11 Things to Know Before Traveling to Hawaii

Hawai’i is officially a U.S. state, so domestic travelers will not need special travel documents like a passport or Visa to visit. However, as of May 7, 2025, all domestic travelers flying into or out of Hawai’i, as with travel in the rest of the U.S., will need a REAL ID. These IDs include a gold star and reflect higher federal security standards. A valid passport can take the place of a REAL ID.

For international travelers, documents to enter Hawai’i are the same as the continental United States; regardless of country of origin, you must present a valid passport or secure document. The GoHawaii website is an excellent resource for all of your Hawai’i travel document needs and can direct you to the appropriate federal websites for more information.

Hawai’i also requires a Customs Declaration Form for all travelers and an Immigration Form (not required for permanent U.S. residents and Canadian citizens) which will be passed out during your flight. Keep a blue or black ink pen handy so you won’t have to wait for one to come around. Note: Hawai’i is launching a pilot program in March to help digitize this process.

The United States Dollar is the currency of Hawai’i. Exchanging currency is easy to do inside the airport with a variety of automatic teller machines (ATMs) and on-site banks and credit unions.  

Most, but not all, vendors accept credit/debit cards and often mobile payment services like Venmo. That said, it’s always a good idea to have some cash (small bills) when out sightseeing. Small vendors often pay hefty transaction fees that can really bite into their profits; cash eliminates this issue. 

Hawai’i is certainly considered an expensive place to visit. Its geographic location not only makes flights expensive, but importing gas, food, and other items makes the cost of living high. Add hotels, rental cars, meals, and activities to that flight cost, and it can really add up. That’s not to say it’s not within reach for most people, it just requires a bit more planning and saving than many trips. You’ll want to keep an eye out for “hidden” fees like resort fees and insane nightly parking fees that can quickly cut into a budget.

And be sure to factor tips into your budget. International travelers may not be as familiar with tipping systems, so be sure to do your research ahead of time. Tips go directly into the pockets of the local workforce and straight into the local economy.

For the most part, a trip to Hawai’i means renting a car for at least some of the visit.  All major car rental companies have a presence in Hawai’i, as does peer-to-peer operator Turo. No specialty cars are needed, as most everywhere is accessible by standard vehicles, but a convertible can certainly be fun when sightseeing.

Hawai’i isn’t particularly well known for its public transportation options, except in Honolulu, where options are more plentiful. The four major islands have their own public bus systems, though they can sometimes be slow or unreliable. Uber, Lyft, and taxis are also options for getting around, but rideshares become more and more rare the further you move from airports and major attractions. Visitors to Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i will find transportation options much more limited and will require extra planning.

Visitors who want to island hop will find options mostly limited to air transport or cruise ships. There is only one ferry between the islands, which serves Maui to Lāna‘i. Expeditions Ferry formerly launched out of Lahaina, but with the destruction of the Lahaina Harbor in the 2023 wildfires, the ferry now operates out of nearby Ma‘alaea.

Hawai’i is home to a surprisingly diverse range of cuisines, in large part thanks to its immigrant history. Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Chinese, and other groups of immigrants played a big role in the sugarcane and pineapple plantations. Traders, whalers, and missionaries also contributed to new and interesting dishes being added to menus. These cuisines are evident in dishes like the local plate lunch, bentos, lomi salmon, and Spam musubi.

Before the plantation days, Hawai’i’s original cuisine told the story of Polynesia through canoe plants including ‘ulu (breadfruit), kalo (taro), mai‘a (banana), niu (coconut), and another 20 or so crops that are abundant today. These were all brought in by the original Polynesian voyagers who saw that the islands were abundant with fish and seafood, but lacking in crop plant diversity.

A blend of the two different foodways, Hawai’i Regional Cuisine was created in 1991 by 12 chefs who wanted to emphasize the diversity of cultures represented in Hawai’i food, and also to illuminate local products created by farmers and ranchers in creative and innovative ways. Thirty years later, the impact of this movement can be seen on many menus that highlight Hawaiian products and proudly showcase where a dish’s ingredients came from.

Hawai’i has medical facilities on all of the major islands including hospitals, emergency rooms, and urgent care centers. Some of the luxury resorts also offer concierge care options and alternative health options like IV therapy. Specialized medicine, however, is generally limited to O‘ahu, and major emergencies will almost always need to be flown to O‘ahu for trauma care. Most major insurance is accepted at medical facilities in Hawai‘i.

