Tips for Your First Hawaii Visit

You’ve booked your plane tickets, Airbnb, and have your elopement date set (complete with me as your photographer, haha!). The excitement leading up to your Hawaii trip is palpable. 

It is our job as humans to recreate responsibly: for both ourselves and the planet! Read on to discover things you may not know about visiting the Aloha State:

What to Pack!

-Reef-safe sunscreen is a must. Sunscreen that is reef-safe helps keep our reefs, oceans, and the animals that live here healthy!

• Some brands I love are Little Hands, Raw Elements, and Manda! If all else fails, you can locate SunBum at your local Target, but just remember that it must be the “mineral” formula, usually in white packaging.

-Sunglasses! The sunshine is radiant here, and with the sun reflecting off of the ocean and sands, you’ll be glad you packed sunglasses for your Hawaii trip.

-Speaking of sun protection, a floppy hat or baseball cap is a must. 

-Reusable water bottles. We want to do our part to cut down on the amount of waste that goes into landfills. Packing a reusable water bottle for your visit to Hawaii can help!

-Don’t forget a portable phone charger! While you are adventuring amongst the Hawaiian Islands, you may be snapping photos and using GPS. You definitely want to avoid a dead phone battery if you can help it!

Things You May Not Know if it’s Your First Time Visiting Hawaii:

-Do not touch or disturb wildlife, just observe from a distance!

• You will likely see sea turtles (honu) either in the water or the sun. 10 feet distance from these guys, minimum! Sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act and you will be fined or prosecuted if you touch/harass them.
• If you come across a Hawaii monk seal, you must keep at least 50 feet of distance. They are also protected by the Endangered Species Act!
• Dolphins are also protected, and you must give them ample space when sharing the ocean with them!

-If hiking or playing at the beach, please do not stack or balance rocks! Most of us have come across stacked rocks on a trail or the coast, but did you know that rock stacking can contribute to erosion and can also cause ecological damage? If you do stack rocks, make sure to disassemble your creation before leaving the shoreline.

-There are unfortunately often a lot of microplastics that wash up on our shorelines! If you see anything and are comfortable picking up some trash and disposing of it, it would be much appreciated. The goal is always to leave things better than how you found it!

• If you are interested in learning more about microplastics and plastic pollution while you are here there are some incredible organizations to get involved with! 
  • Beach Cleanups – Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, The Green Standard are great ones to start with on Hawai’i Island.

Sounds like you’re ready for your visit to Hawaii! Armed with insight and guidance on how to make Hawaii enjoyable for not just you and your partner, but local residents, plants, animals, and the habitat, too!