Hawaii Travel Tips & Things To Know

One of the most desirable destinations for visitors from around the world, Hawaii beckons travelers year-round to its golden shores and azure waters. Indeed, the 50th state remains one of the most culturally diverse regions in the United States, rooted in cultural traditions from the ancient Polynesians who first inhabited the island chain. With eight main islands to choose from, Hawaii offers everything to fulfill every vacationer's wish list. Knowing what to expect can help you to best plan your itinerary.

The Hawaiian Alphabet Contains 12 Just Letters
In ancient times, the Hawaiian language was not a written language, only a spoken one. So when missionaries arrived to the Islands in the early 1800s, they set about translating the language onto paper. When traveling in Hawaii, you should know that there are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, and that each letter is generally pronounced as though it were a syllable. Before visiting the state, study basic Hawaiian pronunciation guides and this will greatly enhance your stay in the Islands.

Be "Ocean Safe"
Hawaii boasts some of the best beaches in the world, where vacationers are seduced by crystal-blue, warm waters that showcase a colorful, undersea world. When swimming in Hawaiian waters, however, do not be lulled into a false sense of security. Maintain a healthy respect for the ocean, especially during winter months when strong surf and shore breaks can lead to injury and even death.

Traveling Inter-Island is Best Achieved by Plane
In 2008, the Hawaii Superferry declared bankruptcy and departed Hawaii for more business-friendly waters. Designed to transport passengers and cars between islands, the ill-fated, high-speed ferry faced many problems during its short time in Hawaii, not the least of which were rough seas during winter months. Then as now, traveling inter-island by air is the fastest way to get to the neighbor islands, either via commercial flights like Hawaiian Airlines, or on board puddle jumpers like Mokulele Airlines.

Groceries and Gasoline are Expensive
Due to the high cost of shipping, groceries and gasoline in Hawaii are decidedly more expensive than on the U.S. mainland. Prices vary from island to island, with the most expensive islands being Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai. Additionally, restaurants and cafes can be slightly more expensive on average than mainland equivalents.

Wardrobe: The islands of Hawaii have many diverse ecosystems, each with different climates.  For example, the tops of Mauna Kea (Big Island) and Mt. Haleakala (Maui) get snow in the winter while it is in the 70's at beaches around the islands. Consider what activities you plan to enjoy, then pack. If you plan to explore trails through rainforests bring shoes you don’t mind getting really muddy.  If you plan to walk the lava fields of Volcano’s National Park on the Big Island keep in mind that some lava is very sharp and proper hiking shoes are necessary. Just be casual. You do not need to bring a suit, dress slacks, or fancy cloths. The attitude and dress code for the islands is "hang loose". Even at the fanciest of restaurants aloha wear is all you need.

Weather: October to May the temperature averages mid 80’s during the day and mid 60’s to mid 70’s at night. It rains more often but it doesn’t last very long. May to October it averages mid to high 80’s during the day and mid 70’s at night. The sun is very, very strong. Even if you have a base tan, about an hour or so of tanning is plenty. Protect yourself whenever enjoying activities in the sun. Waterproof sunscreen with protection of SPF 15 or over is highly recommended.

You may want to consider bringing a light jacket or sweatshirt. The nights can be cool (high 60’s) and restaurants and stores are often chilly with their air conditioning blasting!

Time Difference: Hawaii does not observe daylight savings time. During the Spring months, when the clock is turned ahead, Hawaii is 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time (EST), 3 hours behind Pacific Standard Time (PST). In the Fall, when the clocks are turned back, Hawaii is 5 hours behind EST, 2 hours behind PST.

Preserve Your Fresh Flower Lei by putting it in a plastic bag and placing it in the refrigerator. If you have a lei made of Scented Flowers place the lei on your pillow each night prior to going to sleep for sweet smelling dreams. Return it to the refrigerator prior to going to bed and reuse it the following night. Your lei will give you sweet dreams for several evenings.

Pineapples are good and good for you!Whether you enjoy your pineapple in the islands or in the comfort of  your home, when  selecting a fresh pineapple the skin should be yellow in color and should smell sweet. The night before you want to enjoy the pineapple break the top off then turn the pineapple upside-down on to a plate and place in the refrigerator. The sweetest juice settles in the bottom of the pineapple. When you turn it over the sweet juice on the bottom is distributed through out the entire pineapple! Pineapple not only tastes delicious but it is very good for your digestion system too. If your pineapple has an acid bite to it sprinkle a little salt on it. It takes the bite away and leaves the pineapple tasting sweet!

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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