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Addresses
On neighbor islands, cities are widespread, and on the smaller islands of Molokai and Lanai, thereâs only one zip code per island. Be wary when booking accommodations if youâre looking to be in a certain area â just because it says the town name, doesnât mean itâs in it. Always check a map, or if in doubt, call the hotel prior to booking online.
Age restrictions
The legal driving age in Hawaiâi is 16, and while considered an adult at 18, drinking of alcoholic beverages is not allowed for anyone under 21 years old. Bars that also serve as restaurants generally allow minors in until a certain time of the evening â usually 9pm.
Roadside stand on Maui
Steven Greaves/Apa Publications
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Budgeting
Broadly speaking, Hawaiâi ranks at the expensive end of American vacation destinations. Prices are generally high, as so much of what is consumed in the islands has to be shipped there from across the Pacific or beyond. In addition, many tourists are happy to pay premium rates for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday in paradise. However, it is possible to keep costs down. The finest hotels tend to charge at least $250 per room per night, and often double that. For pretty good accommodations close to the sea, itâs perfectly possible to pay $125â150 in a hotel, or perhaps $100 for a rented condo.
The average visitor spends about $30 per day on food and drink; even if you buy and prepare your own meals, itâs hard to go much lower than say $20 per day, while at the other end of the spectrum there are plenty of fine-dining restaurants charging $50 or more for a single meal. Average beers cost anywhere from $3 to $5 per pint; the average glass of house wine ranges from $6 to $12 (or $15 at posh restaurants).
Youâll never have to pay to go on the beach and will rarely have to pay to access the islandsâ best hiking trails. Still, prices for most kinds of commercial activity â a snorkel- or whale-watching cruise, a bus tour, a submarine ride, a guided hike or bike ride â also tend to be high.
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Children
Unless otherwise specified (or unless youâre heading to a bar), most places in the Hawaiâian Islands are child-friendly and actually encourage families to visit together. Many restaurants have childrenâs menus and offer young kids crayons when they sit down. Many attractions charge reduced-price admission fees for children. Also, most luxury hotels will recommend babysitting services.
Private and independent babysitting services exist on every island and many travelers use them without incident.
Fun for all the family on Waikiki Beach
Steven Greaves/Apa Publications
Clothing
In Hawaiâi, attire is almost always casual. While the downtown working crowd dresses a bit nicer, itâs rare youâll see a suit. For the rest of residents, shorts and T-shirts and sundresses are the norm. Jeans are always appropriate for evenings out, and only at the most fancy of restaurants will closed-toe shoes be required. Some do, however, require a collared shirt or no tank tops in the evening, so if going somewhere nice, call ahead. In Waikiki, youâll sometimes see visitors walking around in only a swimsuit. While itâs almost always warm enough to do so, itâs considered polite to cover up â so throw on a shirt or sarong before leaving the beach to go shop or eat.
Youâre likely to encounter rain at some point during your stay, so youâll be glad of light, waterproof clothing or perhaps an umbrella. If you plan to venture at all higher, to areas like Mauiâs Upcountry, youâll need something warmer too. And if you head towards the summits of the volcanoes, most notably for the dawn at Haleakala on Maui, you should be prepared for literally freezing temperatures.
All the islands hold rough volcanic terrain, so good walking shoes or hiking boots are very useful, and in many places the ocean floor can be rocky and abrasive, so reef shoes are a good idea too.
Crime and safety
Hawaiâi has earned a reputation for hospitality and all the good cheer that the word aloha implies. However, travelers should be warned that all types of crime â including burglaries, robberies, assaults and rapes â do occur on the islands. To avoid them, follow the usual precautions as when traveling anywhere else. If youâre out late, itâs best to travel in pairs. Use common sense. Donât carry jewelry, large amounts of cash, or other valuables. In areas far from population centers, car break-ins and beach thefts of unattended personal property are becoming common, even at popular tourist sites. Never leave valuables (or anything) visible in your car. If your hotel has a safe in the room, it is advisable to use it.
Customs
Travelers from the mainland United States to Hawaiâi are not eligible for duty-free shopping, but travelers from other nations are. There is no limit to the amount of money travelers are allowed to bring into Hawaiâi â or any part of the United States, for that matter â but any amount exceeding $10,000 requires a formal report with US Customs.
In order to prevent the spread of fruit flies and other hazardous plant insects and disease, no fruit, plants or live snails from the mainland are allowed into Hawaiâi, and no fruit, plants or live snails from Hawaiâi are allowed to be brought back to the mainland.
Slippers, essential footwear in Hawaiâi
Hawaii Tourism Authority/Dana Edmunds
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Disabled travelers
Hawaiâi is very well geared towards meeting the needs of disabled travelers. Download detailed reports on facilities from the website of the State of Hawaiâi Disability and Communication Access Board (tel: 586-8121). Specific information on Hawaiâian hotels is also available from AccessâAble. Many vehicles on public transportation networks on Oahu and Maui are adapted for travelers with disabilities.
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Electricity
Standard US 110-120 volts, 60 cycles AC. Large hotels usually are able to provide voltage and plug converters, so y...