# Hawaii vacation tips **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611 "2017-06-22T16:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/41 "2017-06-23T14:04:31Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > \*\*Johnny L.A., \*\*let me know where your wife decides you should stay. I don’t remember where it is. Somewhere between the volcanoes and Hilo, not too far from the shore. All I can remember is that one of the pictures had a cat that looked like Creamsicle in it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/42 "2017-06-23T14:11:35Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > If you haven’t bought tickets yet, Alaskan Air has a credit card sign on bonus of a free companion fare, and then 1 $100 companion fare every year. I did this several years ago when I was flying back and forth to HI a lot. Has been pretty useful here in the Northwest. I got an Alaska Airlines credit card when I was living in L.A. and coming up here semi-frequently. Frankly, I only keep it because of the miles I put on it. But the miles are impossible to use for free tickets, and if I use them for an upgrade to 1st Class, it’s more expensive. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > You have a NEXUS card, right? If you don’t, you know a NEXUS card allows US citizens to whip through the NEXUS lane at the border with Canada with probably an average 5 minute wait time, right? You also know you can get an appointment probably within 24 hours in Blaine, WA, which is a hop skip and a jump away from Bellingham, right? And if you don’t know this stuff, check out the interwebs and get you and the Mrs over to Blaine, get your cards, m’kay? Bonus round, lunch in the very restaurant awesome Richmond is an easy do when you aren’t going to the airport. You’re welcome. 🆒 I live in Birch Bay. 😉 We never go to Canada. Mrs. L.A. doesn’t like to go out, and I don’t like to go out alone unless I’m on a mission. How much is a NEXUS card, where do I get one, and how long does it take? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/43 "2017-06-23T16:08:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t remember where it is. Somewhere between the volcanoes and Hilo, not too far from the shore. All I can remember is that\*\* one of the pictures had a cat that looked like Creamsicle in it.\*\* You can’t go wrong with that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/44 "2017-06-23T16:46:51Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > You know who mostly wear typical aloha type shirts? Employees in jobs that require everyone to wear similar shirts. Hotel staff and jobs like that. Most people wear t-shirts and short sleeve button ups. They can be very Hawaiian, just not the usual hibiscus pattern. I have monotone short sleeve shirts that are nice and cool in hot weather. I have a nice aloha shirt I bought at Hilo Hattie over a dozen years ago, plus a couple of others. They’re fun. (‘You’re not fun. You’re just fat!’) Today I should be receiving two shirts. One is light blue with a ‘tiki’ stripe down one side, and the other one is a _Magnum P.I._ shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/45 "2017-06-23T18:43:37Z")
Aloha Airlines ceased operations in 2008 or so. As far as Hawaii-based airlines go, I think there’s only Hawaiian Airlines for domestic/international, and Island Air for interisland flights. Aloha shirts are casual business attire. They are common among office workers in downtown. They are also commonly worn to casual get-togethers, even casual weddings. They’re also very common among hospitality workers in tourism. Tourists wear them sometimes, but they usually go astray by wearing the brightest, most blinding colors and patterns. Yours sound totally fine, **Johnny**. I hope you have a good time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/46 "2017-06-23T20:40:26Z")
I’ve been to Hawaii a half dozen times. While Volcanoes National Park is certainly worth seeing, there is no way I’d spend my entire time on that side of the island. As Lemur said, it’s the wetter side of the island, and can be cool enough to wear a jacket and longs many of the days. IOW, while it’s very lush and green, the weather is not what most people envision when they picture Hawaii. Personally, I’d fly into Kona (sunny side of the island), and stay there for the vast majority of time. I’d then book a side trip to Hilo for 3-nights and 2-days max. In addition to seeing the volcano, you can zipline and hike on that side of the island, but there isn’t much else to do. It’s pretty remote. Also, while I’ve never visited Hilo beaches, on the islands, the sunny sides are the south and west sides of the islands. Northern beaches tend to be very rough, perhaps good for surfing and kite surfing, but not ideal for swimming, snorkeling, sun bathing or boating. FYI, there are many affordable condos in Kona if you can live without being beachfront. And plenty to do on the sunnier side of the island. The major tourist areas are on that side of the island for a reason. P.S. If you do fly to another island, make your airline reservations to fly from the mainland to Island 1 and then from Island 2 back to the mainland. HNL is often the cheapest island to fly in/out of, but take into consideration that it’ll cost you $75-100pp each way to island hop. P.P.S. If you do decide to go in/out of HNL and are thinking of booking intraisland flights separately to save money, note that the airlines will not check your bags through unless it’s