Swimming nude is illegal , underage consumption of alcohol for religious purposes common. Hawaii had the largest proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults in the U.S, Enjoy jet skiing, parasailing and kayaking, , Theft is a big problem in cities as well as beaches and parks, women should not walk alone in unlit areas
Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States of America. Situated nearly at the center of the north Pacific Ocean, Hawaii marks the northeast corner of Polynesia.
While it was once a major hub for the whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, it is now economically dependent on tourism and the U.S. military.
The natural beauty of the islands continues to be one of Hawaii's greatest assets. Honolulu is the state's capital, largest city, and cultural hub. Hawaiian and English are the official languages of Hawaii.
Hawaii is the only U.S. state located in Oceania and the only one composed entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean.
Hawaii is the only U.S. state located outside North America.
While Hawaii is internationally recognized as a state of the United States while also being broadly accepted as such in mainstream understanding, the legality of this status has been raised in U.S. District Court, the U.N., and other international forums.
Domestically, the debate is a topic covered in the Kamehameha Schools curriculum,and in classes at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
On September 29, 2015 the Department of the Interior announced a procedure to recognize a Native Hawaiian government.
Hawaii is an archipelago of over nineteen distinct volcanic islands located over a geological hot spot in the Central Pacific.
The Pacific plate on which the islands ride moves to the northwest, so in general the islands are older and smaller due to erosion, as you move from southeast to northwest.
There are eight major islands, six of which are open to tourism.
Hawaii's diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches, oceanic surroundings, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists.
Because of its central location in the Pacific and 19th-century labor migration, Hawaii's culture is strongly influenced by North American and Asian cultures, in addition to its indigenous Hawaiian culture.
Hawaii has over a million permanent residents, along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.
Hawaii is the 8th-smallest and the 11th-least populous, but the 13th-most densely populated of the 50 U.S. states. It is the only state with an Asian plurality.
The state's coastline is about 750 miles (1,210 km) long, the fourth longest in the U.S. after the coastlines of Alaska, Florida, and California.
In addition to the eight main islands, the state has many smaller islands and islets. Kaʻula is a small island near Niʻihau.
The Northwest Hawaiian Islands is a group of nine small, older islands to the northwest of Kauaʻi that extend from Nihoa to Kure Atoll; these are remnants of once much larger volcanic mountains.
Across the archipelago are around 130 small rocks and islets, such as Molokini, which are either volcanic, marine sedimentary or erosional in origin.
Hawaii's tallest mountain Mauna Kea is 13,796 ft (4,205 m) above mean sea level, it is taller than Mount Everest if measured from the base of the mountain, which lies on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and rises about 33,500 feet (10,200 m).
The Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanic activity initiated at an undersea magma source called the Hawaii hotspot.
The process is continuing to build islands, the tectonic plate beneath much of the Pacific Ocean continually moves northwest and the hot spot remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes.
Because of the hotspot's location, all currently active land volcanoes are located on the southern half of Hawaii Island. The newest volcano, Lo’ihi Seamount, is located south of the coast of Hawaii Island.
The last volcanic eruption outside Hawaii Island occurred at Haleakala on Maui before the late 18th century, possibly hundreds of years earlier.
In 1790, Kīlauea exploded; it was the deadliest eruption known to have occurred in the modern era in what is now the United States. Up to 5,405 warriors and their families marching on Kīlauea were killed by the eruption.
Volcanic activity and subsequent erosion have created impressive geological features. Hawaii Island has the third-highest point among the world's islands.
On the flanks of the volcanoes, slope instability has generated damaging earthquakes and related tsunamis, particularly in 1868 and 1975.
Steep cliffs have been created by catastrophic debris avalanches on the submerged flanks of ocean island volcanoes.
Hawaii, always called the Big Island to avoid confusion is the largest of the islands and home to Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa the largest and one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, coffee and macadamia nut plantations, working ranches, and even green sand beaches.
Kailua-Kona is the busiest part of the island on the dry, leeward side, and near the mega-resort Kohala Coast area with nearly zero annual precipitation.
The saddle road which is passable and a must see despite what rental car companies say passes between the massive volcanoes and connects Kohala with Hilo, the largest town on the windward side with annual precipitation of more than 300 inches per year.
Unlike anywhere else on Earth and definitely worth a look.
Oahu or Oʻahu, nicknamed the Gathering Place, is the most populous and developed island.
Its southern shore is home to the city of Honolulu, the state capital and largest city; four out of every five kama'aina or Hawaii residents call it home.
It is the governmental and commercial center of the state, and Waikiki Beach is arguably the best known tourist destination in Hawaii.
Outside the city are pineapple fields, and the North Shore of Oahu, which is known each winter as the home of some of the largest waves in the world.
The USS Arizona National Memorial at Pearl Harbor is also very popular visitor destination.
Maui is the second largest island in the chain and is home to 10,023 foot (3,055 m) tall volcanic mountain crater of Haleakala.
It is nicknamed the Valley Isle for the narrow plain between Haleakala and the West Maui mountains.
On the west side of the island are the resort areas of Lahaina, Kaanapali and Kapalua, while the south side is home to Kihei, and Wailea.
On the east side is the tiny village of Hana, reached by one of the most winding and beautiful roads in the world.
Kauai or Kauaʻi, the Garden Isle, is home to several natural wonders, such as the Wailua River, Waimea Canyon, and the Na Pali Coast. Mount Waialeale is known as one of the rainiest spots in the world.
Molokai or Molokaʻi, the Friendly Isle, is one of the least developed islands in the chain. It is home to Kalaupapa, the leper colony on Molokai's north shore that was the home of Father Damien.
Lanai or Lānaʻi was at one time completely owned by Dole Foods and was the largest pineapple plantation in the world; it is now home to several exclusive resorts.
Niihau or Niʻihau is a privately owned island with an entirely Native Hawaiian population. Until very recently, the island was off limits to all but family members and invited guests of the owners.
Tourism to the island is limited to helicopter, ATV, and hunting excursions originating on Kauai.
Kahoolawe or Kahoʻolawe, which was once a former U.S. Navy bombing range, remains uninhabited. Efforts are being made to rehabilitate the island, but cleanup efforts continue.
Cities of Hawaii
- Honolulu is state capital and most-populous city
- Kahuku found on Oahu
- Kailua found on Oahu
- Lihue found on Kauai
- Lahaina found on Maui
- Kahului found on Maui
- Wailuku found on Maui
- Hilo the largest city on the Big Island
- Kailua-Kona found on the Big Island
Destinations to visit in Hawaii
- Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island.
- Haleakala National Park on Maui
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai
- Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island
- USS Arizona National Memorial on Oahu
- Waimea Canyon on Kauai
- NaPali Coast on Kauai
- Waikiki on Oahu
The reef triggerfish the state fish of Hawaii, is known in the Hawaiian language as the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, which means triggerfish with a snout like a pig.
It is not the longest Hawaiian fish name, as is often thought; that distinction instead goes to the lauwiliwilinukunukuʻoiʻoi a long-snouted fish shaped like a wiliwili leaf, the butterflyfish.
Where tourism is concerned, Hawaii has something for everyone.
The island of Oahu, the most populous and home to the state capital and largest city of Honolulu, is great for people who wish to experience the islands and still keep the conveniences of a large city.
Rainforests and hiking trails are located just minutes from Waikiki Beach, one of the world's best tourist destinations.
In the winter, large waves on Oahu's north shore turn the normally sleepy area into the surfing capital of the world.
