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Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii Bad Bunny

The Powerful Meaning Behind the Silences in Bad Bunny’s ‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii’

From its social and political message to its homage to Puerto Rican folklore

Archivado en: Bad Bunny  •  

Alberto Palao—Bad Bunny has just dropped DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, a 17-song album that uses its visuals and lyrics to honor his beloved Puerto Rico. This new release is a heartfelt gift to his fans, giving them the perfect way to kick off the year with fresh music from the Puerto Rican superstar.

One of the standout tracks is ‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,’ a powerful song with a strong social message about gentrification and over-tourism in Puerto Rico. “They want to take the river and the beach too. They want my neighborhood and for grandma to leave. No, don’t let go of the flag or forget the lelolai. I don’t want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii,” he sings. In recent years, Puerto Rico has seen a significant rise in tourism and overcrowding, raising real concerns about the island’s future.

In the song, Bad Bunny pleads for Puerto Rico not to face the same challenges as Hawaii, where unchecked tourism and gentrification have harmed biodiversity and disrupted the local way of life. He also highlights how massive tourist developments are changing Puerto Rico’s most iconic areas, threatening its cultural heritage and the daily lives of its people.

Hawaii and Puerto Rico: Two Unique Paradises

It’s no coincidence that Bad Bunny brings up Hawaii in this song. Like Puerto Rico, it’s a tropical archipelago with stunning natural beauty. But beyond the similarities in their landscapes, both places share a deeper history as territories colonized by the United States. In Hawaii, colonization displaced native residents, forcing many into the poorest areas of the cities. Puerto Rico has faced similar efforts, but its people have successfully resisted so far.

In this track, Bad Bunny also takes a moment to honor Puerto Rican traditions. By mentioning the traditional chant ‘le-lo-lai,’ he’s urging his people to hold onto the cultural roots that make Puerto Rico unique. His message is a call to action, reminding Puerto Ricans to protect their heritage and avoid the fate of Hawaii, where native traditions and even the Hawaiian language were nearly erased in favor of English during the early 20th century.

The Silences in the Song: What Do They Mean?

Bad Bunny’s choice to include silences in the melody of ‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii’ wasn’t random. These pauses, which interrupt the song suddenly, carry a meaning that’s just as powerful as the lyrics.

One interpretation connects these silences to the ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico. The island has been struggling with frequent blackouts caused by its unstable electrical grid, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The system, already in bad shape before the storm, was left in ruins. Since then, a lack of government investment and proper maintenance has led to repeated outages—even during big events like Young Miko’s concert.

The silences could also symbolize something deeper: censorship. They might represent the efforts of powerful groups to keep the conversation about Puerto Rico’s gentrification quiet. It’s a way to prevent these issues from gaining attention outside the island and to avoid drawing international criticism.

The final theory links the silences in the song to Puerto Rican music. In jíbara music, a traditional folk style from the island, pauses are often used to signal the start of an instrumental solo—typically featuring the melody of the Puerto Rican cuatro. This instrument, which plays throughout the song, becomes even more prominent toward the end.

‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii’ is easily one of the most layered and meaningful tracks on DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. It’s not just a social commentary on Puerto Rico’s struggles; it’s also a beautiful tribute to the island’s folklore and musical roots.

Article in Spanish for LOS40 Spain.