Hawaii is one of those destinations that seems to be most people's travel bucket list. Unlike the "all inclusive" resorts commonly found in the tropics, where the only money you bring is for tips and souvenirs, Hawaii is somewhere that you pay for everything. According to Hawaii Travel for Kids, here are 36 questions asked to them when traveling to the Aloha state where palm trees sway
19. Will I need to rent a car?
-Unless Waikiki is one of the destinations you're staying in, renting a car would be advisable just so you can get from place to place. Rideshare programs such as Uber and Lyft are not common here, mostly on the mainland. The public transportation, usually buses, are reliable but not incredibly time-efficient. The recommended place would be Discount Hawaii Car Rental. They get deep discounts from places like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Payless
20. Are things expensive in Hawaii?
-YES! Because everything has to be shipped in from the mainland or elsewhere, such as food, gas and everyday essentials, the cost of items here is significantly higher. Instead of paying $3 to $4 for a gallon of milk, here you'll be paying closer to $6 to $8. Another reason for the high cost is that people often book pricey excursions while here. If you choose to do an excursion, such as a helicopter ride, snorkeling or boat tour, swim with dolphins or a luau, it's going to cost you. The most recommended way to cut costs is to shop at the local farmer's markets and roadside fruit stands. Not only will you save money, but you'll also be supporting local businesses
21. Is tipping in Hawaii necessary?
-The answer is yes! It's customary to tip in Hawaii. This shows that you appreciate the hard work of people. You can tip hotel staff, restaurant staff, tour guides, photographers, etc
22. Are there restrictions to buying alcohol?
-In Hawaii, you must be at least 21 years of age to buy alcoholic drinks. You also must be this age to consume alcoholic drinks legally. There are some "dry" towns, towns that don't sell liquor at all, such as Laie. And in other cases, some retail liquor stores stop selling at 11:00 pm. And locations that serve liquor stop serving at 2 am
23. Is there a currency for Hawaii?
-No. Since Hawaii is part of the United States, the US Dollar is also the currency in Hawaii. There are currency exchanges located throughout the islands if you are from another country and need to exchange your currency for US dollars. You can also head to the Bank of Hawaii to exchange out your currency for US dollars
24. What is the average temperature in Hawaii?
-Year-round, Hawaii is in the 70s-80s. During the winter months, the temperatures can go to about 60s, especially during the evening hours. During the summer, it can shoot up to the high 80s during the day. The summer months see a lot of dry weather while the winter months it gets a bit rainy. There are also tropical storm or hurricane watches as well
25. How long is the flight to Hawaii?
-It all comes down to where you are coming from. Most flights from the West Coast are only about 5-6 hours long. But, if you are coming from Chicago, it's 11 hours and if you're coming from the East Coast, it's 14-15 hours
26. Are there sharks in Hawaii?
-Yes. You can bet there are sharks in Hawaii. There is said to be at least 40 different species of sharks living in Hawaii. These can include whitetip reef sharks, great white sharks, sandbar sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and sometimes even tiger sharks. If you're feeling particularly brave, you can book an excursion on Oahu to go swimming with sharks! You can get an up close nose to nose dive with sharks!
27. Are shark attacks common in Hawaii?
-While it might be common to be fearful of shark attacks in Hawaii, there are not as many shark attacks in Hawaii as people think. The Division of Aquatic Resources states that in the years of 1980-2020, there have only been an estimated 164 shark attacks, with only 10 of those resulting in fatalities. Some useful tips for avoiding encounters with these watery predators include: don't swim at night (night time is their hunting time. They can see well in low light), don't swim in murky water (again, their vision far outstrips human vision), don't urinate in the water (strangely, just like blood, urine attracts sharks. That tells them prey is nearby)
