Having lived in Hawaii for nearly 30 years, I sometimes find myself thinking this way.

Honestly, I feel a bit envious when I see tourists laughing and taking pictures on Waikiki Beach.

Living here, I see young people hugging and hanging out together all day long.

"Must be nice."

This is not a sarcastic remark; I mean it sincerely.

They spend a few days enjoying the beautiful ocean, eating delicious food, shopping, and making memories while watching the sunset before heading back home.

That's what travel is all about, after all.

However, the daily life of locals like us in Hawaii is a bit different.

Even after tourists check out and leave, we still have to live here.

I'm just an ordinary mom raising a child and living with my husband on Oahu.

So, I feel every day that the Hawaii tourists see and the Hawaii locals experience are much more different than one might think.

Let's start with the traffic situation.

Tourists drive rental cars to Diamond Head and the North Shore, moving around freely.

But once you get stuck on the H-1 Freeway during rush hour, the story changes.

For tourists, it might just be a minor inconvenience during their trip, but for us, it's a daily routine.

Every process of dropping off kids at school, going to work, and grocery shopping comes with traffic jams.

And many people are surprised by the cost of living.

Tourists calculate their travel budget and think, "Hawaii is just expensive," and move on.

But we buy groceries at those prices every week.

The cost of living index in Hawaii is much higher than the U.S. average.

It's common for a gallon of milk to cost over $7, and eggs, vegetables, and meat are also more expensive than on the mainland.

Especially for families raising children, the impact is significant.

In the past, filling a shopping cart was manageable, but these days, I sigh when I see the total at the checkout.

"I only bought this much, why is it so expensive?"

This is a common topic among moms in the area.

The housing issue is also serious.

Young people want to be independent, but it's not easy due to high rent prices.

Many of my friends graduated from college and found jobs but still live with their parents.

That's because housing prices and rent are too high.

So, among young people, there are quite a few who eventually leave for the mainland.

Every time I hear that friends I grew up with have moved to Nevada, Texas, or Arizona, I feel conflicted.

That said, it's not that I dislike tourists.

On the contrary.

If there were no tourism industry, Hawaii's economy would take a big hit.

Many of my family and friends work in hotels, restaurants, and the tourism sector.

Tourists are essential to Hawaii.

However, I hope they understand that behind the paradise-like scenery where travelers stay for a short time, there is also the ordinary daily life of the people living here.

Someone manages those beautiful beaches, someone works in hotels, and someone navigates through traffic to get to work, keeping this island running.

When we occasionally grumble, it's not because we hate tourists.

It's just a reminder that even on this beautiful island, there are realistic concerns that exist.