Pharmacies are easily accessible, with CVS locations (branded as Long’s in Hawai’i) on the four major islands and Walgreens locations on O‘ahu and Maui. Standard over-the-counter drugs are available at major retailers, pharmacies, and smaller stores like gas stations. 

Hawai’i follows all U.S. domestic vaccine requirements for international travelers. There are currently no additional vaccine requirements to travel in and around Hawai’i.

One often overlooked health concern when visiting Hawai’i is vog. This “volcanic smog” is a combination of sulfur dioxide and other emissions that emerge when a volcano, primarily Kīlauea Volcano, is erupting. The vog mostly affects the southwest area of Hawai’i Island due to trade wind patterns, but when trade winds aren’t present East Hawai’i and the other islands can also be affected.

For those with respiratory issues, high vog days can lead to respiratory aggravation, coughing, and increased fatigue. If the volcano is erupting during your visit, be sure to pay attention to local news for forecasts about the vog’s impact that day – you’ll want to opt for more indoor options on high-vog days. For more information on the effects of vog, visit the Vog Information Dashboard.

Hawai’i is a great place to visit year-round, thanks to its tropical climate. Temperatures average between 75 and 85 degrees but can be dramatically cooler in higher elevation areas.

The standard four seasons don’t really exist in Hawai’i in the way that you would think about them in the continental U.S. Instead, there are summer months (April through November), which are typically warmer and drier, and winter months (December through March), which are cooler and wetter.

Though temperatures aren’t dramatically different based on seasons, the ocean certainly is. Winter months can see tumultuous seas that can cause very dangerous conditions. While it’s important all year long to be aware of ocean conditions, during the winter it’s absolutely vital to understand if any watches or warnings are in place before getting in the water. Signage at the beach, local news, and the NOAA website are all good resources that should be taken seriously. Using common sense is also helpful – if you visit a beach and don’t see anyone else in the water while huge waves are crashing, that’s a pretty good indication that you shouldn’t be in the ocean. Never stand on wet rocks – if a wave has crashed there before, it will do it again with little to no warning.

Winter weather isn’t all bad, though! It’s highlighted by whale season, which begins in December and runs through early May (peak viewing time is typically between January through early April). Winter is also a good time to watch surfers do their thing with big wave season running November through February.

One of the great things about visiting Hawai’i is you can pack fairly light. Unless you’re going to a wedding or formal affair, casual, light clothes will make up your vacation wardrobe. If your plans include visiting areas outside of the beach, remember that elevation changes require additional layers of clothing. Sunrise/sunset visits to Mauna Kea and Haleakala and overnight visits to see lava glows in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park will certainly warrant a heavier wardrobe.

A decent amount of consideration should be given to your shoes. If you plan to do a lot of hiking or other intensive out-of-water activities, a good pair of sneakers or hiking boots is needed. In addition to comfort, you’ll want shoes that are solid thanks to terrain that includes dry, prickly Keawe thorns that can penetrate rubber soles and lava rock that can easily eat up weak shoes.

Depending on where you’re visiting, you may want to use basic water shoes. While many beaches are full of soft sand, some of them are characterized by lava rock shores and take a little bit of extra effort to navigate. Water shoes can also keep your feet safe from spiny sea urchins, which cling to rocks and coral below the surface. If you’re wearing shoes in the water, be sure that you know where the coral reefs are and absolutely do not stand on them. 

As a state, Hawai’i has adopted a ban on sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Maui County and Hawai’i County have taken it a step further to require that all sunscreen used in their jurisdictions be mineral sunscreen only. While mineral sunscreen may get a bad rap for being expensive and cakey, there are plenty of brands available (save the luggage space and purchase upon arrival) that are affordable and blend well. Also consider sun protection shirts and hats as an alternative or supplement to sunscreen; they also make great souvenirs!

Hawai’i is a very safe place for all types of travelers, boasting a low murder rate, low violent crime rate, and an overall friendly and helpful population. It’s a safe place for female solo travelers, LGBTQ+ travelers, and travelers with disabilities. Solo travelers should be aware that activities like snorkeling and some of the more moderate to difficult hikes shouldn’t be done alone for safety reasons. Always being aware of your surroundings and keeping alert to changes in weather conditions is extremely important.

While violent crime is low in Hawai’i, property crime is another story. You should never leave anything of value (or even perceived value like an empty backpack) in your rental car, especially in areas with low foot traffic. 

