Maui's Ultimate Visitor Guide

10 Ways to Piss off the Locals When Visiting Maui

#1 Honking Your Horn

Honking your horn is considered very rude

Honking your horn is considered very rude

Maui locals are exceptionally friendly drivers and honking your horn is considered very rude. So unless you are in a marriage procession, keep the road rage to yourself and throw a shaka instead. A shaka is a gesture drivers often use to communicate greetings and gratitude – after all, isn’t that what the Aloha spirit is all about.

#2 Catching a Wave someone is already riding

Share a wave, get a wave.

Share a wave, get a wave.

Don’t hog a wave someone is already riding it; Maui locals quickly get irritated at this sort of behavior. The rule is, the surfer closest to the peak has the right-of-way. Nevertheless, just because you can catch all the waves doesn’t mean you don’t have to share them around. So share a wave, get a wave.

#3 Forgetting to tip

Locals working in the service industry rely on tips to live.

Locals working in the service industry rely on tips to live.

It is completely understandable for non-US citizens who are unaware of the practice of tipping to “forget” to tip. On the other hand, US citizens failing to leave a proper tip when visiting Maui are often frowned upon by locals. Living on Maui is very expensive, and most locals working in the service industry rely on tips to live.

#4 Congesting the roads to take in sights

Most of Maui’s most scenic roads are likely a local’s daily commute.

Most of Maui’s most scenic roads are likely a local’s daily commute.

Most visitors forget that locals live here and that stopping on one of Maui’s most scenic roads to take a picture is fine. However, most of Maui’s most scenic roads are likely a local’s daily commute. So when someone behind you blinks their lights, let them pass. They are probably getting to work and do not want to be late because you are slowly moving trying to take pictures out the window.

#5 Taking lava rocks or sand home

Visitors who remove volcanic rocks and sand are often cursed.

Visitors who remove volcanic rocks and sand are often cursed.

Smuggling lava rocks and sand from Maui’s beaches might seem like a brilliant idea for a souvenir, but you are better off buying a Maui calendar. Visitors who remove volcanic rocks and sand are often cursed and experience constant bad luck bestowed by the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire and Volcanoes, Pele. Hence, why Maui and other Hawaiian islands receive so many of rocks and sand in the mail each year.

#6 Keeping your shoes on when entering someone’s home

It is a common practice to take off one’s shoes before entering someone’s home.

It is a common practice to take off one’s shoes before entering someone’s home.

Maui’s population is primarily composed of people of Asian heritage, and it is a common practice to take off one’s shoes before entering someone’s home. This has also been a custom for current residents of all races. So unless the owner mentions that it is fine to keep your shoes on, prepare to remove them.

#7 Not showing respect for Hawaiian culture and sacred sites

It is always best to respect the boundaries and off limit areas of sacred sites.

It is always best to respect the boundaries and off limit areas of sacred sites.

When visiting Maui or any place in Hawaii, it is important to be respectful of their culture and sacred sites. For example, visitors need to understand that just because you can get to an ocean or forest that anyone is welcome there. It is always best to respect the boundaries and off limit areas of sacred sites. By learning the history of a sacred area, visitors can develop the proper attitude to our surroundings.

#8 Smoking on the beach

Smoking on Maui’s beaches or any Hawaii beach is illegal.

Smoking on Maui’s beaches or any Hawaii beach is illegal.

There is really no option here, smoking on Maui’s beaches or any Hawaii beach is illegal. The smoking ban was put into effect to keep Maui’s beaches clean and pristine. Maui locals love their beaches, so if you don’t want to annoy the locals or want clean beaches for your next vacation, make sure to clean up after yourself.

#9 Touching the turtles or seals

Observing wildlife legally from a distance is the best way to go, unless you are prepared to pay a hefty fine.

Observing wildlife legally from a distance is the best way to go, unless you are prepared to pay a hefty fine.

More often than not, you will likely find a Hawaiian green sea turtle or monk seal casually lying on the beach. And while it is tempting to touch them, don’t. It is illegal and this also applies when you encounter them in the ocean. These marine animals are both protected and are endangered, and their population is declining. Observing them legally from a distance is the best way to go, unless you are prepared to pay a hefty fine.

#10 Not sharing the spirit of Aloha

30 Jan 2011, Hawaii, USA --- 'Aloha' written in the wet sand and starfish on Waimanolo Beach Park. | Location: O'ahu, Hawaii, United States.  --- Image by © Frank Lukasseck/Corbis

30 Jan 2011, Hawaii, USA — ‘Aloha’ written in the wet sand and starfish on Waimanolo Beach Park. | Location: O’ahu, Hawaii, United States. — Image by © Frank Lukasseck/Corbis

The most important of all is to share the spirit of Aloha. The word “Aloha” means a lot of things, it is not only a greeting or a farewell, but it is also a way of life. Aloha is the joyful sharing of life energy in the present.

^