a schedule.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to plan everything, I talk about this exact problem in my podcast episode The Truth About Hawaii Travel: Managing Expectations for a Better Trip.
Managing expectations is honestly the key to a great Hawaii vacation.
Or if you need help narrowing down your plans, I offer one-on-one Hawaii travel consultations where we can create a realistic itinerary that doesn’t leave your family exhausted.
6. Don’t Visit During Peak School Holidays (If You Can Help It)
Look, I get it. I have a middle schooler now, and taking him out of school is basically impossible. So we travel during school breaks like everyone else.
But if you have flexibility (younger kids, homeschoolers, teachers with summer off), consider going in May or October instead of Christmas break or spring break.
The difference is massive. Flights cost hundreds less. Hotels have better availability and lower rates. The beaches aren’t packed. You’ll actually be able to get a table at popular restaurants.
Plus, the weather in May and October is still fantastic. You’re not sacrificing sunshine for savings.
If you can only travel during school breaks, book everything as early as possible and expect to pay premium prices. That’s just how it works.
7. Don’t Ignore Posted Warning Signs
Hawaii’s ocean is not like your backyard pool. The waves are powerful. The currents are strong. Conditions change quickly.
When you see warning flags at the beach, take them seriously. Red flags mean dangerous conditions, sometimes due to high surf, strong currents, or even sharks or jellyfish in the area.
I’ve seen too many tourists ignore the flags because “it doesn’t look that bad.” Then lifeguards are pulling them out of riptides or dealing with injuries from shore breaks.
Respect the signs. Respect the lifeguards. Respect the ocean. There are plenty of safe beaches to swim at, you don’t need to risk your life at the one with warning flags up.
Check out resources like Hawaii Beach Safety before you go to learn about ocean conditions.
8. Don’t Spend Your Whole Trip in Waikiki (There’s So Much More)
Waikiki is great for first-timers. The beaches are beautiful, there’s tons to do, and it’s easy to navigate.
But if you’re spending your entire Oahu trip in Waikiki, you’re missing out on the real Hawaii. The North Shore, Kailua, the windward coast, Haleiwa, all these places offer completely different experiences.
Same goes for the other islands. Don’t just park yourself at the resort and call it a Hawaii vacation. Rent a car (I always use Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates) and explore.
Each island has its own personality:
- Maui has the Road to Hana and Haleakala
- Kauai has the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon
- Big Island has active volcanoes and incredible snorkeling
- Oahu has everything from Pearl Harbor to hidden beaches
If you’re not sure where to start, my island-specific travel guides break down the best spots for families and help you plan realistic day trips.
9. Don’t Try to Visit All the Islands in One Trip
I know the temptation. You’re flying all the way to Hawaii, you want to see everything.
But island hopping takes time and money. You need to get to the airport, check in, fly, get your new rental car, check into your new hotel. That’s basically a whole day gone.
If you have less than 10 days, stick to one or two islands max. You’ll actually get to relax and experience the places you visit instead of living out of a suitcase.
For first-timers, I usually recommend picking one island and really exploring it. You can always come back (and trust me, you’ll want to).
If you do want to island hop, my Hawaii Island Hopping Guide walks you through how to do it efficiently.
10. Don’t Get Distracted While Driving
The scenery in Hawaii is gorgeous. Waterfalls, ocean views, mountains, rainbows everywhere. It’s so easy to want to look at everything while you’re driving.
But Hawaii’s roads can be narrow, winding, and full of other distracted tourists. This is especially true on the Road to Hana in Maui.
My kids have gotten carsick more times than I can count because I took those hairpin turns too fast trying to stay on schedule.
If you want to see the views, pull over. There are plenty of lookout points. Don’t try to drive and sightsee at the same time.
Better yet, for something like the Road to Hana, book a Road to Hana tour and let someone else drive while you enjoy the scenery and actually see all the stops.
11. Don’t Skip Hawaiian Food for Chain Restaurants
I get wanting something familiar when you’re traveling with picky kids. But if you’re only eating at Denny’s and McDonald’s in Hawaii, you’re seriously missing out.
Try poke (my family’s obsessed and we get it every time we’re on any island). Try plate lunch. Try malasadas. Try shave ice.
Find local restaurants instead of defaulting to chains. The food is better, it’s often cheaper, and you’re supporting local businesses instead of corporate franchises.
