A Traveller's Guide to Hawaii

Everything you need to know about travelling to Hawaii

Essential Facts

Currency

Hawaii uses the United States Dollar (USD) as its currency. Exchanging money in Hawaii is very simple. You can use an ATM or use the currency exchange at the airport, a bank, or your hotel. It is helpful to have some US currency for taxis and other incidentals.

Language

English is widely spoken in the Hawaiian Islands. Some islanders do speak Hawaiian, but they also speak English. Many islanders speak Hawaiian Pidgin or Hawaii Creole, with some of these words becoming the norm, such as: brah (brother), broke da mouth (delicious food), chicken skin (goosebumps), grindz (food or meal), and slippahs (flip-flops or sandals).

Best Time to Go

You can visit the Hawaiian Islands anytime during the year, but the best months to visit are April, May, September, and October. During these months there will be better weather, fewer people, and better rates. You also need to take into account what you want to do while you are in Hawaii, as there is a best time to go for surfers, hikers, whale watchers, turtle hunters, crowd avoiders, sun bathers, and so forth.

Climate

The Hawaiian Islands’ climate is mostly tropical due to the influence of the trade winds. The islands also have many microclimates. These include tropical rainforest, arid desert, temperate, and alpine. The Pacific Ocean and the trade winds help the Hawaiian Islands stay tropical, but without high temperatures. Summer averages 84°F/29°C with lows of 70°F/21°C and highs of 90°F/32°C. Winter averages 73°F/23°C with lows of 65°F/18°C and highs of 79°F/26° C.

Ideal Traveller

The Hawaiian Islands have something for everyone. Oahu has a mix of different cultures, luxury shopping, history, and adventure. Maui offers relaxation, soft adventure, beaches that are seemingly endless, and spectacular scenery. The Big Island of Hawaii offers lots of adventure, history, great restaurants, and cafes for foodies and lots of nature to wander around in. Kauai offers plenty of adventure and sports, quiet and relaxing areas and awesome restaurants.

Getting There From North America

Waikiki Beach at night

Major Airports

The top five commercial airports in the Hawaiian Islands are Honolulu International Airport (HNL), which is located on Oahu, is the gateway to the islands, and is served by most major airlines; Kahului Airport (OGG), the main airport in and out of Maui, which provides service to both inter-island and overseas flights; Kona International Airport (KOA), which offers inter-island and overseas flights and is the most-used airport on the Big Island of Hawaii; Lihue Airport (LIH), which is the only airport in and out of Kauai and offers inter-island and overseas flights; and Hilo International Airport (ITO), the Big Island’s second airport on the east side of the island, which offers inter-island flights.

Major Air Routes from the United States

Most flights from the United States go through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, or Phoenix to get to the Hawaiian Islands.

Major Air Routes from Canada

In Canada, most flights go through Vancouver, Calgary or Toronto.

Essential Sights of Hawaii

Mountains on Oahu

Oahu

The gateway to the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu has something for everyone, from hiking to Manoa Falls to visiting Pearl Harbor to exploring the North Shore and Hanauma Bay.

Diamond Head

Diamond Head State Monument is part of the Ko’oloau Range of Volcanoes. It stands 762ft/232.25m above sea level, overlooking Waikiki and Honolulu. Diamond Head is a great place to hike and take great photos.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

The Preserve is a beautiful sheltered bay that is on the southeastern side of Oahu. It is a 30-minute drive from Waikiki. It’s home to some of the best snorkelling in the area.

Maui

Called the Valley Isle, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. You can see the sunrise from Haleakala, drive to Hana, or hang out on one of the world famous beaches.

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala is the highest peak on Maui, at 10,023ft/3005m. Be sure to go to the peak at sunrise as it offers an amazing view. Then take a bike ride down the volcano and see vegetation and animals that are only found here.

Lahaina Town

Once a whaling village, Lahaina Town has grown up over time. Now it welcomes visitors from all over the world to see its air galleries, historic places, and eat at the world-renowned restaurants. It is one of the most historic towns on Maui.

Kauai

Kauai, the Garden Island, is a lush tropical paradise. With the wild Na Pali Coast to Hanalei with its surfers, you can get a little of everything on Kauai.

Poipu

Some of Kauai’s best beaches are found in Poipu. The long, white sandy beaches offer beautiful resorts, tempting restaurants, and charming towns.

Hanalei

Hanalei lies on the north coast of Kauai in the Bay of Hanalei. The village is the gateway to the Hanalei Valley and is surrounded by sugar cane and taro fields.

The Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It has volcanoes, craters with lakes in them, cliff-side waterfalls, black, white and green sand beaches, cowboys or paniolos, deserts and more.

Parker Ranch

A working cattle ranch on the Big Island, Parker Ranch covers 355square-miles. The ranch is operated by the sixth generation of the Parker family and is open to the public.

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park

This bay is a great place to snorkel and many companies have excursions here. This is also where Captain Cook landed in 1779 and later died in a skirmish with native Hawaiians. The Captain James Cook Monument is here as is Hikiau Heiau, which is a temple built to honor the Hawaiian god Lono.

Other Highlights of Hawaii Off the Beaten Path

Green hills of Maui

Papakolea “Green Sand” Beach

Located on the Big Island, Papakolea is remote, but you can visit it on a trip to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The green sand comes from olivine crystals formed when Hawaiian lava cools. The erosion of the Puu Mahana cinder cone formed the beach.

Glass Beach, Kauai

Over the years, discarded glass from the ocean has washed up on the beach here. The jagged edges have been made smooth by the forces of the ocean, turning the glass into pebbles similar to sand. This is in the Eleele area of Kauai.

Ohe’o Gulch Pools (Seven Sacred Pools)

Keep going at the end of the road in Hana, Maui and you will get to the Seven Sacred Pools, a set of tiered pools fed by waterfalls. The idyllic scenery of the lush valley, the sparkling pools, and the plunging waterfalls makes this one of the most beautiful spots on Maui.

Manoa Falls

Located near Waikiki, visitors can hike through bamboo forests to reach Manoa Falls. The falls cascade 150ft down the mountainside. The falls have also been used as a filming location for many Hollywood movies and television shows, such as Jurassic Park and Lost.

Top Activities and Experiences in Hawaii

Pearl Harbor from above

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

One of the most active volcano areas in the United States, Hawaii is home to two active volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Visitors can get information about the park and start their visit at the Visitor’s Center. You can visit the Chain of Craters Road, the Crater Rim Drive, and Devastation Trail, among other tourist routes.

Hana Highway

This stretch of road is world famous for its twists and turns. On the drive you will see lush valleys, sparkling waterfalls, black sand beaches, and glimpses of the blue green ocean. Once you get to Hana you will be enchanted with the town. Make sure to keep going and see the Sacred Waterfalls.

Pearl Harbor

This natural harbour became a place of infamy on December 7, 1941, when Japanese Imperial forces attacked the United States naval base here, bringing America into World War II. At Pearl Harbor you can visit the remains of the USS Arizona and the Battleship Missouri, WWII museum exhibits, and the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Essential Hawaiian Foods to Try

Hawaiian food

Hawaiian Plate (Plate Lunch)

Many restaurants, carts or cafes have a plate special. This usually includes a scoop of rice, mac salad, laulau and haupia (coconut cream pudding), and a main course such as kalua pig, ono chicken, lomi salmon.

Shaved Ice

This frozen treat is iconic to Hawaii. It is a bowl of finely-shaved ice covered with locally sourced syrups. The syrup can be pineapple, strawberry, papaya, mango, azuki bean, or mocha ball. You can find this treat all over the Hawaiian Islands.

Poke

Poke is a raw-fish salad that is a staple in the Hawaiian Islands. It is made of raw fish, Hawaiian sea salt, inamona, limu kohu (seaweed), onions, soy sauce, garlic and ginger. There are many variations.

Malasadas

Maladadas are a Portugese doughnut that has become popular in Hawaii. The original is fried with sugar on it. You can find them everywhere in Hawaii.

Tips for Sustainable Travel

Hawaiian black sand

Do not touch anything in the ocean. Try not to walk or stand on a reef. Do not feed the marine creatures. Do not approach turtles or seals in the water. Do not litter on the beach or in the ocean. Be sure to wear biodegradable sunscreen that is approved for sealife. When hiking on land, carry a garbage bag and take your garbage with you. Stay on the trail. Do not pick flowers or plants. Don’t litter. You can rent a hybrid car or an electric car if you’re going to be driving. You can also rent the smallest car available that offers fuel consumption savings.

Where to Go Next

It’s hard to pick just one destination if you want to travel from the Hawaiian Islands, since there are many to choose from. There are direct flights from Hawaii to Samoa, New Zealand, China, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Fiji, French Polynesia, South Korea and elsewhere.

What do the experts say?

Aylin Esin

Team Lead

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One hidden gem is the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Sand dunes against the backdrop of the Rockies, with sand sledding, hiking, and amazing night skies.

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