Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5 What to Pack
So what kid gear should you bring
with you to Hawaii? I would recom-
mend bringing your own
stroller
from home, primarily because your
child is used to the stroller (and it's
one less thing to adjust to) and you're
used to maneuvering it. You can rent a
stroller, but many mothers are not
happy with the rental selections.
Bringing your own also means you'll
have the stroller the second you get off
the plane; after a long flight, you'll be
happy to have a vehicle for baby as
you round up your luggage and leave
the airport.
Most hotels will supply cribs, often
for free (and some even have strollers);
I've noted the ones that do and any
additional charges in the “Family-
Friendly Accommodations” listings in
the island chapters. Most hotels will
child-proof your hotel room, but
condo and vacation rentals may not
provide this service. Most baby prod-
ucts that you use at home can be
found in the islands; if you are unsure,
check with your hotel and they can
help you find the items you need. If
you're renting a car, bring a
car seat
(some car rental agencies will have
them, but they are in short supply, so
check when you book); if you don't
bring your own, you will have to rent
one when you arrive.
Baby's Away
(www.babysaway.com) rents cribs,
strollers, highchairs, playpens, infant
seats, and other children's gear on
Maui (
&
800/942-9030
or 808/875-
9030), the Big Island (
&
800/996-
9030
or 808/987-9236), and Oahu
(
&
800/496-6386
or 808/222-6041).
The staff will deliver whatever you
need to wherever you're staying and
pick it up when you're done.
Clothing-wise, Hawaii is very infor-
mal.
Shorts, T-shirts,
and
tennis
shoes
will get you by at most restau-
rants and attractions;
a casual dress
or
a
polo shirt
and
khakis
are fine even
in the most expensive places. Dinner
jackets for men are required only in
some of the fine dining rooms of a
very few ultra-exclusive resorts, such
as the Halekulani on Oahu, the Big
Island's Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and
The Lodge at Koele on Lanai—and
they'll cordially provide you with a
jacket if you don't bring your own.
Aloha wear is acceptable everywhere,
so you may want to plan on buying an
aloha shirt or a
muumuu
(a Hawaiian-
style dress) while you're in the islands.
So bring T-shirts, shorts, long
pants, a couple of
bathing suits, a
long-sleeve cover-up
(to throw on at
the beach when you've had enough
sun for the day),
tennis shoes,
and
rubber water shoes
or
flip-flops.
If
you plan on hiking, bring
hiking
boots
and
good socks.
The tropical sun poses the greatest
threat to anyone who ventures into
the great outdoors, so be sure to bring
sun protection:
a good pair of sun-
glasses, strong sunscreen, a light hat
(like a baseball cap or a sun visor), and
a
canteen
or water bottle if you'll be
hiking—you'll easily dehydrate in the
tropical heat, so figure on carrying 2
liters of water per day on any hike.
Campers should bring
water-purifi-
cation tablets or devices.
You won't have to stuff your suit-
case with 2 weeks' worth of shorts and
T-shirts. Almost all of Hawaii's hotels
and resorts—even the high-end
ones—have
laundry facilities.
If your
accommodations don't have a washer
and dryer or laundry service, there will
likely be a laundromat nearby. The
only exception to this is Hana on
Maui; this tiny town has no laundro-
mat, so check with the place where
you're staying beforehand.
One last thing: It really can get cold
in Hawaii. If you plan to see the sun-
rise from the top of Maui's Haleakala
Crater, venture into the Big Island's
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, or
spend time in Kokee State Park on
