How do you respect Hawaii when visiting?

Remove your shoes. Whether you're at your hotel or someone's home, the first thing you should do before entering is take off your shoes. It's an important Hawaiian custom that shows respect for the home owner and helps keep the home clean. Some homes may have indoor slippers or you can just go barefoot.



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Remember that when you visit, you're visiting someone's home Here are a couple of ways to respect our culture while you're here: Attend a festival or event. Doing so will introduce you to local culture, food, music, and the people you're visiting. To find an event, bookmark this page when planning your trip.

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It is important to note that these concerns are not universal, & some Native Hawaiians welcome tourists who show respect for the culture and environment of the islands. Although due to the behavior of the majority of tourists, it's fair to say that most indigenous people of Hawai'i do not welcome tourists.

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14 Etiquette Tips To Know Before Traveling To Hawaii
  • 14 Accept The Lei.
  • 13 Be Kind To Others.
  • 12 Respect Hula.
  • 11 Take Your Shoes Off.
  • 10 Ask Where (And When) To Surf.
  • 9 Call Them Locals
  • 8 Watch Your Driving.
  • 7 Don't Take Anything (Except Photos)


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Here are a few.
  1. Get To Know the Native Hawaiian Culture. Cultural practitioner Greg Solatorio throw net fishing on Moloka?i. ...
  2. Respect the Lei. Lei is sacred in Hawai?i. ...
  3. Use Hawaiian Place Names. ...
  4. Don't Stack Rocks. ...
  5. Not Every Local Person is Hawaiian. ...
  6. Volunteer or Give Back. ...
  7. Buy and Eat Local. ...
  8. Make as Little Impact as Possible.


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Never take off a lei in the presence of the person who gave it to you – it's considered rude. Wait until you're alone, then remove it.

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Mahalo means “thank you.” If someone does you a kindness, don't be shy about saying, “Mahalo,” to them. Locals will be pleased that you used this word.

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Here's a quick guide to some local customs and traditions: The Hawaiian way to greet someone is with a kiss on the cheek. Always remember to remove your shoes before entering someone's house. When you are invited over to someone's house for a get together, don't show up empty handed.

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Haole is a Hawaiian word for non-native Hawaiian or Polynesian people, often referring to white people. Usage can be in an insulting or pejorative manner, but it usually refers to a foreigner or tourist.

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And not all residents greet one another with Aloha. Remember, most of the population are not Kanaka Ma'oli (native Hawaiian). Hello, hi, or more often “howzit” is appropriate. Howzit especially is a typical greeting among those of us who have grown up here.

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Many people when coming to Hawaii feel the need to say “Aloha” every time they see someone, and every time they say goodbye. This in a way weakens the strength of the word. Saying “Aloha” should come genuinely from the heart, as that is what it means – sincerity of the heart.

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  • Don't remove sand from the beach. A small container of sand sounds like a cool souvenir, especially if taken from a black- or red-sand beach, but doing so is considered bad luck. ...
  • Don't take any lava rocks from Volcanoes National Park. ...
  • Don't take any pork over the Pali. ...
  • Don't bring bananas on a boat.


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Nighttime visits, especially if you travel alone, are not recommended. On Oahu's windward coast in Kualoa Ranch, in an area said to hold the remains of hundreds of Hawaiian Chiefs, Night Marcher sightings are common, reportedly the cause of numerous nighttime vehicle accidents.

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As is the common refrain to bust a friend's chops, “Cool story, bro.” This is a tricky one. It's not uncommon (in Hawaii, especially) to hear what sounds like bra or brah, i.e. “Ho, brah.” There's a soft “d” in there somewhere, though (see number 3). Bra, with a hard “r” and long “a” is different.

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Top 10 strange laws in Hawaii:
  • On Kauai, it is illegal for buildings to be taller than a palm tree or the equivalent to four stories.
  • When in a state park, you are not allowed to annoy the birds.
  • Billboards were outlawed in the 1920s.
  • Coins are not allowed to be placed in one's ears.


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