Hawaii is a great place to have a vacation. The weather is perfect all year round, plus it’s surrounded by white beaches, turquoise waters and 5-star resorts. And if you want adventures, you can always spend time in the waterfalls, canyons and national parks that it has to offer. It’s no wonder Hawaiian Air is always booked.
Hawaii has 8 main islands, but there are 137 islands here in total. So if it’s your first time to visit, it can get a bit intimidating. Don’t worry, we will share some helpful tips in this article to help you make the most out of your trip to this tropical paradise.
1. First of all,
If you’re on a budget, schedule your vacation during shoulder season as it’s cheaper to travel around these times.
2. If you don’t have any specific destination in a Hawaii, choose Oahu. It’s the most popular island here and you can say it’s “first-timer friendly.” Oahu offers lots of attractions, great food, and fun activities.
3. Stay on one island.
Stay on a single Hawaiian island so you don’t have to spend more on airfare (you need to fly to get to the different islands). There’s so much to see and do anyway that even spending a week on an island is not enough.
4. Always try the local food.
Every time my dad travels to a new place, he always plays it safe and orders only fried chicken. I mean, what could go wrong right? Well, something did. On his trip to Kuala Lumpur, when the waiter asked him what he’d like to order, he said “fried chicken” but to his surprise, he was served some kind of chicken soup!
In Hawaii (and in all places you travel to) you should make it a point to sample the local fare. Hawaiian Poke, for example, is a delicious seafood dish usually made with freshly caught tuna, veggies, spices and sauces.
5. Skip the Luau on the first night.
When you think of Hawaii, one of the first things that come to mind is a luau. It’s something you have to experience for yourself if you want to really immerse in the Hawaiian culture. But it’s not recommended that you do this on your first night. You’ll be battling jet lag and fatigue from your trip so you won’t enjoy the festivities as much. Luau tickets cost $100 – $200 so do yourself a favor and celebrate it at the end or close to the end of your vacation.
6. Do your homework before going to the beach.
Beaches in Hawaii are always topnotch no matter which island you go to. But some may not be kid-friendly so be sure to check online what your options are especially if you have young children. The Hawaii Beach Safety website is a good reference. On a related note, be sure to use reef-safe sunscreen.
7. Check the weather before hiking.
If there’s a chance of a heavy downpour or flooding in the area where you plan to hike, it’s recommended that you cancel your activity. Water can rise rapidly in the rivers and could get very dangerous.
8. Swim with Manta Rays
Swimming with these glorious creatures should be in your bucket list. Dive or swim with them at night and it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.
9. Rent a car.
Getting around the island with a rental car is convenient and also less expensive.
10. Make reservations ahead of time.
Many tourist destinations on the islands fill up very quickly. For example if you want to snorkel at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (Oahu) you need to book your slots two days in advance. Tickets get sold out in a matter of minutes.
Hawaii may be expensive but it’s well worth visiting! I hope this article will help you in planning your trip.
Here’s a video of night snorkeling with Manta Rays in Hawaii: