The Message Behind Bad Bunny’s “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii”

In his hit album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny includes a song that has become one of the most talked-about tracks on the record: “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.” More than just a musical piece, this song is as a political and cultural manifesto that exposes the consequences of colonialism, gentrification, and displacement faced by both Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Bad Bunny’s decision to compare Puerto Rico with Hawaii is not random. Both are island territories with tropical climates, rich cultures, and histories shaped by invasion and annexation by the United States. In “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” the artist suggests that what happened in Hawaii could serve as a warning for what’s happening in Puerto Rico: the loss of land, language, culture, and ultimately, identity.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Benito Antonio (@badbunnypr)

Hawaii

Hawaii was an independent nation with its own monarchy until the United States invaded and turned it into a state, stripping its people of their land, culture, and sovereignty. Today, most native Hawaiians can’t live near their beaches because prices are outrageous, and tourism has turned everything into a giant resort. Their language, their identity, their history… it’s all been sidelined.

And that’s where Puerto Rico comes in. Because what Bad Bunny describes in this song is the same story, but in the island of enchantment. “They want to take away my river and my beach” isn’t just a poetic line. It’s literal. Beaches that were once freely accessible now have fences, private security, or are outright closed because “someone” bought the land.

Gentrification in PR is at its peak. Locals are being displaced by affluent foreigners. Houses bought with cash, rents through the roof, and families who have lived in their communities for generations are being forced to leave. The song captures all of this with a calm yet firm anger.

Mass tourism isn’t progress if it drives people out of their homes. And Benito tells it like it is. What’s happened to Hawaii is happening to Puerto Rico. And if we don’t open our eyes, it might be too late to defend what’s ours when there’s nothing left.

“Lelolai and the Silences”

One of the most powerful moments in the song is when the ‘lelolai’ comes in, a traditional Puerto Rican chant. It’s a sound that evokes the countryside, history, and resistance. It’s like saying: this is ours, this is untouchable. It’s the music of the jíbaros, of the land, of the Boricua soul. And Benito uses it as a shield.

And then there are the silences. There are breaks in the music, moments where everything stops. And those silences speak louder than a thousand beats. Some say they represent the blackouts Puerto Rico has suffered since Hurricane Maria. Others think it’s a gesture of censorship, showing how attempts are made to silence voices denouncing the displacement. And they can also be a nod to traditional music, where pauses are part of the storytelling.

“The jíbaros weep”

The image of the jíbaro weeping because his children, grandchildren, and neighbors are leaving… it’s heartbreaking. Because it’s no exaggeration: it’s the reality. Puerto Rico is losing its people. And those who remain watch as their culture fades away amidst Airbnbs, yuppies, and coffee shops with foreign names.

But Bad Bunny doesn’t just stop at pointing fingers. He also calls on us not to let go of the flag, not to give up. It’s about resisting through music, pride, and memory. Because if they dare to want to buy even the sea from us, we have to dare to defend it with all we’ve got.

From PR to the Canary Islands

The most amazing thing about all this is that the song has made its way across the Atlantic. In the Canary Islands, a region also suffering from rampant tourism, people have embraced it as an anthem. Over there too, there are protests because the beaches are filled with hotels, because locals can’t afford to live in their own land, because paradise is turning into a commodity.

And this shows that LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAiI isn’t just about Hawaii or Puerto Rico. It’s about all the communities that are being displaced, erased, and sold to the highest bidder. So, you know what to do. Listen to it again. But this time, keep your eyes wide open.