Those who wish to experience Hawaii at a slower pace would do well to visit one of the Neighbor Islands, the other, less populated islands around Oahu.
All the neighbor islands offer opportunities to relax and enjoy the sun and scenery.
Many of the natural wonders of the Islands are located on the Neighbor Islands, from Waimea Canyon on Kauai, to Haleakala on Maui, to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Numerous waterfalls and rainforests evoke memories of what the islands might have looked like before major corporations set their sights on Hawaii.
The road to Hana is one of the most scenic on Maui, as you manipulate many turns overlooking the Eastern coast of the island. It leads you over bridges and past beautiful waterfalls.
Ultimately, you can end up at the Oheo Gulch Pools which are not sacred and there's more than seven, but are also known by the name of Seven Sacred Pools, where the hiking is quite the experience.
Polynesians migrated to, and established communities on, the islands of Hawaii before the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778, who is widely credited as the first European visitor to the islands.
At that time, each island was a separate kingdom. With the support of western advisors and weapons, Kamehameha I of the island of Hawaii conquered all the islands except Kauai, which acquiesced to his rule in 1810.
After Kamehameha II abolished the kapu or taboo system, American missionaries came to the islands to spread Christianity, and quickly began establishing imperial enterprise and amassing political power on the islands.
Their children would later become successful businessmen in the Islands and still own entire islands to this day.
Pineapple and sugar cane plantations were established, and workers from other countries in particular Japan, the Philippines, China, and Korea were imported as contract laborers.
Later, their descendants would also become established as successful professionals.
The Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893 by a group of American businessmen.
While the U.S. administration at the time refused to annex the former sovereign nation, in 1898 the United States did annex the islands, which became a territory in 1900, and a state of the United States in 1959.
Hawaii also became an important outpost for the U.S. military through the 20th century, and Pearl Harbor was the site of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, that resulted in the U.S. joining World War II. Today.
The military maintains its presence here, with several major military bases on the island of Oahu alone; Pearl Harbor remains the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Several areas in Hawaii are under the protection of the National Park Service. Hawaii has two national parks.
Haleakala National Park located near Kula on the island of Maui, which features the dormant volcano Haleakala that formed east Maui.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the southeast region of the Hawaiʻi Island, which includes the active volcano Kīlauea and its rift zones.
There are three national historical parks; Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi, the site of a former leper colony.
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island; and Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, an ancient place of refuge on Hawaiʻi Island's west coast.
Other areas under the control of the National Park Service include Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on Hawaiʻi Island and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu.
The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was proclaimed by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2006.
The monument covers roughly 140,000 square miles (360,000 km2) of reefs, atolls, and shallow and deep sea out to 50 miles (80 km) offshore in the Pacific Ocean,an area larger than all of the national parks in the U.S. combined.
Hawaii has a de facto population of over 1.4 million, due in part to a large number of military personnel and tourist residents.
O'ahu is the most populous island; it has the highest population density with a resident population of just under one million in 597 square miles (1,546 km2), approximately 1,650 people per square mile.
Hawaii's 1.4 million residents, spread across 6,000 square miles (15,500 km2) of land, result in an average population density of 188.6 persons per square mile.
The state has a lower population density than Ohio and Illinois.
The average projected lifespan of people born in Hawaii in 2000 is 79.8 years; 77.1 years if male, 82.5 if female, longer than the average lifespan of any other U.S. state.
As of 2011 the U.S. military reported it had 42,371 personnel on the islands.
Hawaii has the highest percentage of Asian Americans and multiracial Americans and the lowest percentage of White Americans of any state.
It is the only state where Asian Americans identify as the largest ethnic group. In 2011, 14.5% of births were to white, non-Hispanic parents.
Hawaii's Asian population consists mainly of 198,000 (14.6%) Filipino Americans, 185,000 (13.6%) Japanese Americans, roughly 55,000 (4.0%) Chinese Americans, and 24,000 (1.8%) Korean Americans.
There are over 80,000 Indigenous Hawaiians, 5.9% of the population. Including those with partial ancestry, Samoan Americans constitute 2.8% of Hawaii's population, and Tongan Americans constitute 0.6%.
Over 120,000 (8.8%) Hispanic and Latino Americans live in Hawaii. Mexican Americans number over 35,000 (2.6%); Puerto Ricans exceed 44,000 (3.2%).
Multiracial Americans constitute almost 25% of Hawaii's population, exceeding 320,000 people.
Eurasian Americans are a prominent mixed-race group, numbering about 66,000 (4.9%). The Non-Hispanic White population numbers around 310,000, just over 20% of the population.
The multi-racial population outnumbers the non-Hispanic white population by about 10,000 people.
In 1970, the Census Bureau reported Hawaii's population was 38.8% white and 57.7% Asian and Pacific Islander.
The five largest European ancestries in Hawaii are German (7.4%), Irish (5.2%), English (4.6%), Portuguese (4.3%) and Italian (2.7%).
About 82.2% of the state's residents were born in the United States. Roughly 75% of foreign-born residents originate in Asia. Hawaii is a majority-minority state.
It was expected to be one of three states that will not have a non-Hispanic white plurality in 2014; the other two are California and New Mexico.
Christianity is the most widespread religion in Hawaii. It is mainly represented by various Protestants, Catholics and Mormons.
Buddhism is the second most popular religion, especially among the archipelago's Japanese community. Unaffilliated account for one-quarter of the population.
The largest denominations by number of adherents were the Catholic Church with 249,619 adherents in 2010 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints with 68,128 adherents in 2009.
The third-largest religious group includes all non-denominational churches, with 128 congregations and 32,000 members.
The third-largest denominational group is the United Church of Christ, with 115 congregations and 20,000 members.
The Southern Baptist Convention has 108 congregations and 18,000 members in Hawaii.
Hawaii has had a long history of queer identities.
Mahu people, who often traversed gender as defined by Western standards, were a respected group of pre-colonization people who were widely known in society as healers.
Another Hawaiian word, aikane, referred to same-sex relationships. According to journals written by Captain Cook's crew, it is widely believed that many aliʻi engaged in aikane relationships.
Hawaiian scholar Lilikala Kameʻeleihiwa said, If you didn't sleep with a man, how could you trust him when you went into battle?
How would you know if he was going to be the warrior that would protect you at all costs, if he wasn't your lover?
A 2012 poll by Gallup found that Hawaii had the largest proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults in the U.S., at 5.1%, comprising an estimated adult LGBT population of 53,966 individuals.
The number of same-sex couple households in 2010 was 3,239; a 35.5% increase of figures from a decade earlier.
In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage; a University of Hawaii researcher said the law may boost tourism by $217 million.
The history of Hawaii's economy can be traced through a succession of dominant industries; sandalwood, whaling, sugarcane, pineapple, the military, tourism and education.
Since statehood in 1959, tourism has been the largest industry, contributing 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in 1997, despite efforts to diversify.
The state's gross output for 2003 was US$47 billion; per capita income for Hawaii residents in 2014 was US$54,516.
Hawaiian exports include food and clothing. These industries play a small role in the Hawaiian economy, due to the shipping distance to viable markets, such as the West Coast of the contiguous U.S.
The state's food exports include coffee, macadamia nuts, pineapple, livestock, sugarcane and honey.
By weight, honey bees may be the state's most valuable export.
According to the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service, agricultural sales were US$370.9 million from diversified agriculture, US$100.6 million from pineapple, and US$64.3 million from sugarcane.
