Vacation Rentals on the Hawaiian Islands
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Travel destination Hawaiian Islands.
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Destination
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Overview over the Hawaiian Islands
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| Size |
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16,757 sq km (6470 sq mi) |
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| Population |
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1,211,800 |
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| Language |
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English
is the official language. You'll hear echoes of Asia,
Europe and South America in the delightful local "pidgin." |
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| Time Zone |
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10 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-10 GMT). |
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| Electricity |
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110/120V, 60Hz. |
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| Clothing |
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Hawaii's casual attitude makes packing a breeze. For daytime,
shorts, T-shirts, sandals and a swimsuit are usually all that's needed.
For evening, sundresses for women and slacks and a shirt for men will
take you most places in style. |
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| Religion |
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Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant). Buddhism and other beliefs are also well represented. |
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| Currency |
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US Dollar (USD)
Currency Converter
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Location of the Hawaiian Islands
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The island group of Hawaii lies 2367 km (1470 mi) north of the equator and 3860 km (2400 mi) southwest
of the nearest continental land mass, North America comprised of 132 islands and atolls. The state of
Hawaii consists of eight islands, of which seven are inhabited and six allow visitors.
Oahu contains the capital, Honolulu, and is the most commercialised, while Hawaii is the biggest island -
still in the birthing process. Its most active volcano, Kilauea, has pumped out more than two billion
cubic yards of lava in the past 12 years. Oahu has two diagonal mountain ranges (the Waianae and Koolau),
with many beautiful waterfalls. Hawaii is cloaked in macadamia orchards and coffee plantations.
The islands support rainforest, green flatlands and a variety of other climates – in fact, of 13
climatic regions, Hawaii has all but two. Physically and psychologically, Hawaii stands apart from
the USA, with an ethnically diverse population and a rich Polynesian heritage. |
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Climate in the Hawaiian Islands
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Year round in the Hawaiian Islands, the weather is wonderful. June through October is the hottest
period, while rainfall is heaviest between December and March - neither extreme is worth worrying over.
In "summer" the average daytime high temperature is 29°C (85°F); in "winter" it's 24°C (78°F).
Ocean temperatures are always warm. Trade winds keep the islands cool and the humidity comfortable.
If you favor a dry and sunny destination, check out the leeward side of each island.
(That's the region sheltered from the prevailing winds - generally the west and south.) If you
want lush, tropical and wet, check out an island's windward side (the regions facing the
prevailing winds - generally the east and north). But even to windward the showers usually last
just long enough to create the legendary, blazing rainbows. |
Best Time to Travel to the Hawaiian Islands
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Unlike other destinations, Hawaii's "high" and "low" seasons aren't dictated by
the weather there, but rather the weather everywhere else. The busiest tourist season with
the highest rates is during winter (December to March) - since many visitors want to escape
cold winters back home. Family travel is most popular during the summer. Spring and Fall, while
considered "low" season, offer great travel values and fewer visitors. If you're a surfer,
you won't want to miss the Christmas-time action around Oahu's North Shore, but if windsurfing
or diving is more your thing, you'll find the waters at their calmest at the height of summer
(July and August). |
Events on the Hawaiian Islands
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With its multitude of cultures and permanently good weather, Hawaii always has something to celebrate.
Selected events to look out for include: the Merrie Monarch Festival (cultural festival, including
Hawaii’s most prestigious hula competition - Hawaii, April); Lei Day (lei-making competitions, May);
King Kamehameha Day (state holiday with parades, June); Aloha Week (celebration with parades,
cultural events, canoe races and Hawaiian music, September); and the Quicksilver/Eddie Aikau Memorial
Big Wave Classic (surf event held when wave heights exceed 6 m/20 ft, December). |
Society on the Hawaiian Islands
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In Hawaii it is customary to give a lei as a gesture of congratulations and aloha (love)
to those celebrating a milestone or receiving an honor. It is also common to present a lei to a
friend or relative who is arriving in the Islands — no matter from where or how long they have been
away — as a hearty welcome. Leis are normally worn around the neck and can be made of tropical
flowers (such as the fragrant tuberose or plumeria), maile (green, shiny leaves), or nuts and berries.
Two things to keep in mind in the Islands: take off your slippers and other footwear when
entering someone's home, and always be prepared, with an extra pair, for slipper "blow-out."
If, in your daily driving routine you're accustomed to blaring horns, rude drivers and merging
forcefully into lines of traffic, you may find Hawaii a refreshing change (unless you are blaring
your horn). Most Island drivers practice aloha (love, the spirit of giving) on the road. Rarely
will you hear a horn or shout in traffic, and more often than not you'll be waved into traffic
or through a stop sign by a courteous fellow driver. If this happens, smile, wave or — better yet
— flash 'em a shaka. |
Food on the Hawaiian Islands
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Hawaiian food offers the best of 'Pacific Rim' and 'New American' cooking syles, influenced by Asian,
Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. Many dishes are based on chicken, pork, seafood and local fruit
and vegetables cooked using traditional methods.
The classic Hawaiian feast is the luau
based around a puaa kalua (whole pig) that has been shaved and rubbed with rock salt on the inside.
It is then placed on chicken wire, filled with hot stones from the fire, and cooked in an imu
(pit) along with sweet potatoes, plantains and sometimes laulau (pork, butterfish and spinach-like
taro shoots wrapped in leaves and steamed). The steam is prevented from escaping by encircling
the pig with banana and coconut husks and taro leaves and covering the pit with wet burlap bags. The
cooking process takes about six hours. The kalua pig is eaten with fingers and is accompanied
by the traditional Hawai’ian poi (thick paste made from ground taro), opihi
(a salty, black, clam-like mollusc) and lomi lomi salmon (salmon rubbed with an onion and
tomato marinade). Chicken luau comprises tender chicken pieces cooked with taro tops and
coconut cream. Garnishes include limu (seaweed), paakai rock salt and chopped roasted
kukui nuts. Local seafood includes moi (mullet) ulua, opakapaka (pink snapper),
lobster and yellowfin tuna. Hawaiian breakfast specialities are macadamia nuts and banana and coconut
pancakes with coconut syrup. Fresh fruit and nut ice-creams or sorbets make excellent desserts. |
Visa for the Hawaiian Islands
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Conditions of entry are the same as those for the USA. Most visitors require a visa. However,
Canadians need only proof of citizenship and citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Japan, Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland can
stay up to 90 days without a visa. |
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