3 Things Every Hawaii First Timer Needs to Know (plus 3 common MISTAKES to avoid)

First time to Hawaii can feel overwhelming so let two local residents help you out with 3 must-know tips for your first trip to Hawaii plus 3 mistakes we see first-timers make over and over and over again.

We have loved visiting and now living in Hawaii. After our numerous trips and answering lots of questions from the community, we see first-timers making the same mistakes over and over again. We hope this video helps guide you through your Hawaii vacation planning. We are here to help with honest advice. We want you to stay safe, travel sustainably to Hawaii, and come back for a second trip.

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Hawaii First Time Guide
00:00 Intro
01:06 #1 Vibe by Island: Best Hawaiian island for...
04:51 #2 Define Your Hawaii Bucket List Items
07:37 #3 Book Tours and Restaurants Early
08:32 3 Mistakes to Avoid for Your First Trip to Hawaii

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POPULAR VIDEOS

[kylemoua]

My biggest tip, eat local, mom and pop shops, try new food and try to stay away from chain restaurants. Remember food is a big part of your vacation!

[robertcrosby]

My brother lived on Maui before we visited for the first time, here were his best tips:
1. Slow down, leave every stress you have from the Mainland behind, Hawaii can change you
2. Aloha and Mahalo go a long way when paired with a "shaka"
3. Find the small mom and pop spots to eat, shop etc...local business, supports local families
4. Take your time, the speed limit is low for a reason, so many amazing things you will miss if you are in a rush

Thanks again for another great video!!

[shannongasaway]

Here is a BIG tip. Watch all of The Hawaii Vacation Guide videos before you go! These videos are so informative. Take notes on your phone or download the guides because you may not have internet service when you want to look something up, depending on where you are on the islands. Thanks Erica and Jordan for all the helpful videos and info on your website!

[stargazer]

One day at the beach, next day excursion, rotate relax and exploring days.

[gonesailingffs]

Just to add to learning something about the culture, I think it is really rewarding to consider that the ground you walk on, the trail to a waterfall, the ridge line, the view… everything holds almost a sacred mystique. Please pause and consider the presence of those who were there before you. The land mass is relatively small, so all of those tourist areas of today hold cultural significance, even if there is no sign referencing it.

[blacksteveman]

You guys made planning my Honeymoon (May 2021) to Maui so easy! The wife and I had a lovely time. My biggest tip is to leave some extra time in your schedule because you will find something you want to do that you didnt plan for. We thought that upcountry was only going to be a quick drive through, turns out the wife and I love the breeze/temps/aromas so much that we planned an entire afternoon up there just lounging around. One of my best decisions was to keep a light schedule and take our time soaking it all in.

[rachelh]

We travel to Hawaii a lot from California and we have a 4 year old. The thing I always recommend to people is: consider getting a condo instead of a luxury resort, especially if you are traveling with family. You can get a condo with multiple bedrooms (a must--our daughter needs her own room), a full kitchen, laundry in unit or on site, free parking, free wifi, and no resort fees. The kitchen is another must for us, so we don't always have to wonder where to go to eat. It's nice to just have a bagel, fruit, and coffee for breakfast on the patio facing the ocean, and most condo resorts have BBQ grills by the pools or beach. We always hit up Costco when we land on the islands to stock up on food and drinks for our stay. Having a kitchen to make at least half of our meals during our stays saves us money that we can spend on excursions and activities.

[ryanrogers]

One of my favorite parts of visiting Oahu last summer was taking the bus everywhere. It’s super cool carrying conversations with locals and actually getting in touch with the Aloha atmosphere. Relationships between regular bus passengers and their driver is hilarious to watch and listen, too.

[bobmclennan]

There are few guarantees in life, but one of them is this: if you want to see humpback whales, go to the leeward side of Maui between January and mid-March. Seemingly every humpback in the Pacific travels through that channel between Maui and Moloka'i/Lanai during this time. Tours during this season often guarantee sightings, or you can even just plant yourself on a west-facing beach and start counting the spouts and occasional breaches that you'll see from the land. (This part is less of a guarantee, but there's even a good chance of seeing mothers and calves during that time of year and in that location.)

[yujinyi]

Helpful idea when packing for Hawaii: bring more bags. You’re going to leave with your weight in souvenirs, twice if you’re Asian because your relatives and aunts who actually aren’t related to you gave you vacation allowance.

Think of Russian nesting dolls: pack the essentials into a small bag, then pack that into a larger carry-on—and then a larger one if it’ll fit. Yes, you have to pay for extra bags at the airport on the way home, but it beats the shipping rate and the wait.

[Frankybroadcast]

Hawaii is literally paradise on earth. My wife and I have been visiting Maui the last few years, and are planning on visiting my cousin who is currently living in Kauai this season. Going to Maui was the only time I really didn't want my vacation to end, and highly considered just staying there forever. I fell in love with the island, and found my Aloha on my last night on our first visit there. I can't wait to return again. Mahalo 🤙🏽

[TheBichonma]

Please, when visiting, remember to bring your respect and Aloha. Hawai’i is a sovereign nation with deep culture and language. Mahalo.

[TheJodo]

We went to Oahu back in August of 2021 and it was amazing! I made sure to only book one or two experiences per day so we’d have time to enjoy everything without being rushed. Also our first stop was the swap meet at the stadium on Saturday. That is one of the best places to go for all your souvenirs in my opinion. We even went back to the swap meet the following Wednesday to get more stuff. They also have fresh fruit and food trucks available

[saffrons]

Very excited to be visiting Kauai this summer. Need a laid back outdoorsy vibe. Thanks for explaining all the islands!!

[jeffgoldberg]

My tip: Stay longer than you originally plan. We never want to leave and always say we will book more days next year!

[shamsunnehar]

We were in Maui for 9 days in the beginning of March. We used your guidance on staying in Maui only for our first trip with kids, and we loved it ♥️
We took our time with everything and enjoyed very much. Like you said it’s not the end of journey, it’s about the journey and we are looking forward to our next visit to Maui to explore even more.
We were lucky to experience whales playing with our boat and spraying water on us. It was like a dream!
Thank you for all your suggestions; they helped us tremendously:)

[NutmegThumper]

I left JFK at 15 degrees with de-icing the wings before takeoff in January. Rain in Hawaii at 80 degrees is no issue!

[philliplundell]

You guys are the best! We went to Maui this last spring because of you guys for a baby moon! Now this next April we are headed to the big island with the baby! Thank you guys for all the info you provide!

[jackie]

I've been watching off/on since 2017 when looking at honeymoon ideas, but I think I'm finally gonna go to Hawaii (Oahu) with my family and you're helping me plan so much! <3

[camillaaries]

if u come to Oahu, you have to see Polynesia culture center. it will open your eyes for every islands culture and history <3 make sure it is the first on your list so u understand the culture when u are there <3
aloha to u