Hawaii's relatively consistent climate has attracted the seed industry, which is able to test three generations of crops per year on the islands, compared with one or two on the mainland.
Seeds yielded US$264 million in 2012, supporting 1,400 workers.
As of December 2015, the state's unemployment rate was 3.2%.In 2009, the United States military spent US$12.2 billion in Hawaii, accounting for 18% of spending in the state for that year.
75,000 United States Department of Defense personnel live in Hawaii.
According to a 2013 study by Phoenix Marketing International, Hawaii had the fourth-largest number of millionaires per capita in the United States, with a ratio of 7.2%.
Hawaii residents pay the most per person in state taxes in the United States. Millions of tourists pay general excise tax and hotel room tax.
The Hawaii Tax Foundation considers the state's tax burden too high, which it says contributes to higher prices and the perception of an unfriendly business climate.
State Senator Sam Slom says state taxes are comparatively higher than other states because the state government handles education, health care, and social services that are usually handled at a county or municipal level in most other states.
The cost of living in Hawaii, specifically Honolulu, is high compared to that of most major U.S. cities, although it is 6.7% lower than in New York City and 3.6% lower than in San Francisco.
These numbers may not take into account some costs, such as increased travel costs for flights, additional shipping fees, and the loss of promotional participation opportunities for customers outside the contiguous U.S.
While some online stores offer free shipping on orders to Hawaii, many merchants exclude Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and certain other U.S. territories.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, a privately owned company, provides 95% of the state's population with electricity, mostly from fossil-fuel power stations.
Average electricity prices in October 2014 were 36.41 cents per kilowatt-hour were nearly three times the national average is12.58 cents per kilowatt-hour and 80% higher than the second-highest state, Connecticut.
The median home value in Hawaii in the 2000 U.S. Census was US$272,700, while the national median home value was US$119,600. Hawaii home values were the highest of all states, including California with a median home value of US$211,500.
Research from the National Association of Realtors places the 2010 median sale price of a single family home in Honolulu, Hawaii, at US$607,600 and the U.S. median sales price at US$173,200.
The sale price of single family homes in Hawaii was the highest of any U.S. city in 2010, just above that of the Silicon Valley area of California (US$602,000).
Hawaii's very high cost of living is the result of several interwoven factors of the global economy in addition to domestic U.S. government trade policy.
Like other regions with desirable weather throughout the year, such as areas of California, Arizona and Florida, Hawaii's residents can be considered to be subject to a Sunshine tax
This situation is further exacerbated by the natural factors of geography and world distribution that lead to higher prices for goods due to increased shipping costs, a problem which many island states and territories suffer from as well.
The situation is compounded even further by what could possibly be the single largest contributor to the high costs of living in Hawaii, a U.S. trade law known as the Jones Act, or the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.
This trade regulation prohibits any foreign-flagged ships from carrying cargo between two American ports, a practice known as cabotage.
Most consumer goods in the United States are manufactured by outsourced labor in East Asia, then transported by container ships to ports on the U.S. mainland, and Hawaii also receives the same goods.
Being located in the central Pacific Ocean, right between major Pacific shipping lanes, it would be very economical to unload Hawaiian bound goods in Honolulu, before continuing on to the mainland.
However, this would effectively make the second leg of the voyage between Hawaii and the mainland a domestic route between two American ports.
Because most large cargo ships operate under foreign flags of convenience such as Liberia, Vanuatu or Papua New Guinea.
This allows them to avoid the more stringent, and thus more costly, regulations of developed nations' ports, the domestic leg of the voyage would be disallowed by the Jones Act.
Instead, those cargo ships must proceed directly to the West Coast, where distributors break bulk and transport the Hawaiian-bound, Asian-manufactured goods back across the ocean by U.S.-flagged ships and increasing the length of the voyage by more than 50%.
This highly inefficient system of shipping Hawaii's consumer cargo comes at a very hefty price for the average Hawaiian citizen, and makes the cost of living in Hawaii much, much higher than it would otherwise be.
Hawaiian consumers ultimately bear the expense of transporting goods imposed by the Jones Act.
This law makes Hawaii less competitive than West Coast ports as a shopping destination for tourists from countries with much higher taxes like Japan.
Even though prices for Asian-manufactured goods should be cheaper because Hawaii is much closer than mainland states to Asia.
The aboriginal culture of Hawaii is Polynesian. Hawaii represents the northernmost extension of the vast Polynesian Triangle of the south and central Pacific Ocean.
While traditional Hawaiian culture remains as vestiges in modern Hawaiian society, there are re-enactments of the ceremonies and traditions throughout the islands.
Some of these cultural influences, including the popularity in greatly modified form of luʻau and hula, are strong enough to affect the wider United States.
Some key customs and etiquette in Hawaii are as follows: when visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift for one's host, for example, a dessert.
Thus, parties are usually in the form of potlucks. Most locals take their shoes off before entering a home.
It is customary for Hawaiian families, regardless of ethnicity, to hold a luau to celebrate a child's first birthday.
It is also customary at Hawaiian weddings, especially at Filipino weddings, for the bride and groom to do a money dance, also called the pandanggo.
Print media and local residents recommend that one refer to non-Hawaiians as locals of Hawaii or people of Hawaii.
Hawaiian mythology comprises the legends, historical tales, and sayings of the ancient Hawaiian people.
It is considered a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology that developed a unique character for several centuries before circa 1800.
It is associated with the Hawaiian religion, which was officially suppressed in the 19th century but was kept alive by some practitioners to the modern day.
Prominent figures and terms include Aumakua, the spirit of an ancestor or family god and Kane, the highest of the four major Hawaiian deities.
There are many Hawaiian state parks.
The Island of Hawaiʻi has state parks, recreation areas, and historical parks.
Kauaʻi has the Ahukini State Recreation Pier, six state parks, and the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park.
Maui has two state monuments, several state parks, and the Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area. Moloka‘i has the Pala'au State Park.
Oʻahu has several state parks, a number of state recreation areas, and a number of monuments, including the Ulu Po Heiau State Monument.
The music of Hawaii includes traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop.
Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size.
Styles such as slack-key guitar are well-known worldwide, while Hawaiian-tinged music is a frequent part of Hollywood soundtracks.
Hawaii also made a major contribution to country music with the introduction of the steel guitar.
Traditional Hawaiian folk music is a major part of the state's musical heritage. The Hawaiian people have inhabited the islands for centuries and have retained much of their traditional musical knowledge.
Their music is largely religious in nature, and includes chanting and dance music. Hawaiian music has had an enormous impact on the music of other Polynesian islands.
The influence of Hawaiian music a unifying factor in the development of modern Pacific music.
Native Hawaiian musician and Hawaiian sovereignty activist Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, famous for his medley of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, was named The Voice of Hawaii by NPR in 2010 in its 50 great voices series.
Surfing has been a central part of Polynesian culture for centuries. Since the late 19th century, Hawaii has become a major site for surfists from around the world.
Notable competitions include the Triple Crown of Surfing and The Eddie.
The only NCAA Division I team in Hawaii is the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine, which competes at the Big West Conference (major sports), Mountain West Conference (football) and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (minor sports).
There are three teams in NCAA Division II: Chaminade Silverswords, Hawaii Pacific Sharks and Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans, all of which compete at the Pacific West Conference.
Notable college sports events in Hawaii include the Maui Invitational Tournament, Diamond Head Classic (basketball) and Hawaii Bowl (football).
