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The very name 'Hawai'i' evokes images of cheap honeymoon packages,
swaying plastic hula dolls and Don Ho crooning in Waikiki.
This is one side of Hawai'i, but much more remains begging to be
explored once you get off the package tourist track and head for
rural Oahu and the outer islands.
Before leaving the island of Oahu, try your hand at surfing on Waikiki
beach, the sport once reserved for Hawai'ian royalty. Though
the world's best surfing waves are found on Oahu's North Shore and
are not for beginners, viewing these liquid monsters is awe inspiring.
On Kauai, kayak the island's largest navigable river or hike
the amazing Na Pali Coast where plenty of peace and quiet
is found among the plunging volcanic cliffs that protect deserted
beaches.
Drive to the top of Maui's Haleakala Crater where a fantastic
sunrise over the caldera makes the 4am wakeup call worth it, or
head to Hana to experience the feel of a remote Hawai'ian
town. Also known as the Big Island, on Hawai'i watch the
newest land in the world being formed as volcanoes pour out lava;
or do a night dive with gentle manta rays in Kona, on the
island's dry and rocky west coast.
Roll up your sleeves and take a Hula class that will connect you
to the island's ancient past. Learn some of the Hawai'ian words
that are sprinked in the everyday 'creole' language spoken by the
locals, by far some of the friendliest people in the USA. Whatever
you seek in Hawai'i, it won't disapoint as there is something for
everyone in the Aloha State.
Cash
Hawai'i is no bargain so if you want a slice of paradise youre going
to have to pay for it. Booking a holiday separately will never be
cheaper to such a competitive destination and package tours are
the best way to go as flights, hotels and rental cars are included
at a discount.
With the internet travel boom Hawai'ian vacations are well represented
online and should be the best place to get a deal. As the closest
tropical islands to the US West coast, there are often cheap package
trips out of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
All budgets are represented in Hawai'i from super luxurious honeymoon
resorts from $500 US dollars per night down to more moderately priced
budget rental units in Maui at around $75 a night.
Budget travellers can still enjoy Hawai'i through the network of
hostels in the islands but may miss out by not booking a rental
car. If you're going to go on a budget save cash on the hotel and
get a car so you won't miss any of the spectacular sights Hawai'i
has to offer. Budget hostels cost about $15 US per night for a dormitory
bed but the locations are usually excellent. For a days budget travel
excluding transportation factor about $50-60 per person per day.
Overall things in Hawai'i cost more than the US mainland due to
the tourist industry and the fact that practically everything has
to be imported. That being said things are not exorbitant but budget
minded travellers should bring sunscreen, film and other more expensive
items from home.
The currency is the US Dollar. Approxmate conversion as of 2002
are:
$1 US = £0.65 Sterling
$1 US = c. 1 Euro
$1 US = 120 Japanese Yen
Check with your local currency exchange bureau for up to date currency
info.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
People
The Native Hawai'ian people settled the archipelago from the Marquesas
by canoe around 500 AD, eventually settling on every one of the
Hawai'ian islands. While much of the traditional way of life was
lost when missionaries came to the islands and the monarchy was
overthrown by the United States, there is a growing interest in
reviving traditional arts and culture, not as a way to make money
off the tourist trade, but to reconnect native Hawai'ians with their
past.
In the mid 19th century Asian workers began migrating to Hawai'i
to work the sugar cane fields.
The breakdown of Hawai'is current population is approximately 25%
Japanese; 25% Caucasian, 14% Filipino, 1% Native
Hawaiian with the last 35% people of mixed race.
Travel
Hawai'i can be a stopover on an Around the World trip or can be
reached from the US mainland by one of the many carriers that fly
there: Delta, American and United Airlines being the
most frequent. These carriers can also easily connect travellers
to many cities in Europe. Charter flights also operate from across
the USA (particularly the US West Coast) and are always booked together
with hotels as a package tour.
Getting around Hawai'i is generally by short flights that operate
out of the Inter Island Terminal in Honolulu. Aloha
Airlines and Hawai'ian Air operate extremely frequent
(sometimes every half hour) shuttle flights all over the archipelago
that are not so cheap. Its generally a better deal to book a package
that includes a flight rather than book the flight separately as
flights can cost over $100 for a return flight that is only 20 minutes
long each way.
