Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States of America. Situated nearly at the center of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii was once a major hub for the whaling and sugar industries and is now economically dependent on tourism and the U.S. military. The natural beauty of the islands continues to be one of Hawaii's greatest assets.

Over the years, many major retail chains have expanded their presence in Hawaii, making the Islands look more and more like the Mainland U.S. -- often at the expense of local businesses.

Nevertheless, Hawaii remains culturally vibrant. There is a strong commitment to perpetuating native Hawaiian cultural traditions, as well as the cultural heritage of Hawaii's many immigrant communities from the Pacific, Asia and Europe.

Regions Hawaii is an archipelago of islands. There are eight major islands.

• The Big Island -- the island of Hawaii itself
• Oahu -- the most populous and developed island
• Maui
• Kauai
• Molokai
• Lanai
• Kahoolawe -- a former US Navy bombing range, this island remains uninhabited
• Niihau is privately owned and not open to the public.

Cities These are some of the bigger cities in Hawaii.

• Honolulu on Oahu
• Lahaina on Maui
• Kihei on Maui
• Hilo on the Big Island
• Kona on the Big Island

Hotel - Flight - Car Rental

• Hawaii Discount Hotels Directory

• Click here for discount air fares.

• Click here for rental cars.

Weather

Depending on where you're headed in Hawaii, the weather can be very different. On the same day, you might find sun over the beaches in Waikiki and rain only miles away in Manoa Valley. There is a high probability of rain if you visit during the peak of tourist season in late December or January.

Overall, Hawaii is warm and temperate -- when you step out of the plane you'll immediately notice that the air is soft and humid -- and during the summer months the tradewinds provide a pleasant breeze.

Get in

Most flights from the mainland US and almost all international flights land in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Direct service from the mainland is also available to Kahului on Maui and Kona on the Big Island as well. The flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco takes about 4 hours.

Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. with Interstate Highways that don't connect to another state.

Get around

On the islands there is an excellent public transportation system with buses running between every town and out to most beaches. Between islands are small and medium 'island hopper' flights that take 30-45 minutes. Flights can usually be purchased a day or two before departure. Charter boats sail and motor between some islands, especially the Maui-Molokai-Lanai area.

Talk

As part of the United States, English is the main spoken language of Hawaii. Hawaiian "pidgin" English, spoken by many locals, incorporates bits of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and many other languages, in addition to its own unique idioms. Many tourist destinations offer information in Japanese. There are also many ethnic communities that speak languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Ilocano, Vietnamese, Korean, Samoan and the native Hawaiian language.

Learning a few words of Hawaiian can be fun and useful. Some useful words include:

• Hello. Aloha. (ah-LOH-hah)
• Goodbye. Aloha. (ah-LOH-hah)
• Thank you. Mahalo. (mah-HAH-loh)
• finished, done: Pau. (pow)
• help kokua (koh-KOO-ah)
• woman wahine (wah-HEE-nay)
• man kane (kah-nay)
• child keiki (KAY-kee)

Buy

US dollars are the local currency. There are plenty of banks, ATMs, and money change offices in all cities. ATMs are scarcer on the North Shore of Oahu and other rural areas.

Learn

Tourists who want to get a taste of Hawaiian culture can sign up for classes in hula, surfing and lei-making at most tourist destinations.

There also a number of cultural and historical centers on Oahu well worth your time, such as the Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace.

If you have the money, the time and the inclination, the Polynesian Cultural Center provides a window into Polynesian culture -- delivered Vegas/Disneyland-style.

Work

Hawaii is not an easy place to find casual work for non-US work permit holders.

Eat

Hawaiian food, like the language and popular culture, is a medley of Hawaiian, American, and Asian Pacific flavors. Seafood is, of course, fresh and tasty. Local beef comes from ranches on Maui and coffee is grown on the Island of Hawaii. Tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, bananas, guavas, and papaya -- as well as fresh sugar cane, can be bought in most corner stores (although you may be surprised to learn that many of those fruits are now imported from distant locales such as The Philippines).

