Monday, January 26, 2009

Things to Know .. Weather and Time Difference

I'm creating this BLOG to give you help with your Hawaii island travel. Hopefully, you will pick up some pointers to make your trip more enjoyable. Being informed ahead of time of what to expect, can make the difference between an average trip and an extraordinary one!

Weather: From May to October the temperatures range from mid to high 80's during the day and mid 70's at night. It rains more often but it doesn't last very long. October to May the temperatures averages low to mid 80's during the day and mid 60's to 70's at night. Even though it is not extremely hot, the sun is strong. Even if you have a tan, about an hour or so of tanning is plenty. Waterproof sunscreen with protection of at least SPT30 is recommended. Be especially careful if you have a convertible. With the wind blowing through your hair, it's easy to forget how warm the sun actually is. The last thing you want to do is ruin your vacation with a painful burn. In the event that this does happen, you'll want to apply an aloe lotion with Lidocaine. This blue gel by Bana Boat is sold at most convenience stores in Hawaii. The sun is very strong in Hawaii, the strongest between 11:00am and 2:00pm. You may want to consider bringing a light jacket or sweatshirt. Restaurants and stores are often chilly with their air conditioning.

Time difference: One question I get asked all the time is, "What time is it there?" Hawaii does not observe daylight savings time. During the Spring months, Hawaii is 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time, 3 hours behind Pacific Standard time. In the Fall,when the clocks are turned back Hawaii is 5 hours behind EST and 2 hours behind PST. Don't be surprised if you wake up at the crack of dawn the first day! It will take you a day or two to get used to. Give yourself once day to recuperate form jet lag so that you can be assured of having the best Hawaii travel.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Things to Know -- Wardrobe

You're planning to come to Hawaii and wondering what to pack ... here are a few suggestions. The islands of Hawaii have many diverse ecosystems, each with different climates. For example, the tops of Mauna Kea (Big Island) and Mt. Haleakala (Maui) get snow in the winter while it is in the 70's at beaches around the islands. Consider what activities you plan to enjoy, then pack. If you plan to explore trails through rainforests, bring shoes you don't mind getting really muddy. If you plan to walk the lava fields of Volcano's National Park on the Big Island, keep in mind that some lava is very sharp and proper hiking shoes are necessary. Just be casual. You do not need to bring a suit, dress slacks, or fancy cloths. The attitude and dress code for the islands is "hang loose." Even at the fanciest of restaurants, aloha wear is all you need.

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