Many people come to Hawaii for the very first time not knowing much about it. That’s where we come in. Since we are not a cookie cutter, automated travel website, we can give you the best tips to get the most out of your vacation and how to be safe when you visit. From knowing local customs to local laws, coming prepared to Hawaii will not only help you get the most out of your trip, but it will also contribute to keeping you safe.

To get you started, I’ve got a list of 12 common mistakes that people make in Hawaii, and how you can avoid them:

Not leaving Waikiki (or your resort)

Yes, there is plenty to do in Waikiki, and many resorts can keep you busy for weeks. I’ve lived on Oahu for years, and I still haven’t tried all of the restaurants I want to try in Waikiki.

And, I know that many people come to Hawaii for relaxation. But there is so much more to explore on Oahu besides Waikiki, and there are so many places to eat and see beyond the resorts. Go to the North shore and find a secluded beach. Drive up to Waimea and swim in a waterfall. Take a Secret Hawaii’s cultural sights. Explore Pearl Harbor, museums, and other historical sights. Get out of Waikiki - you will be glad that you did!

Not trying local food

Sometimes I crave a good burger or pizza no matter where I am, but I always encourage people to get outside their comfort zones a bit and try new foods. There is a huge push towards local farming and sustainability happening in Hawaii. Restaurants pride themselves on using ingredients from local farmers and work hard to infuse Hawaiian flavors into their dishes. Try some local comfort food at Side Street Inn. Go to a farmer's market. Check out Eat the Street - where 40+ food trucks gather and you can try lots of local favorites. Maybe try one of my favorite restaurants with views that emphasize local farms and local flavors.

Some Hawaiian foods to try include poke, shrimp trucks, spam musubi, malasadas, acai bowls, or shave ice. Go to the farmer's markets and try fruit like lilikoi and apple bananas. Try fish like Ono, Opah, and Mahi Mahi. A luau is a great way to try traditional Hawaiian food, too!

Touching a sea turtle (or other wildlife)

It’s illegal to harass or touch both Hawaiian green sea turtles and monk seals. You can be fined up to $10,000.

These two animals are extremely endangered. There are a few beaches where turtles are known to hang out. Volunteers from Malama na Honu take turns watching over the sea turtles to make sure no one gets too close, both on land and in the water. If a sea turtle is resting on the beach, they will often rope off the area around them. They do the same for monk seals.

For more information about how to keep these animals safe, click here.

Taking lava rock

Lava rock is so cool! It’s going to be tempting, but whatever you do, do not take the lava rock! Walk on it, touch it, and photograph it instead.

The Hawaiian goddess Pele does not like it when you take lava rock. Pele is angry and vengeful. According to legend, she will get so mad if you take lava rock that she will make sure you have bad luck for the rest of your life.

And, like many Hawaiian legends, this might not just be a legend. Every year, people mail lava rocks that they took back to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hoping that Pele will forgive them and their bad luck will end!

Aside from that, it is illegal to take anything from any national park, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is where much of the lava rock is.

To that effect, please do not remove sand from Hawaii’s beaches. There is only so much of it. Enjoy the beauty and make sure that it remains for future generations.

Not wearing sunscreen

You might get away with not wearing sunscreen back home, but since we are close to the equator in Hawaii, the sun is much stronger. Make it a habit to put sunscreen on first thing in the morning and regularly reapply it throughout the day. I would hate it for you to get a terrible burn on your firs...