Hawai‘i – the “don’t land blindly” cheat-sheet

🛑 READ ME FIRST Hawai‘i isn’t one island – it’s eight major lumps of lava and 100+ tiny dots spread across 2,400 km of ocean. Pick wrong, fly tired, and you’ll spend vacation days (and dollars) fixing mistakes. Below = the “I wish I knew” starter pack. 🗺️ ISLAND 101 – MATCH PERSONALITY O‘ahu = city + surf + history. Perfect if you want: malls next to malls, 2 a.m. ramen, Pearl Harbor, and a 7 a.m. surf lesson. Not perfect if you hate crowds or want to “get lost” – you won’t. Maui = postcard + couples + sunrise-above-clouds. Road to Hāna is 600 curves of jungle porn; Haleakalā sunrise requires 03:00 alarm but feels like Mars. Whale season Dec-Apr = ocean mosh-pit; book then or skip. Big Island = lava + stargazing + “I need space”. Drive 2 hrs and climate flips from jungle to moon. You can watch actual lava or snow on Mauna Kea in same day. If you only want beaches, you’ll drive more than you tan. Kaua‘i = green + wet + “where’s the mall?”. No building taller than a coconut tree. Napali Coast is only reachable by boat, helicopter, or 17-mile knee-destroying hike. If you need nightlife, stay on O‘ahu. 🍴 FOOD – DON’T LAND HUNGRY Poke: grocery store deli counter > tourist restaurant. Ask for “shoyu, light onion.” Loco moco: rice + patty + brown gravy + egg = post-hike fuel. Shave ice: order “snow cap” (condensed milk on top) or locals judge you. Spam musubi: 2 $ gas-station snack – tastes better after 3 hrs on lava. 🏨 SLEEP – LOCATION > THREAD-COUNT Waikiki (O‘ahu) = subway-station convenience; pick any hotel between Hilton Village and Kapiolani Park – you’re 5 min from sand. Maui west-side = sunset views; east-side = cheaper, rainier. Big Island: Kona side = sun + coffee; Hilo side = rain + cheaper + volcano access. Kaua‘i: Princeville = pricey views; Kapa‘a = food-trucks + central. 💰 BUDGET REALITY CHECK (per person) Flights mainland ➡️ Hawai‘i: 500-1,200 USD (book 2-3 months out). Inter-island hops: 60-150 USD each. Car: 50-80 USD/day incl. insurance; reserve early or convertibles vanish. Food: 40-60 USD/day (food-truck majority). Hotels: 120-300 USD/night (Waikiki average 180). 5-day no-car O‘ahu can squeeze under 1.5 k USD if you bus + food-court hard. ⚠️ FINAL REAL-TALK Sun: SPF 50 reef-safe = law; they WILL confiscate neon chemicals. Weather: micro-climates = carry light rain-shell always. Tipping: 18-20 % standard; carry small bills or use tablet custom amount. Respect: don’t take black sand, don’t touch turtles, don’t say “in Hawai‘i” like it’s one beach. Pick island, pick pace, pack patience – then let the Pacific do the rest. #US #Hawaii #Honolulu