Local dishes include favorites such as:

Mahi Mahi or dolphin fish, served as a steak, sandwich, or in almost-raw thin strips . Ono, Octopus. The name is also the Hawaiian word for 'delicious', and it is. Plate lunch, usually meat or fish with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Always a good deal at any lunch truck, mall, or outside food court. Rainbow Drive Inn ("Rainbows"), L&L's and KC Drive Inn are popular plate lunch spots. Kalua pig pork wrapped in banana leaves steamed inside an emu (ground boiler); similar to pulled pork. Poi, ground taro root paste. Ahi, yellowfin tuna, excellent as poke. Laulau, pork & butterfish wrapped in tea leaves then steamed. Lomi salmon, salted salmon mixed with tomatoes, onions, & pepper; like an island salsa. Shave ice, an island version of snow cones, comes in lots of ono flavors. Order your shave ice with azuki beans and/or a scoop of ice cream. Saimin, Hawaii's version of noodle soup.

Drink

Hawaii has long prided itself on the taste of its tap water -- which is filtered naturally through porous volcanic rock.

Stay safe

Theft is a big problem in cities as well as beaches and parks. If you are camping on a beach, keep bags locked in a car (but don't assume that they are safe in the trunk, especially if you are driving a rental) and keep valuables in a hidden money belt. Honolulu has some violent crime and women should not walk alone in unlit areas.

Respect

Hawaiian culture should be respected and travellers should be sensitive to the state's rich cultural heritage and diversity -- and the fact that the tourist experience of Hawaiian culture may only scratch the surface.

Contact

Hawaii uses the US postal system. Internet access can be found in most tourist areas and many hotels. General wi-fi access is available only at select hotels and cafes.

External links

• Haleakala National Park - Official National Park Service web site. Maps, hours, driving directions, fees, information on camping and cabins in the park, contact information.
• Friends of Haleakala National Park - Organization created to support educational, cultural, research and service activities relating to the park and its ecosystems.
• Arizona Memorial Museum Association: Kalaupapa National Historical Park - Overview includes history, information for visitors, photos. Short essays on the Hawaiians who were displaced, the land and its resources, Hansen's Disease, and the patients who lived in the two colonies.
• Kalaupapa National Historical Park - Official National Park Service web site of park commemorating two tragedies: the forced removal of indigenous people from the land, and isolation of people with Hansen's disease (leprosy). Brief history, contact information. Admission is free, but visitors must obtain a permit from the state Department of Health.
• Arizona Memorial Museum Association - Operates the book and war memorabilia stores located at the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai, and at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam.
• Arizona Memorial Museum Association: USS Arizona Memorial - General information on tours, directions, hours of operations. Also casualty list, ship's data, and an illustrated essay on the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• U S S Arizona Memorial - Official National Park Service site for the memorial that straddles the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona and commemorates the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks - Official web site of agency responsible for Hawai`i State Parks. General rules, permit applications, brochures in Adobe Acrobat format. Directory of parks by island.
• Aloha Festivals - Information on the yearly event on each island.
• Alternative-Hawaii: Calendar of Events - Statewide calendar of events organized by month for the islands of Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai.
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival - Ninth gathering of the Hawaii International Jazz Festival to be held July 18-21, 2002 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on Oahu and the Outrigger Wailea Resort on Maui.
• Hawaii Magazine's Calabash - Calendar of Upcoming Hawaii Events. Planning a trip to the Islands? Find out what events will be happening in the Islands during your stay. Includes two months of Hawaii events.
• Honolulu Festival - Festival promoting cultural understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region held March 8-10, 2002.
• HVCB Calendar of Events - Searchable database of culture and arts, festivals, and sports for the entire state
• Mountain Apple Company Music Events Calendar - Calendar updated weekly with Hawaiian music concerts and other events.
• 37th Merrie Monarch Festival - List of the halaus, winners and photo gallery of the 2000 hula festival.
• World Conference on Hula - Event details on this conference about hula, featuring over 100 kumu hula and artisans.
• Alternative-Hawaii: Hawaii Restaurant Guide - Searchable cyberguide to local dining places by island and restaurant type. Member of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association.
• ChefMoz Dining Guide: Hawaii - Detailed restaurant listings with reviews submitted by the public, and links to outside reviews. Search by name, cuisine, rating or location.
• The Hawaiian Luau - Guide of planning or choosing Luau with entertainment suggestions, recipes and basic information on lei making.
• Hawaii's Restaurant Guide - Features some of the finest dining spots in the state.
• OnoFood.com - Offers online search for restaurants throughout Hawaii. Enter a review or read reviews from others visitors.
• Sushi-and-Sake: Restaurants in Hawaii - Directory of links to Japanese restaurants in Hawaii
• Zagat Restaurant Survey: Hawaii Regional - Zagat rates the distinct qualities of a restaurant (food, decor, and service) while providing an estimate of average cost.

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