I was born and raised in Hawaii. I wish tourists knew these 12 things before they visited.

The viral personal essay on cultural etiquette in Hawaii arrives at a pivotal moment, when the islands’ fragile ecosystems and social fabric strain under the weight of mass tourism. While Hawaii has long been a bucket-list destination, the post-pandemic surge in visitors—nearly ten million annually—has intensified long-standing tensions between economic dependence on tourism and the need to preserve local ways of life. The piece serves as a quiet corrective to the glossy marketing that often reduces the islands to a backdrop for Instagram photos, reminding travelers that Hawaii is not just a playground but a living community with its own norms, history, and environmental realities. Many of the unspoken rules outlined—like avoiding reef-damaging sunscreen or giving way to processionals of native Hawaiians—stem from traditions that predate statehood. For generations, Hawaiian elders have warned against taking lava rocks or sand as souvenirs, a practice tied to the belief that such acts disrupt the natural and spiritual balance of the land (*‘āina*). Similarly, the emphasis on pulling over for local drivers reflects the island’s geography: narrow roads and sudden weather shifts make courtesy not just polite but a matter of safety. Yet these nuances are often lost in the rush to capture the perfect sunset shot or viral TikTok clip. The essay also surfaces a deeper reckoning with colonialism and over-tourism. Hawaii’s economy has long relied on external visitors, but the balance has tipped precarious: residents face skyrocketing housing costs as vacation rentals proliferate, while fragile ecosystems like coral reefs bleach under sunscreen chemicals and heavy foot traffic. While the state has implemented some measures—like banning certain sunscreens and encouraging responsible tour operators—enforcement remains inconsistent, and critics argue these steps barely scratch the surface. What happens next may hinge on whether this kind of grassroots awareness translates into broader change. Will more visitors internalize these lessons, or will Hawaii need stricter regulations to enforce respect? The essay’s call for cultural humility arrives as other destinations grapple with similar pressures, raising a universal question: Can tourism coexist with preservation, or does it inevitably erode what it seeks to celebrate?