*This story was originally published on April 22, 2021, and updated in February 2026.

Latin superstar Bad Bunny took the stage as the halftime show performer at the 2026 Super Bowl on Feb. 8.

Earlier in February, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer took home the Grammy for album of the year with “Debí Tirar Más Foto,” making history as the first artist to win the category with an all-Spanish-language album.

The album includes “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” a song that references the Islands and has sparked important conservations about displacement and overtourism in places like Hawaiʻi. Translating to “What happened to Hawaiʻi,” the song lyrics draw parallels between the struggled faced by Hawaiʻi and Puerto Rico.

While travel often offers visitors the opportunity to engage with new cultures and broaden their perspectives, it can also take a toll on local communities and environments. As travelers, we sometimes forget how our footprints impact these places, from plane rides that burn large amounts of fossil fuels to the overuse of resources in destinations.

By engaging in conversations about responsible travel, we can consider how to better protect communities and explore places around the world more consciously.

These are just a few things to keep in mind while traveling to Hawaiʻi.

Learn about Hawaiian History and Culture

Kauaimuseummr — Kauaʻi Museum displays portraits of the Hawaiian monarchy and collections of works by artisans from Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
*Photo: Mallory Roe*

For nearly a century, the Hawaiian Archipelago thrived as an independent kingdom before being overthrown by American and European businessmen. While the story of Hawaiʻi includes struggles and oppression, it is also filled with tales of triumph and connection among the communities that made the Islands home. From the preservation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi to rebuilding ancient fishponds, communities and organizations in Hawaiʻi are proud of their culture and working hard to protect it.

By learning more about the history of these Islands, you show deep respect for the people and traditions here. You can visit places like ʻIolani Palace on Oʻahu and the Kauaʻi Museum to learn more about the Hawaiian monarchy. Stores like Native Books in Chinatown also provide a wealth of resources to dive into Hawaiian history.

READ MORE: 10 Museums to Visit in Hawaiʻi

Connect with the Community by Volunteering

Offering a few hours of your time can lead to a chance to connect with these local communities.
*Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Heather Goodman*

Sometimes we forget that the places we travel to aren’t just vacation spots. Just like anywhere else in the world, Hawaiʻi is home to people with their own history, culture and unique sets of challenges.

By offering a few hours of your time volunteering, you can connect with these communities. “Volunteering can introduce you to local folks that you would never have had the opportunity to meet,” says Keone Kealoha, executive director of Kanu Hawaiʻi, a local nonprofit that provides tools and opportunities for people to to volunteer. “These potential friendships and memories can even become a defining point of your visit.”

Learn Hawaiian Place Names

Many place names in Hawaiʻi are more than just names—they carry stories. By using proper place names in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, rather than the English version or nicknames, you help perpetuate those stories. For example, on Oʻahu, Diamond Head is Lēʻahi, and Tunnels Beach is Mākua on Kauaʻi.

Respect the Environment

Whether you’re off to the beach, headed on a hike or just going for a walk, bring a reusable bag with you. Not only can this act as a trash bag for any waste you make, but it’s also a great place to put trash you pick up in public. Lei-Ann Field of the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau also recommends emptying your bag in the waste disposal area of wherever you are staying, instead of filling up public trashcans that could overflow.

When you shop for groceries or omiyage (gifts), that reusable bag will come in handy, too. Hawaiʻi was the first U.S. state to ban plastic bags, a policy enacted statewide in 2015. The regulations prohibit businesses from providing plastic bags at checkout. Instead, customers can use paper or reusable bags.

In 2021, Hawaiʻi became the first state in the nation to ban the sale of reef-damaging sunscreens, specifically those that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals that have been scientifically proven to induce coral bleaching, harm and even kill young coral larvae. Of course, you can still bring your own sunscreen into Hawaiʻi, but if you do, be sure to check its ingredient list and make sure it won’t harm the coral reefs that support our underwater ecosystems.

To prevent the spread of invasive species and protect native wildlife, only hike on marked trails.
*Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Heather Goodman*

To prevent the spread of invasive species and protect native wildlife, Field says to only hike on marked trails—those with signage by the city or state. You can go a step further by brushing off your shoes before entering and exiting a hike, which also helps prevent transporting invasive species from one hiking area to another.

To help offset the large amount of carbon emission that it takes to get to Hawaiʻi, think about planting a tree during your visit. You can work with certain conservancy groups across the Islands, like Gunstock Ranch on Oʻahu’s North Shore, to help make Hawaiʻi even greener.

Support Local Businesses in Hawaiʻi

Whenever you travel, buy products and eat at restaurants that support local farms and food producers.
*Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono*

Whenever you travel, it is recommended to buy products and eat at restaurants that support local farms and food producers. Not only will these goods be unique and the food super fresh, you will be supporting the community.

Travel with Aloha

Sometimes, the best thing you can do when looking to travel consciously is just be mindful and show aloha. That means respecting the culture, picking up your trash, not standing on the reef, staying away from endangered wildlife, and supporting local businesses. Yes, it is a lot to think about, but if you can question your choices, even those that seem insignificant, you could make a world of difference.

Kevin Allen is a former editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine and Grace Maeda is the current editor.