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10 Things to know before going to Hawaii
1. What is the temperature in Hawaii?
I’m asked many Hawaii travel questions, and this is one of the most common! In most parts of Hawaii, the average temperatures year-round will be somewhere close to a high of 85 and a low of 75.
This can vary drastically; Hawaii Island has 9 of the world’s 13 climate zones. If you plan on doing anything with a higher elevation (Haleakala on Maui, Mauna Kea on Big Island, etc.), you’ll want to bring a jacket or sweater.
It also rains heavily in some areas; Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauai is the wettest place in the world!
Mt. Waialeale in Kauai.
That said, most of the tourist areas are dry and sunny. Wherever you’re visiting, make sure to do your research so that you can adequately prepare.
A good option is to bring a light jacket when packing for Hawaii, if needed. Besides, airplanes tend to be cold, and you might need that jacket to help you survive the flight to Hawaii.
One last thing about the weather in Hawaii is that most of the popular areas for tourism are dry and sunny all year long. So bring your slippahs (flip flops), tank tops, and shorts!
I was asked about this so much that I wrote a blog post about the worst time to go to Hawaii. Check it out!
2. Local Culture in Hawaii
The spirit of aloha is genuine, and the people of Hawaii are usually very friendly. Yes, there are some areas where locals don’t care for tourists, but you probably won’t go to those. 99% of the time, when tourists have issues with locals, it is the tourist’s fault.
No matter what, don’t be that tourist who steps on the coral, trespasses, or is generally disrespectful. If you come with respect, you will be met with a very warm welcome almost every time.
For more information about what not to do in Hawaii, check out 20 things you should never do in Hawaii.
It’s also worth mentioning that not everyone living in Hawaii is “Hawaiian.” It’s not like being “Californian.” In fact, the majority of Hawaii residents are not native Hawaiians.
The term Hawaiian refers to native Hawaiians, who comprise a small percentage of Hawaii residents. It’s easier to refer to those who live in Hawaii as “locals.”
If you want to learn more about some non-human locals, check out the ultimate guide to Hawaiian animals.
3. Hawaii has a ban on plastic bags
Plastic bags are banned in Hawaii, which is fantastic and helps keep the ocean clean. However, it might shock you if you haven’t visited the islands before. It’s becoming more common for states and certain stores to ban plastic bags, but Hawaii was one of the first!
Make sure to either bring some reusable bags or plan to purchase some while you’re visiting.
To be even more environmentally conscious, make sure to bring your own water bottle. I personally love my Hydroflask.
You can take it up another notch by bringing reusable produce bags for the farmer’s market or even reusable cutlery.
4. Is Hawaii expensive?
Ah, another common Hawaii travel question! I’ll give you the short answer here, or you can read the long answer in the post “How much does a Hawaii vacation cost?”
You probably know this already, but the cost of almost everything in Hawaii is higher than most of the mainland. So, yes, Hawaii is expensive!
The Hawaiian islands are extremely remote. Virtually everything has to be shipped into Hawaii. Even things sourced locally (such as fish) may have a higher price because fishing boats use fuel, which is expensive in Hawaii.
The cost of living in Hawaii is also very high, so goods and services all have higher price tags.
Hawaii is almost paradise, so the extra cost is worth it. It’s also important to note that electricity is costly on the island. Most hotels in Hawaii do have air conditioning, but there are a few places that may not.
Make sure to check before showing up and being surprised. Even if your accommodations include A/C, it’s always a nice gesture to try to conserve power whenever possible.
Turning the lights and A/C off when you’re not around or not leaving the doors open with the A/C running can go a long way.
5. Public restrooms can be hard to find in Hawaii
You’re in Hawaii, one of the safest tropical destinations to explore. You’ll likely be out and about a lot. Public restrooms can be difficult to find once you get outside of tourist towns.
This is particularly true on less-populated islands such as the Big Island and Kauai. If you need a restroom, try places like big box stores, grocery stores, fast food restaurants, etc.
