Facts About Hawaii to Know Before You Visit
Have plans to visit Hawaii or simply thinking about visiting? There are many facts about Hawaii that you will want to know before you go!
Since my family has lived there for over 60 years, I consider myself local(ish) and constantly get asked for recommendations. But when I inquire for more information about the trip of whoever is asking, I often find they don't know much of anything about Hawaii — not even which island(s) they'll be going to.
So below I've compiled a high level overview of Hawaii facts that I think will help you get more acquainted with America's most beautiful state prior to visiting!
Facts About Hawaii
Hawaii is a U.S. state — the 50th and most recent. It became a state in 1959.
It is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands.
There are eight main islands — Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii. Yes, there is an island in the state of Hawaii called Hawaii. But in total there are 137 islands!
Honolulu, the state capital, is on Oahu, as is famous Waikiki. Two-thirds of all Hawaii residents live on the island of Oahu.
More than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii. If you go to Oahu, you MUST try Hawaiian Crown!
Hawaii has it’s own timezone (HST) and does not observe daylights savings. HST is two hours behind PST.
There are only two royal palaces in the US and both are in Hawaii — Iolani Palace on Oahu and Huliheʻe Palace on the Island of Hawaii.
Hawaiian Islands
Of the eight main islands, the majority of visitors go to four of the islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai (in order of most to least according to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority).
OAHU
Oahu, which means “the gathering place”, is my favorite of them all and the most diversified. It is also where all of my family lives so I might be a bit biased. Although it is the third largest island, over half of all Hawaii residents live on Oahu.
Oahu is home to Honolulu, which is the state’s capital and a city you’ve likely heard of before. In Honolulu is Waikiki, famous for Waikiki beach and being a tourist hot spot!
Also on Oahu is Pearl Harbor, the famous North Shore, Diamond Head, and much more. It is my preferred island because you are able to find whatever you want — you can be at a club in the heart of Waikiki if you want some city life or you can rent a house in Kailua or the North Shore and stay fairly remote.
If you will be visiting Oahu, we have everything you need to plan your trip! Starting with the free downloadable guide above.
FOR WHERE TO STAY… click here for the best hotels and resorts and here for the best Airbnbs.
FOR WHERE TO EAT… click here for a local’s guide to the best places to eat.
FOR WHAT TO DO… click here for my top 10 recommendations. My number one recommendation is to swim with dolphins in the wild. Click here for a detailed post about how to do that!
FOR A GUIDE TO VISITING KUALOA RANCH (JURASSIC PARK HAWAII)… click here.
FOR A GUIDE TO THE FAMOUS NORTH SHORE… click here.
FOR WHERE TO HIKE… click here for Crouching Lion (my absolute favorite) and here for the Lanikai Pillboxes (my second favorite!).
FOR THE BEST PHOTO OPPS… click here!
MAUI
The island of Maui is the second largest and also the second most visited of Hawaii. It is a nice happy medium between the hustle and bustle of Oahu and the incredibly laid back nature of Kauai.
Maui, called the “Valley Isle”, is home to popular Lahaina (including Kaanapali and Kapalua) where many resorts are located and Kahului which is the business hub of the island. It has beautiful, world-famous beaches and the Road to Hana, a 68-mile scenic route.
ISLAND OF HAWAII
The Island of Hawaii, also commonly known as the Big Island, is both the youngest and biggest of them all. It is home to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where one of the world’s most active volcanoes (Kilauea) is. Note: this is the one that is currently erupting, sadly.
Aside from volcanoes, the Big Island is home to snow-capped mountains (really), black sand beaches, and tropical jungles with endless amounts of hiking trails.
KAUAI
Kauai, the “Garden Island”, is my second favorite island and arguably the most beautiful! Stepping onto Kauai is like stepping into what my Hawaiian mother often refers to as "old Hawaii”. Much of the island is only accessible by plane or sea and it remains relatively undeveloped.
Kauai is incredibly laid back and made up of nothing but small towns. It’s famous for it’s Na Pali Coast (the most jaw-dropping coastline you can imagine), Waimea Canyon (the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”), Poipu Beach (great for snorkeling), and more!
What to Pack for Hawaii
Having the right travel gear is incredibly important for any trip. Save yourself time and money by getting all of the necessary items prior to arriving at your destination. Some of the items I consider non-negotiable for Hawaii:
COMFORTABLE SHOES — I consider proper walking shoes to be the most important packing item for Europe. The last thing you want is to be mid-trip, with torn up feet, and out of options. Trust me, I’ve been there. My shoe recommendation is not the least expensive option on the market, but it’s definitely the best. You can wear them all day everyday for weeks straight and not once will your feet hurt. They are the only shoes I have ever found that are this way (and trust me, I have tested out a lot). Just imagine being on your once in a lifetime trip, able to run around from sun up to sun down without a worry. That alone makes them worth every penny! I also love them because of their versatility. You can wear them with anything — jeans, leggings, skirts, dresses, anything! If they’re in stock in your size, get them while you still can. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.
