The Hawaiian Islands are undeniably full of extreme natural beauty. With stunning beaches, majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls and panoramic views, there’s no wondering why so many individuals across the world fly to Hawaii on vacation.
In 2015 alone, approximately 8.6 million people visited Hawaii, and spent approximately $15.3 billion dollars – a 2.3 percent increase over the last year, according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. With more than 700,000 individuals visiting Hawaii every month, it is fairly easy to tell the tourists from the locals, and here’s how:
- Tourists in Hawaii can be seen wearing Aloha shirts.
Thaths/Flickr Even better if they’re matching. While there are some locals who still dig Hawaiian shirts, they are most popularly worn by tourists.
- And they always have their camera out, taking a photo of something new.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr
- Most tourists can be spotted by their rental vehicles: shiny new sports cars on old, worn-down roads.
Kenji Ross/Flickr This is in stark contrast to the beat-up trucks and island beaters most commonly owned by locals.
- Check out their shoes: locals tend to wear beat-up slippahs everywhere they go.
_Wiedz/Flickr Tourists wear loafers, sneakers, and strappy sandals that are difficult to take on and off. Oh, and don’t forget about the tourist’s perfectly manicured toes.
- I’ve never met a tourist who pronounced Likelike Highway correctly on the first try.
Poom!/Flickr Or many other Hawaiian street or town names either, for that matter.
- Is the individual in question shopping at an ABC Store? They’re definitely a tourist!
Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr Everyone knows that the only people who shop at an ABC Store are vacationing in Hawaii. True locals hit up Times, Safeway and Foodland for all their day-trip and grocery needs.
- You know the people who are scared of getting their shoes muddy while out on a hike?
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr Yeah, they are obviously just visiting the islands, because locals know that muddy shoes means you’ve had a good day.
- And – especially during the winter months – their skin is either quite pasty, or sunburnt.
Kim/Flickr Now, this isn’t always true, but you can usually spot a tourist by their painful-looking sun burn, or blindingly pasty legs at the beach.
- Tourists are the ones carrying tons of shopping bags around Waikiki.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr That’s not to say that locals don’t ever shop in Waikiki, but it’s pretty rare.
- There is nothing more obviously touristy than someone honking in Hawaii traffic.
David Brooks/Flickr Honking is aggressive and disrupts Hawaii’s laid-back lifestyle – instead, we throw shakas, and let people just drive.
- Hawaiian tourists give you a weird look as you bite into that $1.49 spam musubi from the 7-11.
Lawrence Pan/Flickr But once tourists try that cheap musabi, they’ll be hooked.
- Tourists still believe that “Aloha” only has two meanings, how cute!
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Tell us, how do you spot tourists in Hawaii?
Thaths/Flickr
Even better if they’re matching. While there are some locals who still dig Hawaiian shirts, they are most popularly worn by tourists.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr
Kenji Ross/Flickr
This is in stark contrast to the beat-up trucks and island beaters most commonly owned by locals.
_Wiedz/Flickr
Tourists wear loafers, sneakers, and strappy sandals that are difficult to take on and off. Oh, and don’t forget about the tourist’s perfectly manicured toes.
Poom!/Flickr
Or many other Hawaiian street or town names either, for that matter.
Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/Flickr
Everyone knows that the only people who shop at an ABC Store are vacationing in Hawaii. True locals hit up Times, Safeway and Foodland for all their day-trip and grocery needs.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Yeah, they are obviously just visiting the islands, because locals know that muddy shoes means you’ve had a good day.
Kim/Flickr
Now, this isn’t always true, but you can usually spot a tourist by their painful-looking sun burn, or blindingly pasty legs at the beach.
That’s not to say that locals don’t ever shop in Waikiki, but it’s pretty rare.
David Brooks/Flickr
Honking is aggressive and disrupts Hawaii’s laid-back lifestyle – instead, we throw shakas, and let people just drive.
Lawrence Pan/Flickr
But once tourists try that cheap musabi, they’ll be hooked.
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