ticketed at the same time. That’s a fairly big deal because international and domestic flights are in different terminals, so take this into consideration when booking your intraisland flight. That means you’ll arrive in one terminal and have to fetch your luggage from baggage claim. Then you’ll have to haul it all the 17 miles (or so it seems) to the other terminal, and back through agricultural screening (for outgoing flights) and then back through TSA. It’s a major PITA and adds about 1.5 hours. So me? I’d book them on one ticket even if it meant paying an extra $100. P.P.S. If you’re island hopping, consider flying into Kona, staying there for a few days, then driving to Hilo to see the volcano. Then fly to the other island from Hilo. No need to drive back to Kona. That’ll save you 2-3 hours of driving. (Make your rental car reservations as pick up in Kona and drop off in Hilo, too.) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/47 "2017-06-23T21:22:32Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > In addition to seeing the volcano, you can zipline and hike on that side of the island, but there isn’t much else to do. It’s pretty remote. To each his own, but I think there is plenty to do right around Hilo, for example: 1. The Lyman Museum and Mission House - they have great shell and crystal collections, good displays on Hawaiian ecology and vulcanism, and more. 2. The Pacific Tsunami Museum. Originally it was devoted to tsunamis that have impacted the Big Island, but they now have exhibits on the 2004 and 2011 tsunamis as well. 3. Big Island Candies. While the fact you can watch them make candy is … underwhelming … the store is great and you get free samples and Kona coffee when you walk \ in. 4. Kaumana Caves. (Okay, that one is a little like hiking, so if you don’t like being physically active it won’t be your thing. But it’s quite cool if you don’t mind a little exertion (bring flashlights). 5. The Hilo Farmers’ Market - one side is full of touristy stuff (but some of it is pretty high quality; I’ve bought a fair amount of interesting jewelry there) and the other is a good showcase for Hawaiian produce and microenterprises. 6. Onekahakaha Beach, Liliuokalani Park, and Coconut Island. I’m putting those three together because none of them takes hours; you can check all of them out fairly quickly. But they have their beautiful spots, and you can swim at Onekahakaha. 7. Akaka Falls and Honomu town. (Word of caution: a tree felling went wrong at Akaka Falls and now part of it is closed, though that should be fixed in a few months. And you can still see Akaka Falls, just not Kahuna Falls.) 8. No trip to Hilo is complete without a visit to Ken’s House of Pancakes, open and serving breakfast 24/7. Alternatively, the Hawaiian Style Cafe is good, though for reasons I can’t quite explain I like the one in Waimea better than the one in Hilo. (And if you are in Waimea, don’t miss The Fish and The Hog for some sublime food.) 9. Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Those are ideal for people who like to see their nature without having to hike to get to the pretty scenery. 10. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papa’ikou. I’m sure **Mangosteen** can chime in with some possibilities as well - those are just some of my favorites that come to mind. . ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/48 "2017-06-24T02:07:08Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Sorry, missed edit window. > > **Mangosteen** : Did you have Tongans build your stone wall? Seriously, if you have any guidance regarding landscaping/civil engineering matters, I might want to talk to you. Our land is gorgeous, but it’s a mess right now and we need lots of retaining walls, erosion control, tree cutting and planting, path building, etc. etc. etc. (We’re in discussions with Ola Design, who will probably serve as general contractor for the work, that is if we don’t die of heart attacks once the initial cost estimates come in.) Ever scrap of intel I can gather helps. Hi Carol. We didn’t have Tongans build the wall. I don’t recall his name, but I can probably get it for you. Our property was a TOTAL mess, too. Eight foot tall grass covered the entire 8 areas. We hired Ted (987 0413) and he did a great job landscaping the property with his big D-9 Bulldozer. The house has a steel frame with light weight concrete block walls and a steel roof. No wood at all. The local termites hate me! Its from Castleblock. [http://castleblock.com/Affordable\_Housing/faq.html](http://castleblock.com/Affordable_Housing/faq.html) Let me know if we can help with anything else. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/49 "2017-06-24T02:12:49Z")
Thanks for that, **Mangosteen**! I don’t want to put you out, but if you do come across the name of your wall builder, I would love to have it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/50 "2017-06-24T04:23:09Z")
Mrs. L.A. insists on more legroom. So it looks like the cheapest we can fly is Alaska Airlines at about $1,756 per person, round trip. And I’m only seeing Hawaiian Airlines going from HNL to ITO. The trouble is that their last flight is at 1435, and we don’t land in HNL until 1415. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/51 "2017-06-24T04:41:38Z")
