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CURRENCY
US dollars ($)
LANGUAGE
English
MONEY
ATMs widely available. Credit cards widely accepted; required for reservations (eg hotels, car rentals). Travelers checks (US dollars) sometimes accepted. Tipping customary.
VISAS
Generally not required for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries with ESTA approval (apply online at least 72 hours in advance).
CELL PHONES
Cell-phone coverage can be spotty in non-urban areas. The only foreign phones that will work are GSM multiband models; buy prepaid SIM cards locally.
DRIVING
Drive on the right; steering wheel is on the left side of the car; seatbelts required. Avoid weekday rush hours (usually 7am to 9:30am and 3:30pm to 6:30pm).
Your Daily Budget
BUDGET LESS THAN $100
Dorm beds: $2030
Farmers markets and plate lunches for cheap eats
Hit the beaches and use public transportation instead of renting a car
MIDRANGE $100$250
Double room in a midrange hotel or B&B: $120200
Rental car from $35/150 per day/week, excluding insurance and gas
TOP END OVER $250
Resort hotel room or one-bedroom condo rental: over $200
Three-course meal with a cocktail in top restaurant: $75
When to Go
HIGH SEASON (DECAPR & JUNAUG)
Accommodation prices up 50100%
Christmas to New Years, and Easter are more expensive and busier
Winter is slightly wetter (prime time for whale watching); summer is hotter
SHOULDER (MAY & SEP)
Crowds and prices drop slightly between schools spring break and summer vacation
Temperatures remain mild, with mostly sunny cloudless days, some scattered showers
LOW SEASON (OCTNOV)
Fewest crowds, accommodation rates drop statewide (except possibly Waikiki)
Weather is dry, hot and extremely humid
Websites
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau ( www.gohawaii.com ) Official tourist site; multilingual planning guides.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser ( www.staradvertiser.com ) States biggest daily newspaper.
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/hawaii ) Destination info, hotel bookings, travelers forums and more.
Hawaii on TV ( http://hawaiiontv.com ) Award-winning travel videos.
Hawaii Magazine ( www.hawaiimagazine.com ) All-islands news, fun features, travel tips and deals.
Exchange Rates
Australia | A$1 | $0.99 |
---|
Canada | C$1 | $1.02 |
China | Y10 | $1.52 |
Euro zone | | $1.40 |
Japan | | $1.23 |
New Zealand | NZ$1 | $0.73 |
UK | | $1.61 |
For current exchange rates see www.xe.com .
Important Numbers
Hawaii has only one area code: 808, which is not used when making local calls, but must be used when calling between islands. For toll-free numbers all 10 digits must be dialled; dial 1 before any long-distance or toll-free call.
Country code | |
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International dialing code | |
Operator | |
Emergency(ambulance, fire & police) | |
Directory assistance | |
Arriving in Hawaii
Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
Car 25 to 45 minutes drive to Waikiki via Nimitz Hwy or H-1 Fwy
Taxis Metered, usually $35 to $45 to Waikiki (more during rush hour), plus 35 per bag
Door-to-door shuttles $9/15 one way/round-trip to Waikiki hotels; operate 24 hours (every 20 to 60 minutes)
Buses TheBus 19 or 20 to Waikiki ($2.50) every 20 minutes from 6am to 11pm daily (large baggage prohibited)
Local Transportation
The majority of interisland travel is by plane, although a limited number of boats connect Maui with Lanai and Molokai. Renting a car is usually necessary if you want the freedom to really explore; on Hawaii the Big Island and Lanai, a 4WD vehicle may come in handy for off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Public buses run around the four largest main islands: Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai, but often infrequent bus schedules and routes are designed to serve commuters, not tourists. Youll find it time-consuming and difficult to get around relying only on public transportation, except on Oahu, where TheBus route network is extensive.
Hawaii the Big Island
Includes
Why Go?
Our boat captain summed it up neatly as we rocked in 4ft waves watching live lava pour into the sea: very few have set eyes on new earth being created in such a fiery display of raw power. Sunrise rainbows and romping dolphins aside, its all about the lava here from palm-fringed black-sand beaches to lava tide pools teeming with Technicolor life.
But its the people, as much as the land, that keeps legends like Pele the volcano goddess pulsing on the Big Island. Ancient chants accompanied by sacred hula are still performed here, fish are netted in an old-fashioned hukilau , and the Big Island work day ends in pau hana (happy hour).
Hawaii is so big (twice as big as the other islands combined), its the only island where you feel youre on a road trip.
When to Go
Jan Surfs up and summits are snow-capped during the Big Island winter.
Late Mar-early Apr Catch the worlds greatest hula at Hilos Merrie Monarch Festival.
Oct Tenacious triathletes compete in the legendary swim-bike-run race born in Kailua-Kona.