Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Few Words of Warning about Crime
Although Hawaii is generally a safe tourist destination, visitors have been
crime victims, so stay alert. The most common crime against tourists is
rental-car break-ins. Never leave any valuables in your car, not even in
your trunk: Thieves can be in and out of your trunk faster than you can
open it with your own keys. Be especially leery of high-risk areas, such as
beaches, resorts, scenic lookouts, and other visitor attractions. Also, never
carry large amounts of cash in Waikiki and other tourist zones. Stay in
well-lighted areas after dark.
Tips
lost in Hawaii because they don't let
others know their basic plans.
Always check weather conditions
with the
National Weather Service
(
&
808/973-4381
on Oahu; see indi-
vidual island chapters for local
weather information) before you go.
Wear hiking boots, a sun hat, clothes
to protect you from the sun and from
getting scratches, and high-SPF sun-
screen on all exposed areas of skin.
Other tips: Never hike alone; take
water; stay on the trail and watch your
step because it's easy to slip off precip-
itous trails and into steep canyons.
Incapacitated hikers are often plucked
to safety by fire and rescue squads,
who must use helicopters to gain
access to remote sites. Many experi-
enced hikers and boaters today pack a
cellphone in case of emergency; dial
&
911.
Vog
The volcanic haze dubbed “vog” is
caused by gases released when molten
lava—from the continuous eruption
of Kilauea volcano on the Big
Island—pours into the ocean. This
hazy air, which looks like urban smog,
limits viewing from scenic vistas and
wreaks havoc on photographers trying
to get clear panoramic shots. Some
people claim that long-term exposure
has even caused bronchial ailments,
but it's highly unlikely to cause you
any harm in the course of your visit.
There actually is a vog season in
Hawaii: the fall and winter months,
when the trade winds that blow the
fumes out to sea die down. The vog is
visible not only on the Big Island but
also as far away as Maui and Oahu.
One more word of caution: If
you're pregnant or have heart or
breathing problems, you might want
to think twice about visiting the Big
Island's Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park. You're cautioned to avoid expo-
sure to the sulfuric fumes that are
ever-present in and around the park's
calderas.
IN THE WATER
Because most people coming to
Hawaii are unfamiliar with the ocean
environment, they're often unaware of
the natural hazards it holds. With just
a few precautions, your ocean experi-
ence can be a safe and happy one. An
excellent book is
All Stings Considered:
First Aid and Medical Treatment of
Hawaii's Marine Injuries
(University of
Hawaii Press, 1997) by Craig Thomas
and Susan Scott.
Note that sharks are not a big prob-
lem in Hawaii; in fact, they appear so
infrequently that locals look forward
to seeing them. Since records have
been kept, starting in 1779, there
have been only about 100 shark
attacks in Hawaii, of which 40% have
been fatal. Most attacks occurred after
someone fell into the ocean from the
shore or from a boat; in these cases,
the sharks probably attacked after the
person was dead. But general rules for
avoiding sharks are: Don't swim at