My shoe of choice for the beach? Click here.
For more shoe recommendations, click here for my current favorites (updated weekly).
BIKINIS/SWIMWEAR — The most essential packing list for Hawaii item. Bring as many as you have/can fit! I tend to bring one for each day depending on how long I am going for.
If you haven’t tried Boys + Arrows yet - you must. Their seamless bottoms are by far the most comfortable I have EVER tried (and I own over 50 bikinis). Click here for my favorite bikinis!
My other favorite is this brand. The clovelly top is one of my favorite bikini tops of all time - I cannot stop buying them! I get so many compliments when I wear it, too. They call it the "looks good on everyone" top so I'm sure you can't go wrong here. For bottoms I have a few different styles and they're all great. I'd go with whichever one provides the coverage you're looking for.
I also love this brand (I have black + gold and the navy colorful one), this brand, and this brand.
For my go-to inexpensive options, click here and here!
BODYSUITS — If you haven’t already given into the bodysuit craze, now is the time! They are so comfortable, easy to throw on, and so perfect for travel because you don’t have to worry about adjusting your clothes ever while wearing one. There’s currently nothing I love wearing more. Click here to see my current favorites (updated weekly).
DRESSES — I love dresses for travel because you can so quickly throw it on and go. My favorite places to shop for dresses are here, here, here, and here. For cheaper options, I like here, and here. The cheaper sites can take a little more digging to find the good quality stuff, but sometimes it's worth it!
I also really love skirts, especially the current midi skirt trend. Click here to see my current favorites.
CASHMERE WRAP — Another top seller on ckanani.com every single month is this oversized cashmere wrap. It’s something I personally carry in my bag every single day, whether I’m on the road or back at home in San Francisco. If you haven’t already noticed, I love versatility. I’d rather pay a little more for something high quality that’ll last a little longer and also work in a few different ways. I bet you’re a bit like me, so this is a must. You can wear it as a scarf, as a wrap when you find yourself at a surprisingly cold restaurant or flight, as a blanket, and more. I can’t tell you how many times this thing has saved me. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.
PS. If you think this is a crazy recommendation for Hawaii, trust me, it’s not. Every indoor place in Hawaii is insanely air conditioned and you’ll often likely forget a jacket since it’ll be so hot out. Throwing this in your beach bag or whatever bag you’re carrying around will save your life!
LIGHT JACKET. Like I said above, every single place in Hawaii is air conditioned like crazy! Because of this I never leave the house without a jacket - ever. When thinking about what to wear in Hawaii, do not overlook this item. Click here for the jean jacket I love!
SUNGLASSES — Of course! I cannot believe I am about to say this but I’ve found a very cheap brand I recommend. Why is that shocking? Because I absolutely hate cheap sunglasses. I used to be a total sunglass snob and only buy $400 Saint Laurent, Dior, or Chanel sunglasses because the cheap ones feel horrible and don’t actually protect. Until now!! This brand I found on Amazon is under $15/pair and is shockingly impressive. I’ve bought four pairs so far. Click here for my favorite all black aviators, here for my rimless aviators, and here for my square ones.
LEATHER TOTE — I never, ever, ever travel without my leather zipper tote. It holds so much yet never feels as heavy as other bags! I even like it more than my Louis Vuitton Neverfull which cost 5X as much. There are a handful of popular bags that look similar to this one but the quality of this is unmatched. I’ve used mine every single day for 3+ years and it still looks perfect. Click here to check it out.
Traveling with a camera? Click here for the most stylish camera bags for women!
For nighttime or if you’re light traveler during the day too, I highly recommend this convertible clutch. It can be used as a wallet, a clutch, a crossbody bag, or a belt bag. The versatility is huge and it’s such a beautiful piece. I also love the design because unlike most similar bags, your cards and money won’t be loosely placed inside the bag, but actually attached to it. How’s that for secure?! Click here to see the latest prices and color options.
SKINCARE — Do not neglect your skin while traveling! I still can’t believe this exists, but Dermstore has a set with over $200 of professional skincare products for $49.99. I have purchased four so far, that’s how good it is. It contains every single step of a proper skincare routine: cleanser, exfoliant (2), antioxidant serum, hyaluronic acid serum, eye cream, SPF, and face oil. The oil alone costs $80 in the same size if bought individually. Mind blowing! They mentioned to me that there’s only a small number of the sets left so stock up if you find it’s still in stock. It’s great not just for travel but for at home too! Click here to check availability.
