When I first came to Hawaii, my local friends all said, "We hardly go to Waikiki in the summer," and there's a good reason for that.

It's not just that there are a lot of people; it's that you have to deal with crowds that are completely different from the usual quiet times.

The numbers make it clear.

In 2025, the number of visitors to Hawaii is expected to reach a staggering 9,642,991, with nearly ten million people concentrated during the summer vacation season. As a result, traffic congestion in Honolulu skyrockets, and locals waste an average of 88 hours a year stuck in rush hour.

Of course, during the peak tourist season, this number goes through the roof.

Parking near popular tourist spots becomes nearly impossible, and when you go grocery shopping after work, you might find yourself in ridiculous situations.

It's common to return empty-handed because certain ingredients or essentials have been completely wiped out by tourists. Even the beach, which should be full of romance, turns into a competition just to find a spot for a beach towel.

So, savvy locals either seek out hidden secret beaches that tourists would never know about or choose to stay home as much as possible during peak season, minimizing weekend outings.

That said, this isn't about hating tourists or complaining. It's just the reality.

Like it or not, the tourism industry is the backbone that sustains this beautiful island.

Living in a country where 23-24% of the total GDP comes from tourism, it doesn't make sense to get annoyed at the precious guests who come to the island.

However, the locals have developed incredible 'adaptation strategies' for survival.

Waking up early before everyone else to claim the beach, thoroughly avoiding peak tourist times as if they were on the other side of the planet, and discovering lesser-known local eateries and spots become natural routines of life.

Still, as a human, I sometimes honestly feel a bit envious of them. Seeing people enjoying Hawaii without a care in the world brings a wave of jealousy.

We hustle every day, and it feels like we've become just a common background in this beautiful scenery.

Well, in the end, I love this island enough to put up with these minor inconveniences. After all, the joy of locals greeting each other and enjoying the now-quiet sea after the bustling peak season might just be the true charm that Hawaii offers.