Mileage upgrade not available (of course). So that brings it down to $1,382. Travelocity shows later Hawaiian Airlines flights from HNL to ITO. Don’t know why HA’s website didn’t show it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/52 "2017-06-24T05:25:01Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > As Lemur said, it’s the wetter side of the island, and can be cool enough to wear a jacket and longs many of the days. IOW, while it’s very lush and green, the weather is not what most people envision when they picture Hawaii. > > Personally, I’d fly into Kona (sunny side of the island), and stay there for the vast majority of time. Heh. You and I are complete opposites - I am not at all a fan of the Kona side, maybe in part because vog was an issue several days I was there. I quite _like_ light daily rains and the more moderate tempertures. Sun worshippers perplex me just a little :p. But I must admit your kind are in the majority :). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/53 "2017-06-24T05:28:46Z")
Crikey, what an ordeal. So Mrs. L.A. changes our departure date _after_ I book the Alaska Airlines flight. :smack: Anyway, we’re booked now on Alaska and Hawaii Airlines. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/54 "2017-06-24T17:08:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have monotone short sleeve shirts that are nice and cool in hot weather. I have a nice aloha shirt I bought at Hilo Hattie over a dozen years ago, plus a couple of others. They’re fun. (‘You’re not fun. You’re just fat!’) Today I should be receiving two shirts. One is light blue with a ‘tiki’ stripe down one side, and the other one is a _Magnum P.I._ shirt. > [@Geek\_Mecha](#): > > Aloha shirts are casual business attire. They are common among office workers in downtown. They are also commonly worn to casual get-togethers, even casual weddings. They’re also very common among hospitality workers in tourism. Tourists wear them sometimes, but they usually go astray by wearing the brightest, most blinding colors and patterns. And even for funerals. “Aloha attire” is a common notice in funeral announcements. Myself, I’m a big fan of [Reyn Spooner](https://www.reynspooner.com/) myself and have several. A little pricey though. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/55 "2017-06-24T20:29:04Z")
You do realize that since you are an American, presumably driving to Vancouver, BC, to catch a flight to Hawaii, you need your US Passport, don’t you? And as China Guy said, [get a Nexus card](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/nexus), now! A Nexus card will speed you thru your land access from Washington State to Canada (and back), but your BC-Hawaii round trip flights require a US Passport. Now if you had [Global Entry](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry) as well, your passport control at the two airports would be easier as well. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/56 "2017-06-24T21:02:50Z")
We have passports. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/57 "2017-06-25T02:37:33Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Mrs. L.A. insists on more legroom. So it looks like the cheapest we can fly is Alaska Airlines at about $1,756 per person, round trip. And I’m only seeing Hawaiian Airlines going from HNL to ITO. The trouble is that their last flight is at 1435, and we don’t land in HNL until 1415. What about flying into LAX and taking the United late afternoon flight direct to ITO? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/58 "2017-06-25T21:22:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > And even for funerals. “Aloha attire” is a common notice in funeral announcements. Myself, I’m a big fan of [Reyn Spooner](https://www.reynspooner.com/) myself and have several. A little pricey though. Since I mentioned Reyn Spooner, with shops [all over the islands](https://www.reynspooner.com/apps/store-locator), another big favorite is the ever-fantastic [Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts](http://alohashirts.com/), on Kapahulu Avenue a short distance from Waikiki. Used, new, vintage and specialty. Celebrities often stop by when they’re in town – there’s a video on the website relating the beautiful vintage one that Anthonay Bourdain bought. Prices run from cheap to expensive – with 15,000+ shirts in stock, there’s something for every budget. And Bailey’s is right around the corner from the ridiculously cheap [Rainbow Drive-In](http://rainbowdrivein.com/), a huge local favorite and an old haunt of President Obama’s back in his youth. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/59 "2017-06-30T02:43:32Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > At the moment you are more focused on how to get to Hawaii, and I’m no expert on that (except to say that there a plenty of reasonably priced interisland flights by at least two airlines I can think of off the top of my head - \*\*Aloha Air \*\*and Hawaiian Air). Okay I know this thread was in the process of sliding into oblivion, but I am giving it one last gasp, because I have to correct my idiocy above. Not Aloha Air - Island Air. (Aloha stopped flying passengers in 2008). I just realized this when I went to book a flight for a puddle jump to Honolulu. Island Air, Aloha Air, whatever. It all sounds the same after a while. But I think I’ve just blown my credibility as a travel planner for the islands. Oopsy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611/60 "2017-06-30T04:06:11Z")
We’ve got the accommodations and air travel covered. Now let’s focus on what to do on the Big Island. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawaii-vacation-tips/789611.md?page=4)