Probably the most important element of safety to be conscious of when visiting Hawai’i is ocean safety. Drowning is the leading cause of death to visitors in Hawai’i; additionally, according to the Hawai’i Department of Health, it’s “the only injury cause for which non-residents comprise a majority of victims (53%), and their inclusion increases the average annual number of deaths.” Most of these deaths happen while snorkeling, often affecting older individuals. A variety of factors may come into play to cause this issue, and research is still being conducted to understand the effects of using full-face mask snorkels, as well as the effects of snorkeling soon after flying, which may cause Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE).

Basic tips to stay safe should apply to any snorkeling trip – test and practice with your gear in shallow, calm water; wait a few days after flying to snorkel; never, ever snorkel alone (and always maintain visual contact with your buddy); and snorkel at beaches with lifeguards. The state’s Ocean Safety website has lots of information about how to have a good time while staying safe in Hawai‘i’s waters and should be required reading for all ocean-bound visitors.

‘Ōlelo Hawai’i (the Hawaiian language) may come off as intimidating thanks to long and unfamiliar words, but vacationers should use the opportunity to get to know the language a little better in order to form a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture. The language was nearly driven to obscurity until its revitalization in the 1970s during the Hawaiian Renaissance, so it’s becoming more and more a part of any visitor’s experience. Do your best to give the language a try, without mocking it, and especially try to refer to locales by their original Hawaiian names, rather than the anglicized versions that have become common.

Here are a few phrases that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try out:

Aloha: One probably doesn’t plan a vacation to Hawai’i without knowing that “aloha” means “hello” and “goodbye.” But aloha means a whole lot more than just a few greetings. Aloha is love, affection, compassion, and it’s a principle tenet of Hawaiian culture. Allow aloha to guide you while on vacation, and you’ll be welcomed again and again.

Mahalo: To express gratitude to your hosts, send them a big “mahalo.” To lay on even more gratitude, “mahalo nui loa” adds “very much” to that thank you.

Kapu: You may come across signs that read “kapu” during your travels. This is a warning to stay away from this place that is taboo or forbidden. There are various reasons for this, including safety, trespassing onto sacred spaces, or entering into private property. 

Wahi pana: These are celebrated and storied places in Hawaiian culture and should be treated with great respect and reverence. If you find a place that is labeled as a “wahi pana” it probably means that it’s something that you should take the time to learn about. (Note that the “w” is pronounced as a “v.”)

Mālama: To care for, protect, or preserve, in Hawai’i we mālama ‘āina (land), we mālama kai (ocean), and we mālama one another. We hope our visitors do the same.

Note that many words and phrases do not translate exactly to English, and a rudimentary internet search has a good chance of coming back with errors – so be careful running out to the nearest tattoo shop for a vacation memory. The best source on the internet to look up Hawaiian words is at wehewehe.org, but understanding context, diacritical marks, and the complexity of the language is important.

Hawai’i is a well-connected state, especially around major tourist areas including resorts and hotels. All major airports in Hawai’i, except OGG on Maui, offer free internet service. Internet access isn’t always free at every hotel – if you know you’ll need to use it frequently, be sure to double-check.

You won’t find any big box electronics stores on the outer islands, but O‘ahu has Best Buy and Apple stores. Target, Walmart, and individual cellular phone stores are options on the outer islands in case of an electronics emergency.

Cell service is great in many areas, but there are plenty of remote places where SOS calls are all you’ll be able to make. Plan ahead with maps and itineraries. Also, keep in mind that geographical features can limit your access to those radiofrequency waves – mountains, valleys, gulches, and areas with steep rock faces can all limit cell phone signals.

While anywhere you visit deserves respect and reverence for its wildlife and wild spaces, it’s of particular importance in Hawai’i. Not only are animals, the earth, and the ocean of extreme cultural importance to the people of Hawai’i, they are also at great risk because of the precarious nature of Hawai‘i’s ecosystems. Hawai’i is known as the Extinction Capital of the World, after all. Learning about the wildlife, incredible flora, coral reefs, and other natural features is an important part of planning a trip to Hawai’i.   

One way to connect with Hawai’i, its people, and its special places it to volunteer while on vacation, and the Mālama Hawai’i program allows travelers to do just that. Use this searchable database to identify opportunities based on date, location, activity type, and cause to add an additional layer of depth to your trip and give back to your hosts.