Oops! 7 Things Tourists Do in Oahu That Instantly Give Them Away
We love our visitors—but let’s be real: some of you stand out like a surfboard in the desert. Want to enjoy Oahu without making every local smirk behind your back? Avoid these 7 rookie mistakes and we promise: you’ll look way cooler doing it.
1. Wearing Reef-Safe Sunscreen… That Isn’t
Yes, you heard right. The label "reef-safe" doesn’t mean much unless it’s actually oxybenzone- and octinoxate-free. Locals know the difference. Real reef-safe brands? Think Raw Elements or Stream2Sea.
🧴 Pro Tip: Hawaii banned certain sunscreens in 2021. Read the fine print—or risk polluting the very reefs you came to see.
2. Calling a Slipper a Flip-Flop
Instant giveaway. In Hawaii, we don’t wear “flip-flops”—we wear slippahs. Say it right, and you’re already 5% more local.
👣 Bonus: Never wear shoes inside someone’s house. Instant bad juju.
3. Referring to Oahu as “the Big Island”
Wrong island, braddah. Oahu is Oahu. The Big Island is the one called Hawaii. Get this mixed up, and even the chickens will side-eye you.
📍 Remember: Honolulu ≠ Hawaii Island.
4. Getting Too Close to Sea Turtles
Yes, they’re cute. Yes, they’re sacred. And yes, getting too close is illegal.
🐢 Rule of thumb: stay at least 10 feet away and never touch. Want to see them ethically? Join a certified snorkeling tour [like ours].
5. Overplanning Every Minute
Some tourists arrive with a spreadsheet tighter than TSA. Oahu isn’t meant to be controlled. It’s meant to be felt.
🌺 Local life = beach time, ono grinds, and letting the waves tell you what to do next.
6. Renting a Mustang Convertible and Driving Slow in the Fast Lane
You rented the dream car, we get it. But if you're going 35 in a 55 on Kalanianaʻole Highway, you're asking for pilikia (trouble).
🚗 Want scenic? Take the slow lane out of town. Want to survive rush hour? Drive like you’re not on vacation.
7. Saying “Aloha” Too Much (Or at the Wrong Times)
We love when visitors say aloha—but not 14 times in one minute like you just discovered a cheat code to local friendship.
🌴 Say it sincerely. Mean it. And please, never say "Mahalo" as you're littering on the beach. (Yes, we see you.)
Final Thought:
You don’t need to pretend you’re a local—but respecting the culture, the land, and the pace of island life goes a long way. Blend in by tuning in.
Want to level up your Oahu experience? Try our AllStar Circle Island Tour—where you’ll get the real scoop on what’s cool, what’s cringe, and where to go.