Notable professional teams include The Hawaiians, which played at the World Football League in 1974 and 1975; the Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team that played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987; and Team Hawaii, a North American Soccer League team that played in 1977.
Hawaii has hosted the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament since 1965, the Tournament of Champions golf tournament since 1999, the Lotte Championship golf tournament since 2012.
The Honolulu Marathon since 1973, the Ironman World Championship triathlon race since 1978, the Ultraman triathlon since 1983, the National Football League's Pro Bowl from 1980 to 2016.
The 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships, and the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and 2012 Hawaiian Islands Invitational soccer tournaments.
Over the years, many major retail chains have expanded their presence in Hawaii, making the Islands look more and more like the continental United States, often at the expense of local businesses.
Nevertheless, Hawaii remains culturally vibrant.
Its population, descended from the Native Hawaiians, the original plantation workers, and more recent arrivals, and in which no one group has a majority, is often cited as an example of multiculturalism at its best.
There is a strong commitment to perpetuating native Hawaiian cultural traditions, as well as the cultural heritage of Hawaii's many immigrant communities from the Pacific, Asia and Europe.
Certainly the environment is conducive to longevity Hawaii has the longest predicted life expectancies of any U.S. state.
Depending on where you're located in Hawaii, the weather can be very different over even short distances.
On the same day, on Oahu you might find sun over the beaches in Waikiki and rain only a few miles away in Manoa Valley.
Although the islands receive abundant amounts of both sunshine and rain, rain is more likely on the north and east sides of the islands, which face the prevailing northeasterly tradewinds, the windward side of the island.
As well as the mountain peaks and valleys. The moist tropical air carried by the tradewinds is forced upward by the mountains, resulting in clouds and rain.
Rain is less likely on the coastal areas of the leeward sides of the south and west sides of the islands.
Although there are no true seasons in the islands in the same sense as the rest of the U.S., the climate does go through annual cycles based on rainfall.
The wet season in Hawaii has cooler temperatures and more rainfall, runs roughly from October to March, and the dry season has warmer temperatures and less rainfall from April to September.
There is therefore a higher probability of rain if you visit during the peak of tourist season in late December or January.
Hurricane season in the islands runs from June to November.
Although Hawaii's relative isolation means that it is affected only rarely by tropical cyclones, a destructive storm will occasionally hit the Islands, such as Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki hitting Kauai in 1982 and 1992 respectively.
Overall, Hawaii is warm and balmy when you step out of the plane you'll immediately notice that the air is soft and humid and during the summer months the tradewinds provide a pleasant breeze.
Daytime temperatures generally range from the low 80s (27°C) in winter to the high 80s (31°C) in summer.
Very rarely does the air temperature exceed 90°F (32°C) even in the hottest part of summer; however, the humidity will make it feel as if it were a few degrees hotter.
Ocean temperatures range between 77°F (25°C) degrees in the winter to 82°F (28°C) in the summer. There is usually no more than a 20°F (12°C) difference between daytime high and nighttime low temperatures.
Consequently, besides your driver's license, credit card, camera, binoculars, and other essentials, it's best to keep your clothes to a minimum, a jacket, sweater, one or two pair of washable slacks/shorts, walking shoes, sandals and swim gear.
Sunscreen is essential since Hawaii's close proximity to the Equator translates into very strong sun radiation. The suitcase space you save can be used to fill up on island purchases.
Foreign travelers entering Hawaii directly from another country are subject to the same entry requirements as for the United States in general.
As Hawaii is one of the 50 United States, flights to Hawaii from the U.S. Mainland that is, all of the U.S. outside of the state are considered domestic flights.
Therefore, it is not necessary for U.S. citizens or legal immigrants to show a passport or any documentation of U.S. citizenship or immigration status when entering Hawaii from the U.S. Mainland.
It is also not necessary for foreign visitors arriving from the U.S. Mainland to show passports or visas, U.S. entry formalities are done at the port of entry.
You will, however, be asked to fill out a written agricultural declaration while aboard your flight to Hawaii.
This declaration is required by the U.S. and Hawaii state departments of agriculture to prevent harmful plant pests and diseases from coming into Hawaii.
Any fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and the like need to be declared and inspected by Department of Agriculture personnel at your port of arrival; some items may be prohibited from entering Hawaii at all.
Penalties for non-compliance are stiff. Avoid bringing such items with you if at all possible. It's not worth the hassle.
On the reverse side of this declaration is a Hawaii Tourism Authority questionnaire that asks for information about your stay.
You are encouraged but not required to complete this questionnaire. Be sure to bring a pen on your inbound flight to Hawaii.
When leaving Hawaii for the U.S. Mainland, all baggage must be inspected by U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airport.
Be advised that fresh fruits with the exception of pineapples and treated papayas are prohibited from leaving the islands to prevent the spread of fruit flies.
Consult the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more details.
Bags are inspected by X-ray, so depending on the airport you leave from and the airline.
Be prepared to submit to as many as three checkpoints on the way to your Mainland flight. Having your checked bags X-rayed in the ticket lobby.
The TSA security checkpoint, and perhaps a separate agricultural inspection for your carry-on bags on the way to your gate.
Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time. For reference, Hawaii is two time zones behind the U.S. West Coast, thereby accounting for a three hour time difference during DST.
Arizona, which also does not observe DST save for the Navajo Reservation, is always three hours ahead of Hawaii year-round.
A system of state highways encircles each main island. Only Oʻahu has federal highways, and is the only area outside the contiguous 48 states to have signed Interstate highways.
Narrow, winding roads and congestion in populated places can slow traffic. Each major island has a public bus system.
Honolulu International Airport which shares runways with the adjacent Hickam Field, is the major commercial aviation hub of Hawaii.
The commercial aviation airport offers intercontinental service to North America, Asia, Australia and Oceania. Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines and go use jets to provide services between the large airports in Honolulu, Līhuʻe, Kahului, Kona and Hilo.
Island Air and Pacific Wings serve smaller airports. These airlines also provide air freight services between the islands.
On May 30, 2017, the airport was officially renamed as the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), after U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
Until air passenger services began in the 1920s, private boats were the sole means of traveling between the islands. Seaflite operated hydrofoils between the major islands in the mid-1970s.
The Hawaii Superferry operated between Oʻahu and Maui between December 2007 and March 2009, with additional routes planned for other islands.
Protests and legal problems over environmental impact statements ended the service, though the company operating Superferry has expressed a wish to recommence ferry services in the future.
Currently there are passenger ferry services in Maui County between Molokaʻi and Maui, and between Lanaʻi and Maui, though neither of these take vehicles.
Currently Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises provide passenger cruise ship services between the larger islands.
At one time Hawaii had a network of railroads on each of the larger islands that transported farm commodities and passengers.
Most were 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge systems but there were some 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge on some of the smaller islands. The standard gauge in the U.S. is 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm).
By far the largest railroad was the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) that ran lines from Honolulu across the western and northern part of Oahu.
The OR&L was important for moving troops and goods during World War II. Traffic on this line was busy enough for signals to be used to facilitate movement of trains and to require wigwag signals at some railroad crossings for the protection of motorists.
The main line was officially abandoned in 1947, although part of it was bought by the U.S. Navy and operated until 1970.
Thirteen miles (21 km) of track remain; preservationists occasionally run trains over a portion of this line.
The Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project aims to add elevated passenger rail on Oahu to relieve highway congestion.
Most flights from the mainland US and almost all international flights land in Honolulu on the island of Oahu.
