Post by MandingOLooking to take my wife there Christmas week.
Need somebody to fill me in on what and what not to do.
Not sure which Island, this is a START on this trip
Dave
Tennessee
First, don't act like you are in a foreign country. Don't disrespect the
locals. Stay away from Waikiki and the other tourist traps. Don't get
taken by the many fake "luaus".
It you are respectful, willing to listne and learn, and stay away from the
tourist traps, you'll discover that Hawaii is a truly beautiful place.
If you come here expecting everyone to kiss you your butt because you are on
vacation, you'll be disappointed.
Star with Kauai or Maui. They are a more gentle introduction to Hawaii and
it's culture. Visit Oahu last. Many come here, visit Oahu, spend all their
time inf the fakery and kitsch that is Waikiki, and think that is what
Hawaii is. There is Waikiki (the tourist meat grinder), then there is
everything else. Not to say that there are not a few good restaurants and
other attractions, but for the most part Waikiki is nothing but some
perverted, twisted parody of what HVB thinks the rest of the world expects
Hawaii to be.
Not everyone here wears grass skirts.
We live in houses, condos, aparments, etc. We do not live in grass shacks.
We have roads here, and we drive cars. In fact, on Oahu, traffic can be
horrific during rush hour. On that note, be aware that Hawaii is home to
some of the worst drivers on the planet.
Don't expect to walk into a postcard panorama. We have rain, and vog
(volcanic fog), and when the tradewinds aren't blowing, it can get
uncomfortable very quickly. 85 degrees with 70+ percent humidity is
downright uncomfortable. We cannot control the weather any more than you
can.
Don't dress like a tourist. The loud Hawaiian shirts and wearing sandals
and socks at the same time are an endless sort of amusement for the locals.
Tee shirts are okay. Normal Hawaiian shirts are okay. Gaudy, brightly
colored Hawaiian shirts that look like something from a 1950s cartoon, while
frequently seen here in the Islands, does nothing more than make you look
like a complete yokel.
Expect to spend some money while you are here. Things are more expensive in
Hawaii, especially if you shop in Waikiki.
Try the local food. Don't make disgusted faces or odd sounds when reaing
the menu. You'll be surprised at how delicious those things that you turn
your nose up at are when you try them.
Be nice. Say "Please", "Thank You" (or more properly "Mahalo"). Smile.
Remember that we that live here in Hawaii are exactly like you. We are
earning a living, trying to make ends meet, feed the family and pay the
mortgage. Don't expect to get treated like royalty. If you are respectful,
you will find that you will be treated well. Act like you are better than
everyone here, expect more attention because you are a "tourist", or think
that because you are spending a few dollars you can be arrogant, and you'll
be treated the same.
Visit the Honolulu Zoo and Bishop Museum on Oahu. Visit Lahaina on Maui.
Enjoy your time in Hawaii, be respectful, and you'll have a wonderful time!
If you golf, don't do it here! Golf eats up more of our land, uses more of
our water and other resources, and drives up prices more than anything else
in Hawaii. We do not have enough housing for everyone, yet there are more
than 30 golf courses on Oahu! All that land could be better used for
housing, or parks, botanical gardens, etc.
That is about all I can think of for now.
Enjoy your visit!
Aloha.