How do you respectfully visit Hawaii?

If you're planning to visit the Aloha State, there are a few ways to remain a respectful tourist and preserve Hawaii's namesake.
  1. Research Hawaiian etiquette before arriving. ...
  2. Be respectful of modern cultural norms. ...
  3. Treat sacred sites as sacred sites. ...
  4. Be aware of Hawaii's fragile biodiversity.




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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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Always ask questions and permission. The best way to respect the Hawaiian culture is to ask! If you're not sure about anything, such as where to go or what to wear, you can never go wrong by asking a local.

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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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But, the increase in tourism has resulted in problems such as overcrowding, littering, an overextension of our rescue and emergency resources & damage to the fragile ecosystem. Some Native Hawaiians may feel that tourists do not show enough respect for the environment.

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One last note about respect; and please, we cannot emphasize this enough: Unless you are Hawaiian or are very intimately familiar with the culture, do not throw or attend a party deemed a “luau.” Culture is an identity- not a party theme.

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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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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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It's called the Aloha Spirit law, and it's encoded in the Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 5-7.5. The Aloha Spirit is the coordination of mind and heart within each person, the law declares. It brings each person to the Self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.

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How to be a respectful tourist
  1. • Research beforehand.
  2. • Shop local.
  3. • Be a discriminating photographer.
  4. • Get off the beaten track.
  5. • Be pedestrian aware.
  6. • Dress appropriately.
  7. • Leave no trace.
  8. • Respect the residents' privacy.


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Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. Oahu is primarily defined by the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor and the famous beach known as Waikiki. These areas attract tourists by the thousands daily.

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Common Items from Hawaii NOT ALLOWED into the U.S. Mainland or Alaska
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables, some exceptions are those listed below as permitted.
  • Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes.
  • Cactus plants or cactus plant parts.
  • Cotton and cotton bolls.
  • Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa.


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Always strive to leave the site the same as you found it, and don't leave trash behind. Extend your respect to the local wildlife and landscape; something as simple as picking a flower or rearranging some rocks to spell out your name can be interpreted as disrespectful.

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Attend any Hawaiian luau and there is one constant you can count on: you'll be presented with a lei of some kind, and it's customary to keep it on while you're in the company of those that offered it to you. At least, that's what the tradition of the lei dictates.

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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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Disrespect for the environment: Hawaii is known for its beautiful natural environment and animals that can be found nowhere else on the planet. But, the increase in tourism has resulted in problems such as overcrowding, littering, an overextension of our rescue and emergency resources & damage to the fragile ecosystem.

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Some locals, many of them of Native Hawaiian descent, have gone so far as to argue that travelers should cross Hawaii off of their future itineraries for good. Tourism is seen as one of several factors that allowed the Maui fire to become so deadly.

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Disrespect for the environment: Hawaii is known for its beautiful natural environment and animals that can be found nowhere else on the planet. But, the increase in tourism has resulted in problems such as overcrowding, littering, an overextension of our rescue and emergency resources & damage to the fragile ecosystem.

MORE DETAILS