From here, passengers destined for a Neighbor Island will connect to an interisland flight. Direct service from the mainland is also available to Kahului on Maui, Kona and Hilo on the Big Island, and Lihue on Kauai as well.
Depending on the airline, nonstop flights to Honolulu leave from most major gateway airports on the West Coast as well as some smaller ones, as well as many major airports in the Midwest and East Coast.
The flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco takes about 5 hours, comparable to a flight between the West and East Coasts.
Thus, a flight from New York can take about 10.5 hours. Foreign carriers such as Korean, Philippine Airlines, Asiana, Japan Airlines, etc. cannot sell tickets just to Hawaii from the mainland.
They can if originating from outside the United States or to passengers who are ticketed for onward travel, usually to Asia, Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere in the South Pacific from the mainland as a stopover for free or for an extra fare.
Jetstar is a budget Australian airline that recently started connecting Honolulu to several cities in Australia.
Also Hawaiian Airlines, United, Delta and several other carriers have several direct flights to Honolulu from Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, The Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
While the days where everyone arrived in Hawaii by boat are long gone, there are limited numbers of trans-Pacific cruises to Hawaii that leave from ports on the West Coast.
However, one fascinating way to experience Hawaii is by taking a cruise ship between the islands.
There are limited freighter services, but if you are an American citizen embarking in the USA and wishing to travel to Hawaii then you cannot travel this way.
This because of the U.S. Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886, which says foreign-flagged ships cannot carry passengers from one U.S. port to another unless they stop in a foreign country.
Try cruises from Ensenada, Baja California or Vancouver, British Columbia.
International Charter Group, Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest acht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in Hawaii.
It operates from nine offices worldwide USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Because Hawaii is an archipelago, air travel is, by and large, compulsory for traveling within the state. Travelers can choose from either a scheduled or unscheduled air carrier.
Both scheduled and unscheduled air carriers are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration via the states local Flight Standards District Office.
Six scheduled inter-island air carriers, Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, provides set scheduled flights between the islands.
Travelers can save money and time by planning triangle routes that arrive in Hawaii on one island and leave on another.
Scheduled flight times run anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour and can usually be purchased a day or two before departure, although this may increase the cost of traveling.
Visitors wanting to fly according to their own demand as opposed to a pre- set published times should consider flying on an unscheduled air carrier also known as air taxi service.
Passengers can simply contact the air carrier direct and arrange a time and place for pick up. Iolani Air is one such air carrier. Big Island Air is another.
The Hawaiian islands are populated with airstrips that some carriers choose not to service due to economic or operation considerations that make flights not feasible.
In some instances air taxi companies may be the only means of reaching a certain location or air strip.
Hunters and campers with cumbersome gear planning trips to remote island regions and also visitors wishing to island hop, should consider air taxi service to meet their demands.
Charter boats sail and motor between some islands, especially the Maui-Molokai-Lanai area. But, crossing the channels between islands can be extremely rough going.
Because of this, a few charter companies specialize in having boats delivered inter island and can meet you at your destination.
Norwegian Cruise Lines operates both U.S.-flagged and foreign flagged cruise ships between the islands.
On Oahu there is an excellent public transportation system on the The Bus for travel between Honolulu, Waikiki, Makaha, Schofield Barracks and around the island.
You can buy a booklet called TheBus at local ABC Stores giving route information on how to get around the island. Route Schedules are also available on The Bus Website.
The other islands are rural and offer limited bus services. The available bus services operate within and between populated areas are:
- Hele-On at Hilo, Kona, Waimea and around the big island of Hawai'i
- Kaua'i Bus (Kauai)
- Maui Bus at Kahului, Wailuku, Lahaina, and other places in western Maui. No service to the Haleakala NP on the eastern part of the island.
No regular bus services on Molokai or Lanai.
If you want to take your car to Hawaii, it will either need to be amphibious or freighted by ship, making this infeasible unless you plan a long-term stay in Hawaii.
However, Hawaii is the only state that honors all other U.S. state vehicle licenses until they expire, provided you apply for a permit within 10 days of the car's arrival.
Incidentally, Hawaii is also the only state that does not require intended residents to exchange their out-of-state driver's licenses.
Car rentals should be booked as soon as possible as the price charged is based on a supply/demand basis.
The exception is Waikiki where you will not need a car on a permanent basis so just rent a car the day before you want one.
Collision insurance coverage is very expensive through car rental companies, it can easily double your daily rate or more. Consider using a credit card with collision coverage.
All U.S.-issued consumer Visa credit but not debit cards, many MasterCard cards and some American Express cards include secondary collision coverage; some American Express, Visa business and Diners Club cards offer primary coverage.
Alternatively or additionally, prior to your trip, verify that both collision and liability also called third-party coverage from your own auto insurance company extends to rental cars.
Car rental rates for 5- or 6-day periods are often the same as 7-day rentals. Use a credit card that includes medical and trip cancellation insurance benefits; if you cannot, consider buying trip insurance from your flight travel agent.
Also be aware some hotels may charge you for car parking; check with your hotel for parking fee before you book your car. International tourists with non U.S. credit cards are not covered by the above.
By clicking on your country of origin when obtaining a quote from the car rental company's website, often an inclusive quote with loss damage waiver and supplemental liability insurance is provided.
Otherwise using a travel agent website within your country e.g. your local Expedia website or local car hire broker will often also include insurance in their quote.
Gasoline, while nowhere near the prices charged in Europe, is significantly more expensive in Hawaii than on the Mainland.
Expect to pay about 10% more than the prevailing rate on the Mainland for gasoline in Honolulu. Neighbor Island prices can be as much as 10-15% above that.
Be aware that outside of the major highways (H1, H2 and H3) most locals refer to the roads not by number but by name, and will likely not understand if you ask for a road by number.
For example you would never hear someone refer to Kalanianiole highway as route 72 or highway 72.
If you ask for directions, they will likely not be given in terms of compass direction. Instead you will probably receive relative directions based on landmark.
Common landmarks include mauka toward the mountains, makai toward the ocean, and on Oahu, Ewa toward Ewa Beach, roughly west and Diamond Head toward Diamond Head, roughly east.
So a query for a grocery store might be met with go two blocks makai, turn right on King and it's half a mile up on the mauka side of the street.
Scooters are also an excellent alternative to getting around the islands. Rental rates are fairly cheap about $50/day, or $135 for three days.
The scooters are also fun to ride and are cheap on gas, typical mileage is 100-130mpg. For scooters that can go over 35mph or have an over 49cc engine, you'll need a motorcycle license.
Mopeds don't require a license, but the driver must be over 15, and it's illegal for two or more persons to ride a moped, although this may not be enforced in more remote areas such as Big Island.
On most islands, you can also rent out Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Hawaiian and English are the official languages of Hawaii. However English is by far the main spoken language.
There are some subtle differences in usage but standard English is universally understood in Hawaii.
Hawaiian pidgin English, spoken by many locals, incorporates bits of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and many other languages, in addition to its own unique idioms.
As Japan is the most important international tourist market in Hawaii, many tourist destinations offer information in Japanese and have personnel who can speak Japanese.
There are also many ethnic communities that speak languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Ilocano, Vietnamese, Korean, Samoan and the native Hawaiian language.
The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 characters: all 5 vowels plus 8 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the apostrophe) which are generally pronounced in Hawaiian as they are in English, except that you can also take on the sound of v in certain words.
The apostrophe is actually not an apostrophe but an okina, and represents a glottal stop: the following vowel is pronounced with a catch in the throat, much like the sounds in "uh-oh" are separated.