28. Are there snakes in Hawaii?
-The answer is technically yes. Although there are no snakes native to Hawaii. It's completely illegal to own them as pets. Hawaii does have 4 brown tree snakes that can assist in training dogs to detect snakes that enter Hawaii. The reason it's illegal to bring snakes into Hawaii is because they have no natural predators and they can cause a lot of issues for the environment. In 2013, two species of snakes were found in Hawaii: the Island Blind Snake and Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake. The Island Blind Snake is a harmless species the size of an earthworm. The Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake is rare, but highly poisonous
29. What language is spoken in Hawaii?
-There are two official languages spoken here: English and Hawaiian. There are language immersion schools where people can learn the language of Hawaiian. Many locals also speak "pidgin", which is Hawaiian Creole language. It originated on the pineapple plantations and uses words from the languages of Korean, Portugese, Japanese, Cantonese and Hawaiian. There are also other foreign languages spoken here. They include: Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Tagalog. Japanese is especially common here since Hawaii is so close to Japan
30. Where is Pearl Harbor?
-This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hawaii. The Pearl Harbor Monument is located on the island of Oahu, just a few miles from the Honolulu International Airport. Here, you can find the USS Arizona, the USS Battleship Missouri, the USS Bowfin Submarine and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. When people go to Pearl Harbor, it's to not only see the monument, but also pay their respects. If you want to see everything Pearl Harbor has to offer, you'll need at least a full day to do that
31. Am I allowed to take fruit home?
-To an extent. You are only allowed to bring back packaged fruit that has gone through an inspection by agriculture and is approved for transport. That means boxed pineapple. You can find this at the grocery stores or airport. And, as long as they have been agriculturally inspected and approved, you can bring home coconuts. But don't think about bringing home fresh Hawaiian fruits, such as mango, lychee, papaya, lilikoi or guava. These might contain disease and pests that can do damage to the delicate agriculture of the mainland. TSA will tell you when you arrive that damage can be done to the agriculture because of the possible pests or disease
32. Can I bring pets to Hawaii?
-It's legal to bring cats and dogs to Hawaii, but there's a catch. They must do an extensive quarantine of 30 days minimum. It's also costly. The only logical conclusion would be that if you are moving to Hawaii, then you can bring your pets or visiting there for some time. If you are craving some time with a furry friend and you just so happen to be visiting Kauai, head to the local Humane Society and borrow a shelter dog for the day. Not only will you get some time with a cuddly dog, this helps the community and helps bring sunshine into a dog's day
33. Can you still get leis at the airport?
-The answer is no. It's been years since people danced the hula and offered leis at the airport for arriving tourists. You can pre-arrange a lei greeting party ahead of time for you. It'll need to be paid for ahead of time
34. Does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts?
-To an extent. The Hana-Maui Resort offers dining packages to make vacations all inclusive. Unfortunately, other than that, there are no all-inclusive resorts here in Hawaii. The resorts in Hawaii are just as stunning as the all-inclusive places, with plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied and happy. You'll just need to pay separately
35. Is it legal to take a lava rock home?
-The answer is NO! NO! NO! NO! It cannot be emphasized more strongly enough that it's completely illegal to take lava rock home. It's not only disrespectful to the Hawaiian culture, but it would make you an irresponsible tourist. If everyone who visited the Hawaiian Islands took home lava rock, there would be none left. This "do not take home" rule also applies to coral, sea glass, shells and sand and all other natural elements in Hawaii. Simply leave them there so other people can enjoy them
36. Is there a royal palace in Hawaii?
-Absolutely!!! The famous and iconic Iolani Palace in Honolulu is where King Kalakua once resided. He built the famous palace in 1882 and lived there until 1893. It once used to throw fancy parties and even had electricity before the White House! In 1959, when Hawaii became a US state, Iolani Palace was used as a capitol building. It was 1978 when the palace became a museum highlighting Hawaiian culture and history. During a trip to Oahu, make it a point to visit Iolani Palace. They offer guided tours and it's a perfect way to learn about Hawaiian culture in such a way that school never did. Not only that, but those familiar with the newly remade television show Hawaii Five-O will recognize the building as being the headquarters for the Five-O task force
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