Things to see and do Hawaii

Timetable

The opening hours of the stores are very variable. However, it seems that the smaller the island, the earlier they close. For shopping malls, the rule is the same for all islands: they open around 9-10 am and close between 8-9 pm. In Waikiki, on Honolulu, the shops stay open much later and generally close at 10:30 pm. Finally, throughout the archipelago, supermarkets generally open at 7am and close between 5pm and 8pm. Some stay open 24 hours a day.

To be booked

Since 2018 tourism has exploded in Hawaii so much that most activities are saturated (luau, water sports equipment rental, guided tours, group excursions...). So remember to book well in advance, especially since most websites offer discounts for reservations more than D-10.

Budget & Tips

Activities are often very expensive in Hawaii (day trip, hiking or kayaking, around 150 US$). Smaller budgets will opt for free activities (swimming, snorkeling, self-guided walks) or daily equipment rentals (around 20-40 US$ for a surfboard). In comparison, bike rentals are not very expensive. Finally, several online sites such as Groupon offer significant discounts on activities.

Main events

The year on the archipelago is marked by many events related to national or state history. There are 17 public holidays during which parades and demonstrations of Polynesian dances are usually organized:

New Year's Day: January^1st.

Martin Luther King Day:^3rd Monday in January

President's Day:^3rd Monday of February.

Prince Kuhio Day: March 26.

Good Friday and Easter Monday: mid-April but dates vary.

Lei Day: May^1st.

Memorial Day: last Monday of May

Kamehameha Day: June 11

Independence Day: July 4th

Admission Day:^3rd Friday of August.

Labor Day:^1st Monday of September.

Columbus Day:^2nd Monday in October.

Election Day:^1st Tuesday of November, the year of the presidential election.

Veteran's Day: November 11

Thanksgiving:^4th Thursday of November

Christmas: December 25th.

Guided tours

Many service providers offer guided excursions on the sea (meeting with dolphins, sailing, snorkeling, swimming with manta rays) or on land (cultural discovery, walking, tasting...). The prices are often high but it allows to learn more about the local culture and to visit spots that are difficult to find alone.

Smokers

You will see very few smokers in Hawaii as in the United States in general, although many have started vaping in recent years. As a general rule it is not appropriate to smoke in public places (restaurants, bars) or even outdoors if a family with children is nearby.

What's very local

If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture but don't have the budget for excursions, head to... the malls! On each island, the malls offer free programming with classes for adults and children in weaving, necklace making, ukulele playing and dancing. Shows and concerts take place several times a week. Finally, the cities usually organize free hula demonstrations on Fridays in the late afternoon.