A line above a vowel means that the vowel is extended and stressed. Before the Hawaiian language was standardized, the alphabet consisted of sounds from all 26 English phonetic syllables.
Some words included "s", and "b", such as "Boki" for "boss", and "Iesu", for "Jesus", when Christianity was introduced to the Hawaiian islands.
Each vowel or diphthong is pronounced separately. For instance, the highway connecting Honolulu and Kaneohe on Oahu is called the Likelike Highway, and is pronounced LEE-keh-LEE-keh, not like-like.
Standard English is understood in Hawaii, and Hawaii residents are generally very friendly. However, there are some subtle differences in word usage.
When talking with Hawaii residents, be aware of the following differences in word usage to avoid miscommunications.
Always refer to the continental United States as the Mainland rather than the States. For instance, say Back on the Mainland instead of Back in the States.
Hawaii has been one of the States since 1959, and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement notwithstanding, most Hawaii residents are proud to be part of the United States.
Using the term the States implying that Hawaii is somehow foreign may be seen as naive at best and condescending at worst.
However, don't be surprised if some local people are condescending towards you because you are from the mainland. The local vs mainland difference is something local people are only too happy to point out.
Also, mainland includes places like Manhattan, Key West, Long Island, and Bar Harbor, even though those locations are all on islands themselves.
Residents of Hawaii do not necessarily consider themselves Hawaiian.
For example, when asking a Hawaii resident, Are you a native Hawaiian? don't be surprised if his reply is No, I'm Japanese.
On the Mainland, for example, a Californian means any person who lives in or has ties to California.
However, in Hawaii, the terms Hawaiian or native Hawaiian are reserved to mean someone who is descended from the aboriginal people of Hawaii. This definition even appears in state laws.
Because Hawaii is made of people of various ethnicities, someone whose family may have lived in Hawaii for generations may still not be Hawaiian by the above definition.
To avoid misunderstanding, it is best to refer to Hawaii residents as such, or as Islanders, locals, or kamaʻaina, unless you know for a fact that they are of native Hawaiian descent.
As in the rest of the United States, U.S. dollars are the local currency. There are plenty of banks, ATMs, and money change offices in all cities. ATMs are scarcer on the North Shore of Oahu and other rural areas.
For a number of reasons, prices for most goods are more expensive than on the mainland, which means foreign visitors should focus on buying made in Hawaii goods.
First, Hawaii is an island chain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which means most goods and raw materials must be transported there over great distances at enormous expense.
Second, most goods are manufactured nowadays in East Asia, but thanks to certain U.S. federal laws, foreign-flagged container ships are prohibited from stopping at Honolulu to unload goods bound for Hawaii and load goods bound for the mainland.
Instead, those ships proceed directly eastbound from East Asia passing Hawaii in the process to the West Coast of the United States, where distributors then repack Hawaii-bound goods and send them westbound on domestic-flagged container ships.
Once those goods finally reach Hawaii, their retail prices must necessarily include all those additional ocean transportation costs.
Hawaii has a 4% general excise tax (GET) statewide on the gross receipts of all businesses, which is generally visibly passed on the consumer as a de facto 4.166% "sales tax.
As of 2007, the City and County of Honolulu adds an additional half-percent on the excise tax rate, making the sales tax rate on Oahu 4.712%.
Unlike a true sales tax, the GET is levied on gross receipts of all businesses, not just consumer-facing ones.
This means the GET is like a value-added tax in that it targets every segment in the supply chain, but it is actually much broader than a value-added tax in that it is levied on the entire final price at every segment.
A true value-added tax targets only the value added by each segment. Even worse, the GET is actually levied on itself, in the sense that it is levied on the final price.
But then the final price goes up because the tax has been added, and so on in circles, leading to the strange percentages noted above.
Other than the stereotypical grass skirt which is not generally worn in Hawaii except by hula dancers, no pieces of clothing are more associated with the Islands than the aloha shirt and the muʻumuʻu or muumuu in English.
The ever-present aloha shirt comes in a wide variety of designs. On one end, there are the brightly colored, tourist-oriented, polyester aloha shirts that many tourist-oriented stores throughout the Islands carry.
On the other end of the spectrum are the type of aloha shirts that have become standard business attire among businessmen in Hawaii, in the same way that the business suit is on the mainland.
These aloha shirts are usually cotton-polyester blend and are reverse print.
Reverse print means that the design is printed on the inside of the shirt, resulting in a more muted, businesslike look. This kind of aloha shirt can be found in department stores.
For women, the muʻumuʻu is a long Hawaiian dress, usually made of cotton, that hangs loosely from the shoulder.
A special note on shoes: The item commonly referred to on the Mainland as a sandal or flip-flop or more limited thong are called on the islands a slipper or slippa.
Using a mainland term for the shoe will get you a quizzical look from locals. Call them by their island name and they will instantly know what you are talking about.
One of the most popular souvenirs to buy in Hawaii are locally made bath & body products. The islands feature some of the most unique and refreshing fragrances in the world which you can easily find in Hawaiian shampoos, body lotions, soaps, oils, incense, floating candles, and much more.
The Hawaiian islands offer a vast number of activities. Hula dance lessons and Ukulele lessons are popular among tourists.
Hiking and eco tours are popular on most islands, with opportunities for horseback riding, ATV, air tours, and other methods of exploring the landscape.
Museums and historical sites such as Pearl Harbor are also to be found throughout the islands. Cultural activities such as the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu also make for interesting day-long activities.
Oahu is famous for Pearl Harbor tours, but also popular are shark snorkel dives in cages, Waikiki snorkel tours as well as around Oahu Tours where you will see all the major highlites of Oahu.
Including Diamond Head, the North Shore and Dole Plantation where you can sample menu items made from fresh picked pineapples.
Maui is the location for humpback whale watching from December 15 to April 15 each year as the massive humpbacks migrate to Hawaii's warm waters to bear their calves.
Famous from Maui is the Molokini Crater which is a partially submerged volanco crater that you can snorkel at.
Kauai is untamed and beautiful. It has been featured in many major motion pictures over the past two decades.
The Big island is the volcano island where you can take a land tour or fly over the incredible huge volanco on a helicopter tour.
Doors off flights allow you to feel the heat from the volanco, an amazingly unique experience. Also on the Big Island you have the rare opportunity to swim with wild dolphins, not captive ones.
Hawaii is best known for its beaches and water activities. Surfing is practically a religion in Hawaii, and scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities exist nearly everywhere.
In addition, jet skiing, parasailing and kayaking are available in tourist areas.
Tourists who want to get a taste of Hawaiian culture can sign up for classes in hula, surfing and lei-making at most tourist destinations.
There are a number of cultural and historical centers on Oahu well worth your time, such as the Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace.
If you have the money, the time and the inclination, the Polynesian Cultural Center provides a window into Polynesian culture.
As its name implies, the Polynesian Cultural Center covers not just Hawaii but also the cultures of Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Easter Island and the Maori people of New Zealand.
The outer islands also have destinations such as Maui Center for Culture and the Arts and the Big Island has the Hilo Art Museum. the Lyman House Museum and the Pacific Tsunami Museum as well as the University of Hawaii's Imiloa Astronomy Center and Kula Kai Caverns.
Given the current economic situation, the unemployment rate in Hawaii is at its highest point in many years, but is still below the average unemployment rate for the country as a whole.
Hawaii is not an easy place to legally find casual work for non-US work permit holders. To apply for a local government job, by law you must be a Hawaii resident.
