TUG Hawaii Tips and FAQ's |
TUG Island Dining Guides
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This section contains Tips and F.A.Q.s (Frequently Asked
Questions) for Hawaii. We need your input to help
this section be
as useful as possible. Please send us any suggestions that you have for
additional topics and/or tips/FAQs. Also if there are any topics that
should
be removed, let us know. This section is intended to save those good
tips
that aren't archived from the BBS. Corrections are appreciated.
The
information here comes from TUG member recommendations and comments in
the Hawaii section of the BBS. Information from other sites is included
as appropriate.
When to Go to Hawaii?
- Anytime you can!!!
The north and east sides of each
island (windward sides) tend to be wetter and cloudier, particularly in
fall and winter (Nov - Mar). The resort areas on the sunnier (leeward)
sides are Kaanapali/Lahaina and Kihei/Wailea on Maui, Poipu on Kauai,
Waikiki
on Oahu, and Kona/Kohala/Waikoloa on the Big Island. The only major
resort
area on the rainier side is the Princeville/Hanalei area of Kauai. The
winter months are also a little rainier on the sunny sides, but
remember,
even in winter, the sun shines more than it doesn't. Hurricane season
is
roughly the same as in the Atlantic (June - Oct), but hurricanes rarely
threaten Hawaii. Hurricane Iniki in 1992 was a rare exception. When is
the best time to visit Hawaii? IMHO - ANYTIME!
- January thru March is
"Whale Season". It's worth taking
a chance on a little rain to see these great animals. We've had pretty
good weather in Jan/Feb, but you do have a somewhat higher chance of
rain,
but in my opinion, it usually isn't a major problem or everyday event
if
you're staying on the sunnier leeward shores (Lahaina, Kaanapali,
Kihei,
and Wailea on Maui; Poipu on Kauai; Waikiki on Oahu; and Kona/Kohala on
the Big Island). We had four days of rain in Lahaina once in November,
so it can happen anytime, if your luck isn't with you. May through
September,
however, is the driest season - but no whales.
Interisland Flights - Tips and
Better Ticket Prices
- Effective: January 6 2003, HawaiianAir is eliminating
coupons and will
primarily use e-tickets ($25 fee for paper tickets). The following is
excerpted from their announcement.
Prices on most reservation sites (airline and travel ) seem to be close
to these prices at this time. It appears that the peak times (e.g.
Interisland to Honolulu to meet the afternoon flights to the mainland
(or vice versa) ) are a bit higher (i.e. $71-$75)
- Hawaiian’s published interisland fares start at $66 (all
taxes and fees included) for ticketing at least seven days prior to
departure and $70 if purchased at least three days before departure --
both comparing favorably to the prevailing “street” price of coupons at
$72.00. Hawaiian’s unrestricted, no-advance-purchase fare good for any
available coach seat on most routes is $75. Fares for travel to and
from Lanai and Molokai, as well as all two-segment connecting flights
are $17.50 higher, consistent with higher costs associated with
providing these services.
- Buying tickets:
- Many times during the year airlines have sales from the
mainland to Honolulu (e.g. tickets drop from $1200 to $700 or less) but
the sale does not include the other islands (e.g. to HNL the price may
drop to $700 while to Kauai/Maui/etc the price is still $1300 or more).
So, you should always compare. You can always (usually) get cheaper
separate interisland reservations. Just make sure your connection time
in Honolulu is enough (i.e. most airlines state 90 minutes).
- Be
sure to have everyone's preferred FF number added to the reservation.
Every additional mile helps. Aloha partners include United Airlines.
HawaiianAir partners include American Airlines, NorthWest and
Continental. Note: decide which is the best for your plans e.g.
Hawaiian usually gives 250 AA miles for each destination (not segment
LIH-HNL-KOA (Kauai-Honolulu-Kona(Big Island) ) is 1 destination ).
Hawaiian will give 500 Hawaiian miles for the same flights (and
sometimes bonuses). Of course, Hawaiian FF miles can be used for future
Interisland flights.
- Using Frequent Flyer miles/points (hotel, airline, etc):
- Many airlines offer interisland roundtrip awards for 5000
or 10000 air
miles. Compare to decide what is the best use of miles (i.e. saving
miles for the more expensive mainland to Hawaii versus the relatively
cheaper Interisland).
- Hawaiian Air
800-367-5320 Interisland: 800-882-8811 Schedules,reservations,etc are
on
the web page.
- Aloha Airlines
800-367-5250 Schedules,reservations,etc are on the web page
General Information and Tips
- What time is it in
Hawaii? Hawaii
does not follow daylight savings time so in the winter they are 2 hours
behind the USA west coast (East Coast minus 5). In the Summer, west
minus
3 hours/ east coast minus 6.
- Food - Fish - Try the different
kinds of fresh local fish, the variety is just not available in the
mainland.
We like Ono the best...firm, easy to grill, delicious. In Kapaa Kauai,
Safeway is a good place to buy fish (was good also on Maui): fresh
everyday,
very friendly seafood counter staff offering good advice on fish
selection.
Lei
Greeting
- Don't assume Lei
greetings are automatically given
to all guests. This went away many years ago. If you are part of a
packaged tour or a large tour group it may be included but don't assume
if you want that special event. There are always
plenty of Lei stands in the airports. If you want that "extra special"
Lei greeting on arrival, you can arrange it before you go!
Maps
Weather
and Forecasts
- Hawaii
Weather - USA Today Forecasts for
the Hawaiian Islands. Get an idea of what it
is usually like the month that you want to travel.
Other
Websites
- Jan's Journeys
Lots of information Hawaii,Kauai,Maui,Oahu. Interesting Site with lots
of pictures and commentary.
- Alternative-Hawaii
Many Links including extensive sections for each island. You can spend
a lot of time here.
- 101
Things to Do in the Hawaiian Islands This is the online site
to the
magazines that you can pick up at the airport and just about everywhere
else. Contains a lot of good ideas and suggestions. It has links to the
magazines for Oahu,Kauai,Maui and Hawaii (Big Island).
- Snorkel
Bob's Cybereef Snorkel Rentals on 4 islands. You can rent
on 1 island
and drop off on a different island.
and most importantly: