How to Have an Authentic Hawaii Travel Experience

I challenge any American to look up the history of Hawai’i before visiting. Learning a bit about a place before traveling there is just good manners, but in the case of a place like the islands that make up America’s 50th state, a dive into how what was once an independent kingdom became a part of America in the 20th century illuminates the context of tourism there. If you’ve ever heard a story of a tourist getting chewed out or beat up by locals, well, I’m not here to tell you it isn’t true. Those who live in Hawai’i, and especially those who are indigenous to the islands, are understandably protective of their land as it exists amidst a largely parasitic tourism industry that consumes money and resources while often giving little back to the community or the land itself. RELATED: Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Greece It’s why I held off on visiting once work started taking me around the world more. Traveling to places like Hawai’i, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico is the sort of endeavor that should be approached thoughtfully, lest you book a stay at an all-inclusive resort that funnels every penny you drop on the trip directly into the wallets of hospitality executives continents away. For Hawai’i I wanted to stay somewhere that would encourage exploration of the islands, spotlight local food and artisans, and make it easy for guests to give back. I found it in Romer House, a boutique hotel in Waikīkī I visited in September. Located just across from a bustling multi-block mall and a Kona Coffee with a 45 minute-long line at any given time of the day, the hotel is quiet and modest compared to the louder resorts just a stretch closer to the ocean (you need only cross two main roads to get there from Romer). In the lobby I found dim lights, a lowkey seating area, and a small restaurant serving up solid breakfast staples in the morning and a more proper dinner menu in the evenings. Behind the check-in counter, a massive framed photo of local surf legend Clyde Aikau gazed over all who checked in (any member of the Aikau family welcoming you to your home in Hawai’i isn’t to be taken lightly, even if it’s just through a photograph). In lieu of plastic bottles in rooms each guest is provided with a supply of Jason Momoa’s Mananalu aluminum water bottles, which have refill stations all over the hotel to cut back on plastic waste. There’s a nice pool and poolside bar in the back but hardly the kind that warrants multiple days spent lounging outside of it. And the room itself, while cozy, well air-conditioned, and stocked with typical hotel amenities, wasn’t anything extraordinary — and that’s a good thing. At every turn, Romer House encouraged us to spend our time literally anywhere other than the hotel itself. Guests are advised to wake up early to catch the sunrise by the beach, which was as early as 5:30-6AM while I was there (worth it, absolutely worth it). Any hotel employee will provide you with an exhaustive list of places to check out while on the island, almost entirely small businesses, from Avanti (an excellent producer of traditional aloha shirts) to Honolulu Pawnshop (a dope local streetwear brand with a store in one of Waikīkī’s nearby malls). The primary excursion of the trip was a morning hike of Diamondhead, a local mountain and state park that provided a killer workout and spectacular views at the top. Staying in Romer House feels like staying in a proper neighborhood hang, a bit of a rarity in a tourist-heavy part of the island. Even the on-site offerings tied back to the community. The hotel bar — The Lei Stand — is a revival of a bar that was a centerpiece of the island’s Chinatown back in the day. It now serves locals and guests alike. Other resorts on the island have in-house or on-site stores for brands like Tommy Bahama (which is owned by clothing conglomerate Oxford Industries and is, on its own, headquartered in Seattle). Romer House had a local swimwear brand host a pop-up in the lobby during my stay and a local jeweler setup in the lobby daily. Resorts point inward. Romer House points outward. I am far from an expert on the ethics of tourism in places like Hawai’i. I don’t know if there’s a “right” way to do it given how much damage has been done to the islands over the last century. What I do know is that if you’re going to visit, you should make sure your money is staying on the island and that you’re giving back to it in some way. Listen to locals when they tell you not to take anything from the beach (it’s literally illegal to remove rocks or sand from the shore) or to pick up trash when you see it. Get coffee somewhere other than Starbucks. Don’t pry for insider info on where locals like to hang out — those spots aren’t for tourists, no matter how much you might want to see them. And don’t miss your chance to take part in one of the great unifying experiences between tourists and locals that the island offers: waking up for sunrise. You Might Also Dig: Why Chicago Is America's Best Summer CityHow to Visit Europe in the High SeasonMost Affordable Times Square Hotels