This is changing though. Currently, police officer applicants do not have to be residents.
Volunteering in Hawaii is very common for many visitors interested in eco-tourism. More and more people every year sign up with an organization called WWOOF Hawaii, to be a part of the organic movement in Hawaii.
Through WWOOF Hawaii, members can get in touch with over 280 organic farms throughout 5 of the main Hawaiian islands and volunteer anywhere from a couple weeks up to a year.
Not only do members get to learn about organic farming in Hawaii, but they also receive fresh organic food and get to live on a farm.
The cuisine of Hawaii is a fusion of many foods brought by immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands, including the earliest Polynesians and Native Hawaiian cuisine, and American, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Polynesian and Portuguese origins.
Plant and animal food sources are imported from around the world for agricultural use in Hawaii. Poi, a starch made by pounding taro, is one of the traditional foods of the islands.
Many local restaurants serve the ubiquitous plate lunch, which features two scoops of rice, a simplified version of American macaroni salad.
And a variety of toppings including hamburger patties, a fried egg, and gravy of a loco moco, Japanese style tonkatsu or the traditional luʻau favorites, including kalua pork and laulau.
Spam musubi is an example of the fusion of ethnic cuisine that developed on the islands among the mix of immigrant groups and military personnel.
In the 1990s, a group of chefs developed Hawaii regional cuisine as a contemporary fusion cuisine.
Contemporary food in Hawaii, like the language and popular culture, is a medley of traditional Hawaiian, Asian, and Portuguese. Pacific fusion cuisine was largely invented in Hawaii.
Well-known local chefs include Sam Choy, Alan Wong, Russell Siu, Roy Yamaguchi, and George Chef Mavro Mavrothalassitis. Seafood is, of course, fresh and tasty.
Local beef comes from ranches on Maui and coffee is grown on the Big Island. Tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, bananas, guavas, and papaya, as well as fresh sugar cane, can be bought in most corner stores.
Although you may be surprised to learn that many of those fruits are now imported from distant locales such as The Philippines & Brazil.
One of the most common ways that local food is served is in the form of plate lunch, usually meat or fish with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad.
It's always a good deal at any lunch wagon, mall, or outside food court. L&L Drive Inn and Zippy's are probably the most widely distributed chain of plate lunch spots in the Hawaiian islands.
Branches of L&L are in some locations on the Mainland as well as L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.
Another way of enjoying local food when roaming around the island is to keep an eye out for the converted trucks/vans that are parked in their regular spots in gas station parking lots, some parks and a variety of places on the island.
They offer the plate lunches which are popular with the locals and provide great meals on plastic plates at very reasonable prices. There is no reason to fear them, they are very common and popular.
Perhaps the best setting for tourists to enjoy traditional Hawaiian food is at a luau or lu‘au, a traditional Hawaiian feast.
Tourists can find luaus at various locations in the Islands, including many of the major resort hotels.
At a modern luau traditional Hawaiian favorites are served buffet style, and there is also Hawaiian music, hula, and other Polynesian entertainment.
The downside is that they can be pricey and prices can vary widely; expect to pay between USD $50 and $90 per adult and about half that per child.
Dishes that are often found at luaus include:
Lomi salmon, salted salmon hand-mixed (lomi-lomi means "to massage") with tomatoes, onions, and pepper; like an island salsa
Kalua pig, pork wrapped in banana leaves and steamed inside an imu or ground boiler; similar to pulled pork
Pipi kaula, Hawaiian style beef jerky
Poi, ground and boiled taro root paste
Laulau, pork & butterfish (black cod) wrapped in ti leaves then steamed
Lu‘au, taro leaves baked with coconut cream and usually octopus, this dish inspired the modern name of the Hawaiian feast.
Haupia, a gelatin-like dessert prepared from thickened coconut milk; famous for being a mild laxative
Other local dishes include the following:
Ahi, yellowfin tuna, excellent as sashimi (Japanese style sliced raw fish) or as poke (chopped and seasoned raw fish).
Mahimahi, dolphin fish, served as a steak, sandwich, or in almost-raw thin strips.
Ono, a type of fish also known as wahoo. Not coincidentally, the name resembles the Hawaiian word for delicious, ono.
Shave ice, an island version of snow cones made from finely shaved ice, comes in lots of ono flavors. Order your shave ice with azuki beans and/or a scoop of ice cream.
Saimin, Hawaii's version of noodle soup or ramen. Hawaii is also known for its high quality noodle houses which offer all the Japanese noodle staples (udon, ramen, soba, etc.).
Malasada, Fried bread rolled in plenty of sugar, often sold at special events. Portugese origin.
Manapua, local name for a popular type of Chinese dim-sum otherwise known as char siu bao. Cured sweet pork wrapped in soft white bread.
Spam musubi, an unorthodox variant of Japanese riceballs (musubi), composed of salted rice formed into a rectangular shape and topped with spam, wrapped in seaweed. Popular enough to be sold in every Hawaiian 7-11.
Chicken/pork adobo, Filipino dish widely offered and appreciated in Hawaii.
Loco moco, this local specialty consists of a hamburger patty on rice, topped with over easy egg and gravy. Excellent with tabasco sauce. Can be eaten for breakfast or lunch.
Chicken katsu, fried chicken cutlet with savory sauce. Usually served with rice and mac salad.
If you are roaming the island away from tourist areas, you may find restaurants are scarce. Many of the numerous golf courses have dining rooms open to the public that offer great meals at very good prices.
They seem to welcome the non-golfer. For specific places at which to eat, see the individual island or city articles. Be sure to check the coupon books that are available at display stands for meal specials.
Popular local snacks are also heavily influenced by the large mix of cultures present in Hawaii, primarily the Chinese and Japanese.
Since many of these snacks are unique to Hawaii and cannot be found anywhere else, consider purchasing a few bags from any grocery store to bring on your travels.
A large portion of local snacks fall under the category known as Crack Seed which refers to a variety of pickled, candied, and dehydrated fruit snacks of Chinese origin.
The most popular iterations of Crack Seed snacks are:
Li hing mui - Salted dried plums that are especially popular with the younger locals. Li Hing Mui is known for its unique sweet, salty, and sour flavor.
It is commercially sold either with the plum seed intact or seedless and also in a powdered form that can be sprinkled onto arare, fruits, gummy bears,and many other snacks.
Pickled or dried fruits - Mangoes are usually dehydrated for a sweet snack or kept wet and flavored with Li Hing Mui powder. Lemon and orange peels are also salted and dried for a salty/sour snack.
Arare - Japanese rice crackers flavored with soy sauce that come in many different shapes and sizes. Arare is commonly paired with dried seaweed, li hing mui powder, or popcorn.
Also commonly referred to as Kaki Mochi or Mochi Crunch.
Dried Seafood - Dried cuttlefish and octopus strips, known by their Japanese names Ika and Tako, are very popular snacks. Tuna, or Ahi, is also dried and made into Ahi Jerky.
Macadamia nuts - Sweet nuts commonly associated with Hawaii as a whole. Dry roasted macadamia nuts are commercially sold plain, with flavoring, or in chocolate.
Macadamia nuts in snack form are more popular with tourists than with locals and are usually given as gifts.
The legal drinking and purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 21. However Hawaii is one of the 26 states that allow underage consumption of alcohol for religious purposes, only if the minor is authorized.
There are a number of excellent local brewpubs in Hawaii. Mehana, Sam Choy's, Honu, Waimea Brewing Company, Liz's Pub, Keoki's and Kona Brewing Company all brew beer in Hawaii or brew it on the mainland and ship it to the islands.
