Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ive—option is a sunscreen which isn't petroleum-based so that the chemicals don't slough
off in the water and damage the coral. The best local sunscreen is
Doc Martin's,
which
was developed by a local dermatologist and surfer himself to be highly water-resistant and
great for covering your face.
Whether you are on the beach, in the mountains, or just strolling around town, beware
of dehydration. The sun and wind sap your energy and your store of liquid. Bottled water
in various sizes is readily available in all parts of Hawai'i. Carry some with you or stop at
a store or restaurant for a fill'er-up.
Everyone seems to have some sort of aversion to bugs, and while Hawai'i isn't infested
with a wide variety, it does have its share. Mosquitoes were unknown in the islands until
their larvae stowed away in the water barrels of the
Wellington
in 1826 and were intro-
duced at Lahaina. They bred easily in the tropical climate and rapidly spread to all the
islands. They are a particular nuisance in the rainforests. Be prepared, and bring a natur-
al repellent such as citronella oil, available in most health food stores on the islands or a
commercial product available in grocery and drugstores. Campers will be happy to have
mosquito coils to burn at night.
Cockroaches are a common sight in Hawai'i and offer nothing to worry about. They
love the climate like everyone else, and it's a real problem keeping them under control.
Perhaps the most dangerous of all the island critters are the fearsome-looking centi-
pedes which will wiggle their way into dark places of the home—particularly after
the grass is mowed or the neighboring field harvested. Centipedes can deliver a nasty
bite—with the babies packing more venom than the adults—and the best way for dealing
with them is to give them the old rubbah slippah!
While you aren't likely to encounter too many spiders while on vacation, brown,
spindly cane spiders can grow to be about the size of your hand, although there isn't too
much to worry about in terms of getting a bite.
A peculiar skin condition caused by the sun and damp towels is referred to locally as
haole
rot because it supposedly affects only people of European descent, but you'll no-
tice some dark-skinned folks with the same condition. Basically, the skin becomes mottled
with white spots that refuse to tan. You get a blotchy effect, mostly on the shoulders and
