August 8th, 2007
HAWAII TRAVEL TIPS
HAWAII TRAVEL TIPS
When deciding your wardrobe for Hawaii, plan on packing clothes that suit your lifestyle and travel plans. Start with clothes that are light, loose, and comfortable.
Daytime
• Shorts, sandals or some good walking shoes
• Short sleeve shirts or tops
• Hat and sunglasses
• Swim trunks or swimsuit for the beach
Evenings
• Casual pants and shirts for both men and women
• Dress or skirt and top for women
• Sport coat (if you plan to visit Hawaii’s finest restaurants)
• Light jacket or sweater
• Shorts, sandals or some good walking shoes
• Short sleeve shirts or tops
• Hat and sunglasses
• Swim trunks or swimsuit for the beach
Evenings
• Casual pants and shirts for both men and women
• Dress or skirt and top for women
• Sport coat (if you plan to visit Hawaii’s finest restaurants)
• Light jacket or sweater
Special situations
You’ll need warm clothes if your trip will take you to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island, or to Maui’s Haleakala National Park. That also applies if you’ll be hiking at higher elevations or spending time on the ocean. It does get cool on occasion, particularly if you’ll be spending time up-country on one of the islands, so it’s probably smart to bring a coat or sweater if that’s where you’re headed. Consider bringing:
• Light coat or windbreaker
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Long pants
• Hiking shoes
You’ll need warm clothes if your trip will take you to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island, or to Maui’s Haleakala National Park. That also applies if you’ll be hiking at higher elevations or spending time on the ocean. It does get cool on occasion, particularly if you’ll be spending time up-country on one of the islands, so it’s probably smart to bring a coat or sweater if that’s where you’re headed. Consider bringing:
• Light coat or windbreaker
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Long pants
• Hiking shoes
What Can I Bring
Flying to Hawaii is different than flying to many other destinations. Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii’s unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Aboard your flight to Hawaii, you will be required by state law to fill out an agriculture declaration form.
Flying to Hawaii is different than flying to many other destinations. Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii’s unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Aboard your flight to Hawaii, you will be required by state law to fill out an agriculture declaration form.
• Passengers arriving with fresh fruits & vegetables; cut flowers & foliage; rooted plants & plant cuttings, or algae; raw or propagative seeds or bulbs; soil, growing media, sand; live seafood (lobsters, clams, oysters); cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa; or insects, live fish, amphibians, etc., must declare them and submit them for inspection to a Hawaii Plant Quarantine Inspector in the baggage claim area.
• If you are traveling with live animals, you must declare them and notify a cabin attendant on your flight prior to deplaning.
• All live animals must be turned in to the airport’s Animal Quarantine Holding Facility by the airline, not the passenger, upon arrival.
Baggage Claim
Honolulu, Oahu
The baggage claim area of the Honolulu International Airport is located on the lower (ground floor) level of the Main Terminal. You can get there on the free Wiki-Wiki (Hawaiian for fast, speedy) Shuttle, or by walking and following the signs. It’s less than a 10-minute stroll if you want to stretch your legs.
The baggage claim area of the Honolulu International Airport is located on the lower (ground floor) level of the Main Terminal. You can get there on the free Wiki-Wiki (Hawaiian for fast, speedy) Shuttle, or by walking and following the signs. It’s less than a 10-minute stroll if you want to stretch your legs.
Lihue, Kauai; Kahului, Maui; Kaunakakai, Molokai; Lanai City, Lanai; & Hilo and Kona Hawaii
Directions to baggage claim areas are clearly posted. The luggage carrousels are located on the ground floors of all terminals and are never more than a short walk.
Directions to baggage claim areas are clearly posted. The luggage carrousels are located on the ground floors of all terminals and are never more than a short walk.
Connecting Flights from Honolulu, Oahu
If you are catching a connecting flight from Honolulu to a neighbor island, look at your baggage claim ticket to see if your luggage has been checked through to your final destination. If your baggage claim ticket reads HNL, your luggage will only go as far as Honolulu International Airport. You will need to retrieve your belongings from baggage claim and take them with you to the connecting flight.
If you are catching a connecting flight from Honolulu to a neighbor island, look at your baggage claim ticket to see if your luggage has been checked through to your final destination. If your baggage claim ticket reads HNL, your luggage will only go as far as Honolulu International Airport. You will need to retrieve your belongings from baggage claim and take them with you to the connecting flight.
The main Hawaii airport codes are:
• HNL (Honolulu, Oahu)
• ITO (Hilo, Hawaii)
• KOA (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
• LIH (Lihue, Kauai)
• OGG (Kahului, Maui)
• HNL (Honolulu, Oahu)
• ITO (Hilo, Hawaii)
• KOA (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
• LIH (Lihue, Kauai)
• OGG (Kahului, Maui)
What You Can’t Take Back Home When You Leave Hawaii
All baggage bound from Hawaii to the U. S. Mainland is subject to pre-flight inspection by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Restrictions on fruits, plants, and other items from Hawaii to the Mainland are enforced to prevent the spread of fruit flies and other hazardous plant insects and diseases.
All baggage bound from Hawaii to the U. S. Mainland is subject to pre-flight inspection by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Restrictions on fruits, plants, and other items from Hawaii to the Mainland are enforced to prevent the spread of fruit flies and other hazardous plant insects and diseases.
• If you are departing from Hawaii, all baggage must go through agricultural inspection before checking in at your airline check in counter. Your luggage must pass agricultural inspection. Be sure that any fruits or plants you take home are certified for export.
• Non-certified fruits, vegetables, flowers or plants cannot be taken in your checked or carry-on baggage. Non-inspected agricultural items will be confiscated.
• Once you have checked in for your flight you will be required to go through a security screening process. Keep your boarding pass and picture identification card readily accessible. It is required for the security screening process.
Packing Tips
• Do NOT pack or take prohibited items to the airport. Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml to obtain a listing of prohibited items. If you bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint you may be criminally and/or civilly prosecuted or, at the least, asked to rid yourself of the item. A screener and/or law enforcement officer will make this determination depending on what the item is and the circumstances. Bringing a prohibited item to a security checkpoint, even accidentally, is illegal.
• Do NOT pack or take prohibited items to the airport. Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml to obtain a listing of prohibited items. If you bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint you may be criminally and/or civilly prosecuted or, at the least, asked to rid yourself of the item. A screener and/or law enforcement officer will make this determination depending on what the item is and the circumstances. Bringing a prohibited item to a security checkpoint, even accidentally, is illegal.
• Beginning April 14, 2005, TSA will ban lighters (filled or unfilled) in checked baggage and within all secure areas of the airports.
• Avoid wearing shoes, clothing, jewelry, and accessories that contain metal.
• Refrain from packing or carrying on wrapped presents. Wrapped packages should be mailed ahead of time. Only carry unwrapped presents and wrap them once you arrive at your destination. If the wrapped package sets off an alarm, TSA will need to unwrap it to investigate the source of the alarm.
• Checked baggage will go through a security screening process which may differ, depending on equipment, at each airport.
• Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
• Carry-on baggage is limited to one (1) carry-on bag plus one (1) personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Remember, 1+1.
• Checked baggage is limited to two (2) per passenger.
• Do not over pack. Each checked bag may weigh 50 pounds if you are traveling domestically and 70 pounds if traveling internationally (Hawaii is considered domestic travel) without incurring additional fees.
• Place identification tags in and on all of your baggage. Don’t forget to label your laptop computer. Computers are one of the most forgotten items at screening checkpoints