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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 | |
---|
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.
Maui
Includes
Why Go?
More visitors flock to Maui than any other Neighbor Island. So many that Maui no ka oi (Maui is the best) is virtually a mantra here.
It starts with the beaches, which are drop-dead gorgeous and stretch for miles. And the island boasts top-notch conditions for an oceanful of watersports. With a moonscaped national park looming from Mauis highest peak, exploring on land is stunning as well.
Mauis beachside resorts are in a class by themselves, its secluded B&Bs equally romantic. So many couples tie the knot here that getting Mauid is another bit of local lingo. Even mating humpback whales make a beeline for Maui each winter.
Have you ever stared up from the depths of a volcanic crater on a full-moon night? Kayaked past frolicking dolphins, snorkeled among sea turtles or dived into a sunken volcano? No ka oi indeed.
When to Go
JanMar Humpback whales frolic along Mauis shores during the winter months.
July Maui celebrates July 4 with a big rodeo and paniolo