HAWAII ~ Answers to Common Visitor Questions

As your Hawaii Destination Specialist, I thought I'd provide you with a few Hawaii FAQ:

 

Answers to Common Visitor Questions:

 

1. What types of clothing should I take with me? Do I have to dress up at night for dinner?

Almost everywhere in Hawaii the dress is informal. Even in the most upscale places, a casual dress or a polo shirt and khakis is normally considered acceptable attire. Aloha wear (muumuus and Hawaiian-print shirts) is perfect for just about everywhere. Be sure to bring swimming/sunning suits and, if you plan on being atop one of the lofty volcanoes, a warm coat. (It gets cold up there.)

 

2. Isn't a vacation in Hawaii expensive?

Many people think Hawaii is expensive, but it doesn't have to be - in fact, Hawaii can be a real travel bargain. Many of the most interesting things to see and do in the islands are free. Hotels and condos come in all price ranges and many are indeed a fabulous value. Great meals can be had for reasonable prices, and car rentals are cheaper in Hawaii than in many areas of the mainland. Traveling during non-peak times of the year, when the weather is actually better in Hawaii, is also a great way to travel less expensively.

 

3. What about the rain? Doesn't it rain a lot over there?

It's probably raining somewhere in the islands every day of the year. But rain in Hawaii usually consists of passing showers. Summer is Hawaii's driest season, when most areas, especially where the majority of the hotels are located, see little or no rain. Also, the rain tends to stay near the inward, cooler areas of the island, while the beaches are usually warm and sunny. It's almost never raining everywhere on an island, even during the winter, so if there's rain where you are, just a short drive along the coast will get you to a sunny spot in no time.

 

4. What about seeing other islands? Should I visit more than one, or not?

It depends on whether this is a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Hawaii. If this is definitely the only time you'll be going, by all means see more than one island. There's so much available on just the major islands that you could spend a month there and not see and do it all. The secret is to prioritize. Decide what's most important to you and accomplish that. Allow anything else to be "maybe" things. A great part of the lure of a vacation experience in Hawaii is the rest and relaxation, the renewing of the soul that it offers. Going from island to island, packing and unpacking, spending most of your time at the airport or checking into and out of hotels, defeats that purpose. Everything you missed the first time will be waiting for you when you come back.

 

5. Should I rent a car while I'm there?

You should certainly rent a car on any of the islands. The freedom and flexibility offered by renting a car makes it worthwhile, even for a day. Car rental prices in Hawaii are some of the lowest in the country. Several car rental firms will let you rent a car on one island, turn it in when you're done there, fly to another island, and pick up another car on the same contract.