| Planning a Hawaii vacation is half the fun of going to | | | | many bed-and-breakfasts, especially on the Big Island. |
| Hawaii. The great news is that tourism is starting to | | | | If you're part of a large group, check out the |
| fall in Hawaii, and you can find some great deals if | | | | possibility of renting a beach house for your Hawaii |
| you just know where to look. Prices are very | | | | vacation instead of staying at a hotel; there are |
| seasonal, so you can save and still enjoy all that | | | | hundreds of beautiful properties available, and groups |
| Hawaii has to offer if you can travel in the off | | | | of eight or more will almost always find significant |
| season. | | | | savings this way over a hotel. There's the added |
| What to Take | | | | advantage of being able to cook your own food, |
| Hawaii is a very temperate place, with low | | | | too, which can represent a great savings. |
| temperatures rarely below 60 and highs rarely above | | | | What To Do |
| 85 Fahrenheit. Still, the winds sometimes get strong, | | | | Hawaii has hundreds of things to do, mostly centering |
| and it's a good idea to bring a sweater. Don't worry | | | | around the ocean and hiking through some of the |
| about formal wear; almost every restaurant has a | | | | most glorious natural beauty you can imagine. |
| laid-back attitude about dress, with covered | | | | Hanauma Bay on Oahu is not to be missed for the |
| beachwear being fine in most cases. Do bring | | | | snorkeling, the beach, and the scenery; this |
| sunscreen and a cool hat, as the sun gets very hot | | | | protected bay has something for every member of |
| (you're almost on the equator). You can find | | | | your party. North Shore at Oahu has dozens of great |
| inexpensive straw hats at almost every tourist stop. | | | | shops with inexpensive souvenirs, or more expensive |
| For almost every occasion, aloha wear is a good | | | | souvenirs like works of art from the world-famous |
| choice, and you can find it cheap in Hilo Hattie's, the | | | | Wyland Galleries. |
| ABC Store, or at swap meets and local shops | | | | Often, just going on a Gray Line tour or booking |
| everywhere. Instead of packing the suit or nice | | | | something through the Polynesian Cultural Center will |
| dress, just pick up a nice aloha dress or, for men, a | | | | give you the Hawaiian experience without huge |
| Hawaiian shirt and khakis. This works just fine for the | | | | expense. Don't leave without going to a luau -- but |
| kids as well. Not only do you solve the problem of | | | | pass up the Polynesian Cultural Center luau and try |
| what to wear, you get clothing that is perfect for | | | | Germaine's Luau on Oahu, or one of the great luaus |
| the climate here and you also have some lovely | | | | on Maui instead. |
| souvenirs to take home with you. | | | | Plan out island-to-island travel in advance. By boat or |
| Where to Go | | | | by plane, traveling between islands can get |
| Most people, when they think of a Hawaii vacation, | | | | expensive, so it should be budgeted for. But it is |
| think of being right on the beach at Waikiki. That's | | | | definitely worth including in your itinerary to get the |
| okay, but the Waikiki strip is very crowded and | | | | most out of what could be the greatest vacation |
| somewhat overbuilt. You may have a better time on | | | | you will ever take. |
| Oahu if you go with Turtle Bay or a hotel in | | | | You can spend the rest of your Hawaii vacation |
| Kaneohe, just a few miles from Honolulu and on the | | | | picking up box lunch with chicken katsu or poke aku |
| scenic windward side of the island. | | | | (Hawaiian raw fish, sort of like sashimi) and lounging |
| On the other islands, you don't find the built-up | | | | on the beach like you've no place particular to go. |
| problem, but you do find that most of the regular | | | | That's living on Hawaii time and is sure to be a |
| resorts and hotels are expensive. If you can't find a | | | | vacation to remember and want to repeat in the |
| good deal on one of these, check out one of the | | | | future. |