Most gas stations don’t have public restrooms. Some do, but many are porta-potties. Kauai also has many porta-potties.
Imagine portapotties in hot weather; it’s precisely what you’d expect. Plan accordingly.
6. Sacred spots in Hawaii
Native Hawaiians have spiritual connections to many sites around the islands. Be careful to follow rules about where you aren’t allowed to go.
Please leave things as you found them. “Take only pictures and leave only footprints” is always good advice.
A gentle reminder on the Road to Hana in Maui.
8. Don’t touch the wildlife or coral in Hawaii
Don’t touch the turtles, dolphins, monk seals, or coral. It’s not only against the law, but messing with animals or coral can negatively impact the environment.
One of the reasons why Hawaii is so beautiful is that it is so well preserved. Please don’t ruin it for everyone else.
On that note, did you know your sunscreen could damage marine life? Most people don’t know! Look for ingredients like oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, and 4-methylbenzylidine camphor and avoid them.
You can read my post about where to find reef-safe sunscreen to learn more.
9. Things tend to be laid back in Hawaii
If you love wearing flip-flops, shorts, or sundresses all the time, anywhere you can! Long pants and heels aren’t commonly seen, especially outside of Oahu.
Everything is just more laid back in general (look at #10), and the people of Hawaii do not generally seem to care about flaunting wealth or bragging about their jobs, even if they are wealthy or have great jobs.
If you hear someone doing either, they’re probably tourists. This happens a lot in the resort pools, trust me. We once heard tourists arguing over who had a better (personal) airplane.
10. Island Time is a real thing
Most people in Hawaii aren’t in a hurry, which can be a big shock coming from the mainland, especially on the roads.
Unless you’re near Honolulu, you probably won’t see speed limits over 55 mph, if that. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.
Drivers also tend to be more courteous unless you’re in Honolulu. Honolulu is a city, so I’ve seen some aggressive driving there. Otherwise, it’s pretty laid-back on the other islands.
On the flip side, you might enjoy the scenery of Hawaii, but remember that people live and work there. If there is a lot of traffic behind you, pull over and let the locals pass. This is a good tip when driving the Road to Hana. Check out my ultimate guide to the Road to Hana for more tips.
Things to know before going to Hawaii
I hope you enjoyed this post about the things you should know before going to Hawaii. Of course, this list doesn’t encompass everything, but it’s a good starting point.
If you have any tips or things you wish you would have known before going to Hawaii, I’d love to hear them in the comments.
For more Hawaii travel tips, check out some of my Hawaii vacation posts:
- 7 best Hawaii tours.
- The 25 Best Resorts in Hawaii
- 10 best adventure activities on Kauai.
- 100 things to do in Hawaii.
- 25 things to do on Kauai.
- 7 Best things to do on Maui
- 7 Best things to do on the Big Island
- Maui vs. Kauai
- Is Hawaii safe?
- 10 best Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tours
- Are there pools in Maui with swim-up bars?
The best adults only resorts in Hawaii
Planning a Hawaii vacation
If you’re planning a Hawaii vacation, check out some of my Hawaii vacation planning guides. Although I am a Hawaii Travel Agent, I only take on a select number of clients each month. Please contact me to check availability.
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Travel Agent for Hawaii in Northwest Arkansas
I love that you talked about the sacred spots. The connection with the land and mother nature that people of Hawaii have is astonishing. Since we are visitors in their land the least that we can do is have respect for their traditions and culture and also try to learn a little bit of them.
Thanks, Ellie! I completely agree. Responsible tourism is very important to me and I feel like this is definitely part of that!
My husband and I are going to Maui in 2 weeks. Thank you for posting all this information. It was very helpful and full of great ideas. I’m not looking forward to the jet lag but it’s an overcome and adapt.
I’m glad it was helpful! I do have a post all about jet lag. I honestly don’t find it difficult when you arrive, but it’s very hard when you get back home!