Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When in Hawaii . . .
Hawaii loves travelers—they are the main industry, and a majority of
Hawaii residents earn their living in the tourism industry or an industry
closely connected to it. I love to pretend I'm a visitor when I travel
around the state. Visitors are taken good care of and are treated like
guests. Still, if you want to do as the Hawaiians do while you're in
Hawaii, below are some helpful tips to help you blend in a little better:
•
Do not buy matching outfits.
It has always puzzled me that seem-
ingly normal people come to Hawaii and feel that the entire family
has to be dressed in a carbon-copy set of aloha wear: matching aloha
shirts for the boys that perfectly match the baggy muumuus for the
girls. Look around: Do you see troops of families in replica outfits?
That's not to say that you can't outfit your family in aloha wear—just
let each individual pick their own outfit.
•
Prepare for a variety of weather.
In addition to the shorts and T-shirts
you throw in the suitcase, pack some clothes to keep you warm, espe-
cially if you plan to visit the mountains in Hawaii. Yes, even in sum-
mer it is cold atop the mountains. At the ocean, after the sun sets, the
temperature can drop and the wind can pick up. Whenever I'm at a
sunset event on the ocean, I can always pick out the locals: They are
the ones carrying sweaters because they know how the temperatures
drop an hour after sunset.
way people related to each other, the way the ocean smelled in the early morn-
ing, the way the stars glittered at night, the way the multicolored flowers looked
in the full sun, and the time your family spent in a very special place.
GETTING THE MOST OUT
OF THIS TOPIC
The purposes of this topic are to help
visitors get the most out of your trip to
Hawaii, and to update local residents
who want a refresher on all the activi-
ties for families. You won't find a lot of
historical information or social com-
mentary here. What you will find is
opinions on the best places for fami-
lies to stay, restaurants that welcome
children, and a range of activities for
all ages. I have purposely left out many
chain restaurants and shops that your
hometown may already have. You can
go to them any time—while you're in
Hawaii, try to do things unique to
Hawaii.
There are lots of islands in Hawaii,
and each is unique. Read through each
island chapter before you decide
which island will best suit your family.
Remember:
Do not try to do more
than one island a week; if you do,
you'll have a vacation in interisland
terminals instead of on beautiful
beaches. The islands are far apart and
it takes a full day to check out of your
hotel, fly to another island, and check
into a new hotel.
Once you decide which island you
will explore, have a family planning
session and choose the major things
you want to see and do. Don't plan
any more than one major activity a
day, and leave at least a couple of days
wide open. Pinpoint activities on a
map—does your plan make sense or
are you crisscrossing the island unnec-
essarily? If you're on Oahu and driving