Most travellers visit just one island through a package tour that
includes a rental car. Choosing this option is a wise one as public
transport is pretty spotty in Hawai'i and most of the sights are
only reachable by driving. Americans drive on the right and each
year quite a few accidents (particularly in Waikiki) are
causes by travellers who make the mistake of driving on the left.
Petrol prices are often 20% higher than the mainland and while US
travellers may complain, Europeans will still find them a bargain.
Food
Most hotels in Hawai'i serve the usual tropical fare found in most
resort hotels around the world. Self catering is an option to those
on a budget and numerous supermarkets are found in the islands;
avoid the ones in Waikiki and head for downtown Honolulu
if you want cheaper prices and Asian ingredients.
Because of the Japanese influence, Bento meals are popular among
office workers in Honolulu and can be found in shops and supermarkets.
Asian food like Korean, Vietnamese and Thai are found in cheap abundance
as well. Fast food is everywhere in Hawai'i and many of America's
most well known chains are found there.
Poi, the staple Hawai'ian food that comes from pounded taro
roots is often hard to find; try the local markets in smaller cities
if you want to try eating it. Its purplish colour and runny consistency
is definitely an acquired taste! It is good for you as its loaded
with fibre, but the taste is quite bland. Poi is served together
with other local foods and bread is often dipped into it to soak
it up.
Language
Though the pure native Hawai'ian language is no longer spoken through
most of the island chain, many Hawai'ian words have crept into everyday
language. The most common is 'Aloha' a greeting for hello or goodbye
that roughly translated means 'Love.' 'Mahalo' is the Hawai'ian
word for thank you. The result of the fusion between Hawai'ian and
English is a kind of 'Creole' that combines not just Hawai'ian,
but Japanese and Filipino words that can be hard to understand for
the first time visitor.
A weather report for Honolulu might say 'mauka showers' which means
rain showers in the north of the island. Someone might give you
directions on Oahu by saying 'go 2 miles Diamond Head' which means
to go two miles east. (Diamond Head being a landmark east of Waikiki)
For the short term visitor picking up words in the Hawai'ian language
can be a fascinating insight into the Hawai'ian culture.
Climate
Hawai'i lies in the tropical North Pacific and enjoys one of the
most stable climates in the world. Huge temperature fluctuations
are rare and most often the daily high can be the same for weeks
on end. Maximum summer temperatures rarely go above 32C (92F) although
the humidity can be very high at this time, making it feel much
hotter. Hurricanes can swing through the islands in late
summer and early fall causing damage; this is the low season for
Hawai'ian tourism. Daily winter temperatures are about 28C (85F)
due to the trade winds at this time. It tends to feel cooler due
to the much lower humidity.
Being prepared for unusual weather in Hawai'i isn't all that necessary;
warm weather abounds and there's always lots of sunshine. Bring
plenty of sunblock to protect against the strong sun and always
carry an umbrella if there are any clouds around: short frequent
showers are common and are surprisingly fierce but clear in less
than 5 minutes.
Dress
With such a warm climate, it's no wonder Hawai'i is one of the most
casual places in the USA. Surf shorts with or without t-shirts is
everyday attire in the islands and many students at the University
of Hawai'i in Manoa, Honolulu regularly turn up to class with no
shoes at all.
Travellers at a 5 star resort should be aware that some require
a dress code for dinner (dress shirts and trousers) and should pack
accordingly. However, most hotels don't require this and wearing
very casual clothes around Waikiki or Lahaina on Maui
is the norm.
Health
All water found throughout the island chain is drinkable, the exception
being water in remote areas of Moloka'i. There are no mosquito borne
diseases in Hawai'i and strict quarantine laws have kept rabies
off the islands.
Visas
As the 50th state of the USA Hawai'i follows the same visa rules
as the rest of the country. Many European countries do not need
visas to visit the USA, but travellers should always verify this
with the nearest US Embassy or consulate before departure.
By Dave Lowe
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