Some of my family’s best Hawaii memories involve discovering little hole-in-the-wall restaurants that locals recommended.
12. Don’t Trespass on Private Property
Social media has made this worse. People see beautiful photos of secret beaches or abandoned buildings and think they need to go there too.
But trespassing in Hawaii is taken seriously. You’ll get fined if you’re caught. More importantly, it’s disrespectful to local communities and landowners.
Stick to public beaches and legal hiking trails. There are more than enough incredible places you can visit legally. You don’t need to sneak onto private land for a photo.
13. Don’t Turn Your Back on the Ocean
This sounds like something old-timers say to scare tourists, but it’s real advice.
Waves come in sets. The ocean can be calm one minute and then a huge wave crashes in the next. If you’re standing at the shoreline with your back to the water, you won’t see it coming.
Local kids learn to swim while watching the ocean. They know when waves are coming. They respect the water.
You should too. Face the ocean. Watch for wave sets. Don’t let a rogue wave knock you off your feet or pull you into the water.
14. Don’t Forget to Tip
Tipping culture in Hawaii is the same as the mainland US. 15-20% for restaurants, a few dollars for bellhops, $5-10 per day for housekeeping.
Tour guides deserve tips too, especially if they gave you a great experience. Usually $10-20 per person for a half-day tour, $20-40 for a full day.
If you’re not sure about tipping etiquette, I have a whole post on tipping in Hawaii that breaks down every scenario.
15. Don’t Expect Perfect Weather 24/7
Hawaii has incredible weather. But it’s not sunny and 80 degrees every single day.
It rains (especially on the windward sides of the islands). It can get cool at higher elevations. Trade winds can be strong.
Pack a light rain jacket. Bring layers if you’re going to Haleakala or Mauna Kea. Check the weather forecast for the specific area you’re visiting, not just “Hawaii” in general.
I cover this topic in detail in my podcast episode The Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make in Hawaii (And How to Avoid Them). Understanding realistic expectations makes your trip so much better.
What You SHOULD Do in Hawaii
Okay, enough with the don’ts. Here’s what you should absolutely do:
Visit the beaches. Seriously, this is why you’re here. Find a beach, spread out your towel, and just enjoy it. Some of my favorite family memories are from random beach afternoons where we had no schedule and just played in the sand.
Talk to locals. Most people are happy to share their favorite restaurants or hidden gem spots. Some of the best recommendations I’ve gotten came from chatting with locals at coffee shops or beach parks.
Try new experiences. Take a snorkeling tour, visit Pearl Harbor, go to a luau, hike to a waterfall. Do things you can’t do anywhere else.
Capture your memories professionally. One of my favorite investments is using Flytographer to get family photos in Hawaii. You save $20 with my link, and trust me, having professional photos of your family in paradise is worth every penny.
Learn about Hawaiian culture. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, attend a traditional luau, learn a few Hawaiian words, understand the history. Hawaii isn’t just beaches, it’s a place with deep cultural roots that deserve respect.
Slow down. This might be the most important one. You don’t need to check off every item on a list. Sometimes the best moments happen when you’re not rushing to the next activity.
Final Thoughts: Make Smart Choices So You Can Actually Enjoy Hawaii
Look, Hawaii is incredible. It’s my favorite place on earth and I’ve been going back for decades for a reason.
But as a professional tourist and Hawaii travel expert, I’ve learned that the difference between a stressful vacation and an amazing one often comes down to knowing what to avoid.
Don’t touch the wildlife. Don’t take the rocks. Don’t overschedule. Don’t ignore warning signs.
Do respect the culture. Do try new foods. Do slow down and enjoy island time.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about planning your trip, I get it. That’s exactly why I created my free 5-day email course on how to travel to Hawaii like a pro. It walks you through everything step by step.
I also have island-specific courses if you already know where you’re going:
- How to Plan a Trip to Oahu
- How to Plan a Trip to Maui
- How to Plan a Trip to Kauai
- How to Plan a Trip to Big Island
And if you want personalized help creating an itinerary that actually makes sense for your family (without the overwhelm), book a consultation with me.
I’ve helped hundreds of families plan trips that aren’t exhausting and actually fit their budget.
Hawaii is waiting for you. Just don’t make these mistakes and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime.
