Before you travel to Oahu or anywhere in Hawaii, make sure you know these tourist tips to avoid…   If you’ve never visited Hawaii before, here’s a few things to think about that will make your trip more enjoyable!

Tourist mistakes to avoid:

Staying at the Resort the Whole Time

All-inclusive resorts appear to have it all, and they’re great if you’re looking to have a stereotypical Hawaiian vacation (especially if you’re staying in Honolulu and Waikiki, which is riddled with tourist traps).

However, staying within the resort borders the whole time is like staying on the surface of the ocean when there’s a whole world of wildlife wonder ready for you to dive into.  Check out our top 13 things to do outside of Waikiki.

Not Renting a Car to Explore the Island

Now that you’re convinced you need to journey outside of your Oahu or Honolulu resort, how will you get around the island? It’s a first step, but going on foot will only get you so far.

To truly escape the touristy resort area, a rental car is one of the best modes of transportation. However, there are including trolleys, bus systems, and shuttles!

Pro Tip: We recommend forgoing taxis to save time and money on your trip. Ask about our vehicle rentals today!

Forgetting to Bring Cash

You pick out everything you want to buy, head to the cashier, and begin checking out — only to realize the store only accepts cash, and all you have is a credit card. Oops!

Most of us have been there, and it’s definitely not one of our fun things to do in Oahu when we have to to put everything back on the shelf.

Scheduling Every Minute of Your Trip

You may keep a tight schedule stateside, but when you’re in Hawaii, life is scheduled around island time. What does that mean? Take a deep breath and slow down.

We get it — you want to experience as much as possible while you’re there. However, packing too many activities into each day results in stress, exhaustion, and hazy memories of rushing from one place to the next.

Ask us about our Tour package.  This will help make planning and scheduling activities easier.

Disrespecting Local Wildlife

While you may only be visiting for a short time, Oahu wildlife and marine life calls the island home. As a guest in the home of local turtles, dolphins, and birds, treat their space with respect and give them some distance.

You can get fined or penalized for touching endangered species like Turtles. Please respect the animals.

Touching Coral

Hawaii is the perfect place to dive into the deep blue sea and explore the underwater world by snorkeling or scuba diving.

Colorful coral in all different shapes against a backdrop of blue is a sight so beautiful you’ll be tempted to reach out and touch it.  Don’t do it! They may be sharp and lead to cuts and scrapes. So be careful.

Taking Lava Rocks and Sand Home With You

Don’t leave Oahu without a souvenir, but be mindful when choosing what that souvenir will be.

Taking lava rocks, sand, or other natural elements off the island seems like an enticing way to get a souvenir on the cheap. However, as we’ve discussed earlier, nature is best left alone.

Fun Fact: Legend has it that taking rocks or sand from Hawaii brings bad luck. This is known as “Pele’s Curse” (Pele is the volcano goddess)

Staying In Your Comfort Zone

It may be tempting to take it easy by lazing on the beach all day, but if you want to tap into some of the best things to do on Oahu, you’re going to need to get outside of your comfort zone.

So don’t waste the opportunities you have for exhilarating excursions, beautiful hikes, and cultural lessons!

Forgetting the Essentials

There are a few essentials you’ll need to pack before jetting off to Hawaii! Here are some things you’ll need that aren’t typically provided by hotels and resorts:

• Swimsuits
• Shoes (sandals and tennis shoes)
• Clothes
• Beach towels
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Toiletries

Forgetting Sunscreen

We listed it with the other essentials, but we thought we’d bring it to your attention one more time to make sure you’re aware: you’re going to need sunscreen. A tropical paradise like Oahu is marked by hot days sizzling with ample sun rays.