Things to Do in Honolulu: 10 Tourist Mistakes to Avoid

Make no mistake! Vacationing in Oahu Hawaii is an unforgettable experience. The sparkling teal water, luscious green hills, and vibrantly flavorful cuisine will delight your tourist senses.

While lounging on the world-famous beach once you get there is effortless, planning the ins and outs of your trip takes some time and thought.

There are many things to consider when planning to ensure your trip will be smooth sailing once you arrive. If you’ve never visited Hawaii before, here’s everything to steer clear of during your time in paradise on earth!

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 just below.

Don’t miss out on the local Hawaiian culture or the wildly natural landscapes waiting just outside the resort. Here are a few of the things you’ll experience beyond the resort:

• Exceptional hiking trails (for an amazing view, check out Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail or Diamond Head)
• Mesmerizing waterfalls
• Peaceful beaches (other than the tourist-packed Waikiki Beach park)
• Botanical Gardens
• Authentic food
• Conversations with locals

Pro Tip: We recommend scouting out some shave ice for a true taste of the culture of the local scene. Get a taste of this Hawaiian favorite at Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, the longest-running shave ice shop and one of our favorite things to do in North Shore Oahu!

Not Renting a Car to Explore the Island

Now that you’re convinced you need to journey outside of your 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. There is so much to see beyond your resort. Check out family friendly island attractions like: 

• The Bishop Museum
• Oahu helicopter tours
• USS Arizona Memorial
• Honolulu Zoo 
• Horseback riding
• Iolani Palace
• Surfing competitions at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore
• Laniakea Beach
• Sea Life Park

However, there are many other ways to get from one place to the next for things to do in Honolulu, including trolleys, bus systems, and shuttles!

Pro Tip: We recommend forgoing taxis to save time and money on your trip of all the transportation options available on this Hawaiian island. 

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.

Avoid this bind by carrying some cash with you! Unfortunately, there are no major banks on the island, so you’ll have no choice but to use an ATM and suffer the high transaction fees that come with it if you forget your green paper.

Pro Tip: Locally-owned mom-and-pop shops and restaurants throughout the island are a charming way to experience Oahu things to do like a local. Keep in mind that they may only accept cash!

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.

It’s time to live in the present and soak up the memories. Especially for the honeymooners and love birds who want to experience all of the fun things to do in Oahu for couples.

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.

A great way to beat the busyness is to plan one big activity each day. Shape your itinerary around that activity, then fill in the rest of the time with serendipity (especially if you have kids along for the journey).

Take some evenings to enjoy the best things to do in Oahu at night without having every minute planned.

Some of our favorite things to do in Oahu with kids are snorkeling with turtles or exploring Pearl Harbor, which leaves plenty of room for all the spontaneous sightseeing and taste testing in between.

Other items on our Honolulu must-do list are music shows, water parks, and interactive attractions.

Check out our guide to things to do in Oahu for free for some of that downtime between activities which includes everything from gorgeous fireworks displays to strolling through local farmer’s markets.

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. 

If you catch sight of one of these amazing creatures, thank them for the opportunity to add these sightings to your bucket list by leaving the animals alone.

Letting nature do its thing without a bombardment of tourists and camera flashes ensures it will continue to flourish for years to come.

Fun Fact: While there are no national parks on this island, there are two in the state of Hawaii — one on the island of Maui and one on the island of Hawai’i. Both are home to different wildlife species like sea turtles and birds. The island does boast an amazing state park, Hanauma Bay.

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.

Hold on there! Keep your hands to yourself. Coral often appears light and squishy but can actually be quite sharp, leading to cuts and scrapes.

In addition, many confuse coral as a plant, but it’s an animal! The components of coral are tiny sea creatures.

Touching coral can disrupt the entire underwater ecosystem. So do yourself (and the aquatic life) a favor and enjoy this ocean beauty from afar.

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” if you decide to ask a local about it.

Some of our favorite unique things to do in Oahu (and much better alternative), is to browse through locally-owned shops filled with art and products made by native Hawaiians.

Not only will this support the local Oahu economy, but you’ll have a piece of Hawaii to bring home with you sans lousy luck. 

Photo Alert: If you find a cool rock, take a picture of it and post it on the ‘gram to capture the beauty without disrupting the landscape.

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!

Some of our top things to do in Oahu are to explore a ranch (such as Kualoa Ranch from Jurassic Park), get up-close-and-personal with nature, discover the process for pineapple farming at Dole Plantation, or learn about the Hawaiin culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Sitting on the beach in a straw hat is nice for a while, but take advantage of all the things to do in Hawaii Oahu has to offer, too! 

Pro Tip: Island hopping may be one of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Familiarize yourself with the lay of the land first if you’re thinking of doing so. For a mental map of Oahu, remember if you’re starting in Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawai’i (the Big Island) are to the right side of the island. Kauai and Niihau are to the left.

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. This tropical paradise is marked by hot days sizzling with ample sun rays.

Bring plenty of sunscreen and re-apply throughout the day to avoid getting burnt. Don’t ruin your vacation time with this ouch!

Pro Tip: Make sure your sunscreen of choice is reef-safe to avoid harming coral reefs.

Still Wondering About Things to do in Oahu Hawaii?

Now that we’ve covered what not to do during your time on the island, what should you do? For ideas galore and exclusive savings, plan your vacation with Hawaii Tripster!  A trip to the most tropical location in the United States awaits.

Oahu Hotels

Wondering where to stay in Oahu to rest your head after a long day of sun and exploration in this sandy oasis? Check out the discount Oahu hotels with Tripster! Go snorkeling or experience on of the many hikes on Oahu and much more! Some of the best Honolulu hotels are available at the lowest prices.

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Have Any Additional O’ahu Tourist Mistakes to Avoid?

Let us know in the comments below what mistakes to avoid and what to do in Oahu for the best vacation ever!