Hawaii

WHY CHOSE HAWAII FOR YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY

For the ravishing romance of deserted beaches and legendary sunsets, the generally balmy, fine year-round weather and the lush and dramatic scenery. The coupling of lively Hawaiian traditions with the customer expectations of modern America, delivers a user-friendly cocktail for beach bunnies and culture-seekers who like to speak English – yet experience something colourful and unusual.

WHAT MAKES HAWAII SPECIAL

Flower garlands, jazzy shirts, towering surf waves, sun-drenched beaches and hula skirts are only part of the picture. All of the eight main islands are very different, with their own charm and character – some dreamy, and some dramatic. The third largest, Oahu, is home to Honolulu and is bustling and lively. While Lanai, famous for its scuba-diving, is an oasis dedicated to rest and relaxation. Maui, ‘The Magic Isle’, is the whale-watching capital of Hawaii and has more miles of swimmable beach than any other of the islands. Less well-known Kauai is remarkable for its awe-inspiring, lush landscape, with dramatic mountains and stunning waterfalls. The Big Island, where Captain Cook first anchored ship on discovering the islands, is the golf capital of Hawaii with 18 courses. Less known Molokai boasts the highest sea cliffs in the world.

WHERE IS HAWAII

The most isolated group of islands in the world, Hawaii became the newest member of the United States of America in 1959. The islands – some 130 of them spread over 2,400km – are neighboured prettily in the central Pacific Ocean, 2615 kms off South West America and North East of Australia. Islands are said to be ‘born and dying’ from the sea all the time, but of the eight main ones – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Big Island, Lanai and Niihau - the smallest, at 116sq km, is uninhabited Kahoolawe, which was once Hawaii’s answer to Alcatraz.

Capital: Honolulu, Oahu.
Main tourist hotspots: Waikiki (Oahu), Kauai, Maui,Lanai.
Flight time from Sydney: 10 hrs.
Population: 1.3 million
Language: English and Hawaiian.
Religion: No religion is dominant, but mainly Christian and Polytheistic.

THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Hawaiians are renowned to be a warm, friendly and hospitable people, and the population’s ethnic diversity has given it a unique culture. Holidaymakers are made very welcome everywhere – unsurprisingly, since tourism is the largest industry in Hawaii. But locals do sometimes refer to their US Caucasian country cousins as haoles, or foreigners, and they take great pride in the fusion of ancient Hawaiian customs which endure to this day. Dance – particularly the iconic hula – is integral to their culture. If you fancy learning a new language, try it here: native Hawaiian has the shortest alphabet in the world, and many multi-purpose words are soon recognised – such as "aloha" which means hello and goodbye, and also describes love and compassion. ‘Aloha’ also embodies the spirit of the Hawaiian people. The ancient beliefs still practiced today include Hooponopono, a philosophy of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Etiquette:

When visiting someone’s home it is good manners to take a little gift – something edible and unavailable or foreign is particularly appreciated.
Take shoes off before entering a house, unless you want to look like a haole.
Although Hawaiians love the island status, it’s often considered impolite to imply that Hawaii is not a ‘full’ part of the US by asking things like “Do you take American money ?”
Don’t try and blend in by speaking pidgin English. It will be seen as a mockery of the local dialect.

THE BEACHES IN HAWAII

Hawaii has a justifiable reputation as a surfing destination, with the downside being that waves may make gentle swimming difficult. But there are over a hundred great tourist beaches in Hawaii, and some picturesque options for lazier water sports and rewarding snorkelling. Typically, the sand is golden with underwater lava rock formations attracting jazzy-hued tropical fish. All beaches are public, and their character can change dramatically according to the season. Those in the North are usually calm in the summer, and active in the winter. Beaches which face East don’t vary as much. Most Hawaiian beaches are enjoyed most in the morning, before the wind picks up.

Best beaches:

Hanalei Bay (Kauai): Backed by grand mountains, this two-mile beach is said to be one of the most picturesque in Hawaii. When the surf’s up it’s board heaven, but in summer placid enough for swimmers.
Kailua Beach (Oahu): Soft, pale sand and a good playground, with lots of activities.
Hapuna Beach (Big Island): Long, wide beach with great snorkelling towards the South.
Kaanapali Beach (Maui): A lively beach adjoining a busy resort, but less frenetic than Waikiki. Lots of activities, but good snorkelling at the North end.
Maniniowali/Kua Bay Beach (Big Island): Beautiful swimming and snorkelling beach with Caribbean-style white sand and gin-clear water.

FESTIVALS IN HAWAII

April: Known as the ‘Olympics of hula’, the hugely popular Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo brings a week of dancing demonstrations and contests.
May: Lei Day, Hawaii’s oldest state holiday, when everyone wears a traditional flowered garland, lei-making contests take place and the islands are at their most colourful.
June: A big island-wide celebration with parades, bula and chant performances for King Kamehameha Day, honouring the chief who united Hawaii in 1872.
September: Aloha Week is one of the islands’ grandest festivals, with music, dance, crafts and parades.
October: Na Moloka’I Hoe, the most important outrigger canoe race in the world, takes place between Molokai and Oahu.

MONEY MATTERS

Local currency: US Dollars (USD)
ATMS: All banks and many shops have ATM machines, which mainly accept MasterCard and VISA.
Notes: Smallest - 1USD (= approx. 1.23 AUD); Largest – 100 USD (= approx. 102.3AUD).
Cards: Payment by card is commonplace in Hawaii for lots of purchases, so there’s usually no need for traveller’s cheques.
Advice: Being part of the USA, shopping and the availability of payment methods is pretty straightforward.

TIME DIFFERENCE

Sydney: + 21 hrs
Darwin: + 19½ hrs
Perth: + 18 hrs
Adelaide: + 20½ hrs
Brisbane: + 20 hrs

DOS AND DON’TS IN HAWAII

Safety: For a tropical island, Hawaii is remarkably healthy – with the highest life expectancy in the US – and there is no serious crime problem.

Water: Tap water is generally safe, but never drink from streams or pools however clear they look – the bacterial infection leptospirosis can be contracted from water polluted by animal droppings.

Advice: Never be tempted to touch a turtle, or honu – it won’t harm you, but your touch could deliver an infection that’s deadly to the turtle.