For more skincare and beauty recommendations, click here to follow me on Instagram @skincarethatilike.
GOLD LAYERING JEWELRY — Layering jewelry from SHOP CKANANI specifically. It’s my own shop so I'm a bit biased, of course, but hear me out. I’ve always loved jewelry but was tired of spending $60 on a necklace that would tarnish after 2-3 wears so I started making my own. I hand make them in my San Francisco apartment of incredibly high quality, primarily gold filled materials.
Gold filled items are great because they contain 100+ times (!) more real gold than gold plated items. An item being gold filled means that there is an actual layer of gold pressure bonded to another metal, making it much more valuable, durable, and tarnish resistant. This means it’s also perfect for everyday wear and for travel! Because who wants to spend their trip taking their jewelry on and off constantly? Not me!
After sharing pictures of necklaces and bracelets on my Instagram story, I finally gave in to the requests asking me to start selling my creations. And that’s how SHOP CKANANI was born! I’d really love and appreciate your support, especially if you’ve found the info in this post helpful :) Click here to see current availability.
For Hawaii I especially recommend the Kahala necklace, the Global Citizen necklace (our best selling item), and the North Star necklace. Plus an arm full of various gold chain bracelets, of course! And as a special treat from me to you, use code “HAWAII10” for 10% off.
HAIR ACCESSORIES — The easiest way to spice up a look with very minimal effort! Click here to see my current favorites (updated weekly).
HATS — Another great way to spice up a look, plus it’s a fantastic photo prop and can cover up a bad hair day. Click here to see my current favorites (updated weekly).
For a full list of Hawaii packing recommendations, click here for what to pack for Hawaii!
Weather in Hawaii
Before my grandpa passed away we would email each other regularly. In these emails he reminded me basically constantly to “come on over to Hawaii, the weather is always great!”.
He was right — it’s basically 80°F and absolute perfection year-round. January, on average, is the coolest with temps from 65-81°F, and July the hottest with temps from 73-88°F.
The wettest month is usually December but you should expect to see rain on your trip regardless of month as it often sprinkles daily.
All of the above of course can differ by location. For example, Kauai is the wettest island so you should expect to see more rain there than you would on the Big Island.
Language in Hawaii
English and Hawaiian are both official languages in the state of Hawaii. Locals commonly speak something called “Pidgin” which is different than Hawaiian though sometimes confused for it.
All Hawaiian words end in a vowel.
Sometimes you will see what looks like an apostrophe used through words in the Hawaiian language, such as Hawaii`i or O`ahu. This is actually not an apostrophe, but an `okina which faces the opposite direction of an apostrophe. Because many fonts do not support `okina’s you will likely see this replaced with an apostrophe often.
“Aloha” is one of the most largely known Hawaiian words - you likely know it as meaning “hello”. But in addition to “hello”, it also means “goodbye” and, my favorite, “love” :)
Other common Hawaiian words to know:
Mahalo - thank you
Wahine - women (often used on restrooms so important to remember!)
Kane - male
Lei - a flower necklace
Mauka - towards the mountain
Makai - towards the ocean (kai is ocean, you’ll see that everywhere)
Ohana - family, but not just blood relatives!
Kama’aina - Hawaii local
Keiki - children
Lanai - balcony
Shaka - a hand symbol
A hui hou - until we meet again
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a - the state fish (really)
Ku’uipo - sweetheart. You’ll likely see this engraved onto jewelry everywhere
Haole - a foreigner, though usually used to describe someone caucasian (sometimes derogatory)
Pupu - snacks or appetizers
Wikiwiki - fast or speedy
Other Hawaii Facts to Know
SHAVE ICE - shave ice is a very popular and delicious Hawaiian dessert! It is made by shaving a block of ice very finely into a snow-like consistency and then topped with flavored syrup and sometimes other things.
It is called SHAVE ICE not SHAVED ICE (no “d”). If ever you find a place advertising “shaved ice”, you’ll know it is inauthentic and to avoid it!
PIPELINE - Banzai Pipeline is one of the most famous surf spots in the world! It’s located at Ehakai Beach Park but you can type either into Google Maps to find it.
Surfing here can be very dangerous and isn’t recommended if you aren’t an expert. Either way, it’s worth a visit especially if there is a surf competition going on.
NOTE: Pipeline is not the road you drive on to get here, nor is it the name of the big surf competition that is famously held here (that’s Billabong Pipe Masters). It is a beach.
SPAM - locals LOVE spam. You’ll even see it on the menu at McDonalds!
MALASADA - a deep-fried Portuguese donut. Do not leave without trying one!
Other Hawaii Information
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