SUNSCREEN: Bring it and wear it, everyday. You will still get color, promise. Just an hour or so without it and you will be bright red and in pain. Not the best way to start a vacation. Keep in mind, Hawaii has plenty of reefs and there are plenty of sunscreens that are now made reef safe. While regular sunscreens hasn’t been banned until 2021, please do your part and only wear reef safe sunscreen.
SLIPPAHS : aka Flipflops. These are the main shoes in Hawaii. Don’t be surprised if you see them at upscale places.
HIKING BOOTS/WATER SHOES: If you plan to hike at all, I highly recommend hiking boots that go up to the ankle or hiking sandals like Tevas. You want hard bottom shoes as most terrains and rivers you walk through will be tough and sneakers just doesn’t cut it. Ask Tim about the complaints he got from Natalie at Kings Bay when she wore vibrams. SMH
PHONE CASE: a sturdy and waterproof one at that. We have killed 3 phones here and while we didn’t really care because… we are in Hawaii, it wasn’t the most convenient thing .
THINGS TO KNOW
ISLAND TIME: Especially NYers, everything is a bit slower here. Even as you plan your trip and are working with locals, don’t be surprised if it takes a day or four to get a response. And when driving, don’t honk or rush anyone. It’s a sure fire way to be spotted as a tourist and killing the aloha spirit.
DANGER SIGNS: Again, NYers, this is for you. All signs should be listened to. If there is no lifeguard on duty and it says no swimming, don’t swim. Especially in the winter time, the ocean can be very strong and wild. During hikes and other exploration, again follow signs. Most danger signs are put up after a fatality of some sort so LISTEN.
NO SNAKES: Just another reason Hawaii is the best place on earth. There are no snakes and no wild animals that cause danger. So if you are going hiking, you don’t have to worry about those things. There are plenty of insects though. So bugspray is a pretty nice thing to bring with you.
WHALE SEASON: Jan- March is Humpback whale season in Maui. You will definitely see them. You can even start to look as you fly into Maui over the ocean.
ISLANDS CALL YOU BACK: So you know we both love Hawaii and we don’t want to set any overblown expectations. Natalie thought her first trip to Hawaii was going to be overrated and since we never go to the same vacation spot twice, we weren’t expecting to come back… No one expects to have a bad time in Hawaii, because it’s beautiful. But don’t be surprised if you feel a slight depression upon coming home or feel an insane need to come back in a few months. The islands may just grab hold of you and continue to call you home.