The largest of the group is Kona Brewing, which has won several national awards and runs two brew pub restaurants in the islands, one in Kailua Kona, the other in Hawaii Kai on Oahu.
Theft is a big problem in cities as well as beaches and parks.
If you are camping on a beach, keep bags locked in a car but don't assume that they are safe in the trunk, especially if you are driving a rental and keep valuables in a hidden money belt.
Although Hawaii is generally considered relatively safe, it does have some violent crime, especially in Honolulu. Consequently, women should not walk alone in unlit areas.
Although Honolulu has one of the lowest violent crime rates of metro areas in the U.S., use your common sense.
Stay smart and act as if you were in your own home city: lock doors, lock cars, and don't leave valuables lying around.
In general, do not bring anything to the beach that you will not use. If you absolutely must, keep valuables to a minimum such as money, and bring a friend.
If you are using a rental car and do not have valuables in it, leaving the window open can ward off window damage from break-ins.
Purchasing local bumper stickers and placing them on your car can also ward off would-be thieves, who may mistake your car for being a local's.
Hawaii isn't the best place in the U.S. for gambling. Unlike most of the lower 48s, Hawaii is one of the few U.S. jurisdictions with a strict enforced law against gambling of any type.
All forms of gambling are illegal in Hawaii, and it isn't recommended to get involved in any activity of the sort. In fact, promoting gambling to any degree is a class C felony in the state.
Hospitals in Hawaii meet U.S. standards for care, and can be found in the urban areas of each island.
The hospitals in Honolulu are larger and have the most advanced equipment; the hospitals on the neighbouring islands provide general care. There is currently a shortage of specialists on the Neighbor Islands.
Depending on where you are and the seriousness of your condition, be advised that you may need to be medically evacuated to Honolulu for treatment.
The main tourist areas of each island have walk-in urgent care clinics where you can receive non-emergency treatment for whatever ails you. Some clinics even make hotel room calls.
Check with the local phone book or your hotel. In Waikiki, try Doctors on Call. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you plan to go hiking in the backcountry or go swimming in freshwater pools in Hawaii, be advised of the risk of catching leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis generally causes flu-like symptoms; in rare cases it can be fatal; the incubation period can be from 2-30 days after exposure.
Do not swim in freshwater pools if you have open sores; see a doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms after hiking or swimming.
Be sure to have travel health insurance.
If you are a U.S. resident with private health insurance, you should consult your insurance carrier to determine what copayments apply and to what extent your insurance is accepted in Hawaii by doctors and hospitals in the event you need health care while on your trip.
When going to the beach/swimming or spending extended periods in the sun, always wear suntan lotion or sun guard to protect your skin from burns.
Do not underestimate the Hawaiian sun, the UV ray index gets extremely high throughout the year. UV rays also pass right through clouds, so you can get still get sunburned on cloudy or overcast days.
Be aware that box jellyfish arrive near off shore on beaches throughout the state about 7 to 10 days after the full moon every month.
Box jellyfish stings are incredibly venomous and painful, but rarely kill humans. Always listen to lifeguards as they will know about jellyfish conditions and are trained to render first aid for stings.
You can also check for box jellyfish warnings ahead of time on Hawaii government websites and local news stations.
Hawaii's laid-back reputation extends to dress: with ideal weather year-round in most places, shorts are always appropriate around the islands. Long pants are fine, too, and you will still be quite comfortable.
You do normally need to wear a shirt in public; going bare-chested is for the beach, although businesses near the beach are tolerant of it, particularly outside of the city.
Sandals and flip-flops are very common, but note that they're always called slippers or slippa by locals. Going barefoot off the beach is uncommon, but again, businesses may tolerate it to some extent.
For the beach or pool, boardshorts or swimming trunks for men are the most popular, though with so many visitors from Asia, speedos are welcome too. Female toplessness is legal in Hawaii, if uncommon.
Swimming nude is illegal, although there are a few isolated beaches on each island where people risk it. Unless you're spending the day trekking from beach to beach, save beachwear for the beach and wear regular clothes.
Businessmen in Hawaii have the rare distinction of forgoing suits and wearing slacks with muted aloha shirts.
As a visitor, you would probably be overdressed in a suit; a dress shirt with or without a tie and slacks would be fine.
If you do wear an aloha shirt for business, wear it like you would any other button-up shirt for business: tuck it in, button all but the top button, and wear an undershirt if that's your style.
The business aloha shirt extends also to dressing up for fine dining, entertainment, and even church; some preachers wear business aloha shirts for church services.
As a visitor, just put on a collared shirt, shoes, and, depending on the restaurant you're going to, either shorts or slacks. Ties and jackets will never be necessary.
In general, American standards of etiquette apply in Hawaii. Hawaii, however, has certain cultural differences, owing to the Native Hawaiians and the large population of Asians and people of Asian descent.
As is the custom in many Asian countries, always remove your footwear when entering the home of an island resident, if so invited.
Hawaiian culture should be respected and travellers should be sensitive to the state's rich cultural heritage and diversity.
For instance, there are many heiau or temples in the Islands, where the ancient Hawaiian religion was practiced.
Some of these have become tourist attractions in their own right, but visitors should nevertheless treat these places with the same level of respect one would show at a place of worship.
If you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you will no doubt hear about Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.
An urban legend has it that people who have taken volcanic rock from the slopes of Mauna Loa or Kilauea have suffered various misfortunes.
It is believed that it is the wrath of Pele. In any case, it is illegal to take rocks or other material from a national park.
Also, the status of Native Hawaiians vis-a-vis the U.S. federal government has become a hot topic in recent years.
Native Hawaiian groups seeking a degree of sovereignty for the Hawaiian people as redress for the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and U.S. annexation in the 1890s.
Honolulu is home to the only royal palace on U.S. soil. There is currently no consensus among Native Hawaiians on what form this sovereignty should take, with some preferring the status quo of ordinary citizenship, some seeking a status similar to that of Native Americans, and some wanting complete independence and secession from the Union.
In addition, private and government programs that benefit Native Hawaiians have been called into question via a series of lawsuits that have received extensive coverage in local media.
Discussions of Hawaiian sovereignty and programs can arouse a variety of strong opinions both in support and in opposition among Hawaii residents of all ethnicities, and the uninitiated visitor would be wise to avoid bringing up these topics in casual conversation.
Some Native Hawaiians may attribute accidents caused by nature such as a landslide at Sacred Falls that killed several people to the Menehune punishing tourists disrespecting the land.
Menehune or not, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world and its sites deserve our respect. Bottom line: respect the land and the people; there may be more there than meets the eye.
Hawaii uses the U.S. postal system with zip/post codes ranging from 96701 to 96899.
Internet access can be found in most tourist areas and many hotels. General wi-fi access is available only at select hotels and cafes.
The public libraries offer Internet access, but only for library cardholders. Visitors may purchase a 3-month library card for $10.00.
Hawaii's area code is 808. When dialing any off-island telephone number to the mainland, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, dial 1 + area code + phone number, otherwise dial 011 + country code + city/area code + phone number.
You must include the 808 area code when calling another island.Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Hawaii has few nearby neighbors.
California - The point of departure for many visitors from the continental United States.
Oceania - Hawaii can be a stepping off point to explore the many islands of the Pacific as well as the countries of Australia and New Zealand.
Japan for Asia
Tourism Observer
No comments:
Post a Comment