A trip to Hawaii

DECIDE THE BEST TIME TO GO

You can visit Hawaiʻi anytime – the weather is agreeable year-round. It may be a bit rainier in winter and a bit hotter in summer, but there are no extremes because cooling trade winds blow throughout the year.

Winter (mid-December through mid-April) is the busiest tourist season, thanks to the ubiquitous goal of snowbirds who escape cold weather in other parts of the world. In summer, crowds of families take Hawaiian vacations, while during the holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yearʻs) rooms are scarce and prices can spike.

For the budget-conscious, look for Hawaiʻi travel mid-September through mid-November, and during the weeks following Easter, until Memorial Day at the end of May. Thatʻs when you’re more likely to find good deals on accommodations and airfare. Surfers will find the largest waves in winter, while optimal windsurfing conditions hit during summer. Whale-watching tours usually depart between January and March only.

Today, Hawaiian culture is about much more than just melodic place names and luau shows. Being Hawaiian is an important part of the islands’ identity, reflected in ways both large and small, from the inclusion of Hawaiian words in everyday speech to embracing the concepts of respect and inclusion. Although few island residents can agree on what shape the Hawaiian sovereignty movement should take, its grassroots political activism is increasingly part of the local dialogue.

Residents are usually willing to share surf spots that have become popular tourist destinations, but they reserve the right to protect other “secret” surf grounds. As a newbie in the lineup, don’t expect to get every wave that comes your way. There’s a definite pecking order, and frankly, tourists are at the bottom. That being said, usually if you give a wave, you’ll get a wave in return. Be generous in the water, understand your place and surf with a smile. At famous breaks where surfers can be ferociously territorial, such as Oʻahu’s Banzai Pipeline, ask a local for an introduction.

The casual local dress code means that T-shirts and flip-flops are ubiquitous, except at Honolulu’s top-tier restaurants and at high-end resorts across the islands. Going fancy means neat, modest attire, which for men usually just means an aloha shirt and slacks.

The islands are notorious for thefts from parked cars, especially rentals (which are obviously tagged with barcode stickers). Thieves can pop a trunk or pull out a door-lock assembly within seconds. They strike not only at trailheads when you’ve gone for a hike, but also at crowded beach and hotel parking lots where you’d expect safety in numbers.

Do not leave anything valuable in your parked car, ever. If you must, then pack all valuables out of sight before arriving at your destination; thieves lurk about to see what you put in the trunk.

The main scams directed toward visitors involve fake activity-operator booths and timeshare booths. Salespeople at the latter will offer you all sorts of deals, from free luaus to sunset cruises, if you’ll just come to hear their “no obligation” pitch. Caveat emptor.

A trip to Hawaii