🐢 No, You Can’t Ride the Turtles: 6 Wild Things Visitors Ask (That Locals Can’t Believe)
Let’s be real — we love visitors. We really do. You bring good vibes, curiosity, and Aloha spirit. But every once in a while… someone asks a question that stops us in our slippahs.
From turtles to volcanoes, here are 6 hilariously wild things tourists ask in Hawaii — and what locals are really thinking.
🐢 1. “Can We Ride the Sea Turtles?”
No. You cannot. Please don’t try.
They’re not taxis, they’re not dolphins, and they definitely don’t want to be your GoPro platform.
Local reaction:
😳 “Bro, that’s a $10,000 federal fine and a one-way trip to viral shame.”
What to do instead:
Join a responsible tour that visits Turtle Beach (Laniakea) — and enjoy them from a respectful distance.
🌋 2. “Can We Hike Into the Volcano While It's Active?”
If by “hike” you mean “melt,” sure.
Active lava zones are not amusement parks. And no, standing next to a lava flow won’t make a cool TikTok. You’ll just be “that guy” on the news.
Better idea:
Visit Oahu’s extinct volcanic craters — like Diamond Head — for epic views minus the magma.
🏝 3. “Is Oahu the One With the Pineapples or the One With the Hula?”
Trick question. It’s both. But yes, this is a real thing we get asked — usually at the airport, sometimes during our tours, always with wide-eyed sincerity.
Local reaction:
🥴 “They think each island has one export... like Pokémon gyms.”
🛥 4. “If I Miss My Cruise, Can I Just Take an Uber to the Next Island?”
That’d be a very long (and wet) Uber ride.
Despite what your GPS may suggest, the Hawaiian Islands are not connected by bridges or tunnels. Inter-island travel = plane or boat only.
Pro tip:
Stay on schedule — or better yet, just book a land tour with us. Way less chance of missing your ride.
🐬 5. “Do Dolphins Ever Come Into the Hotel Pools?”
Only in your dreams, Disney movie.
Wild dolphins don’t do room service — but you can sometimes spot them offshore or during a guided boat tour.
What to do instead:
Ask us about our eco-friendly marine wildlife tours — where seeing dolphins is magical and legal.
🥥 6. “How Do I Open a Coconut Without a Machete or a Local Grandpa?”
This one’s kinda fair. Coconuts are nature’s Fort Knox.
Tourists often buy one, stare at it like a puzzle box, then Google “how to open coconut with rental car.”
Best answer:
Let a local show you. Or better yet, enjoy pre-hacked coconut water from one of our tour stops — no ER visit required.
🤙 Travel Smart, Laugh Often, Book Local
We get it — Hawaii feels like another world, and curiosity is part of the journey. Just remember: asking silly questions is totally okay… as long as you don’t try to ride a turtle.
Want the real answers, epic stories, and zero judgment?
Book your Next Level Circle Island Tour with us — where you'll explore the island with local guides who’ve heard it all, seen it all, and still love to share it all.