For decades the Hawaii Islands were an isolated, distant and remote destination which only a few wealthy people could afford to travel to and enjoy the luxury which these islands have always been associated with. Then on the 7 December 1941 the islands hit the news for disastrous reasons after a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour, destroying key strategic points of the air force defence and sinking several ships, including the Arizona and Oklahoma, which are now pieces of museum and memorials. The attack led to the United States getting involved in the Second World War and retaliate back to Japan with a nuclear bomb.

After things calmed down and the war was over on the 2nd of September 1945, tourism soon returned to the islands. At the beginning flying to Hawaii, was a matter of many hours, even days, and on board old war-used planes. However this was changing by the 1970 with the introduction of jet planes which reduced flying time from the west coast to the USA to Honolulu to about 6 hours. The islands quickly became more popular to foreign tourists from Europe and Asia, making the destination an ideal place for honey-moon couples and for celebratory trips.  

The Islands of Hawaii become a State of the USA in 1959, located in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, about 3,200 km from the west coast of the Continental United States. The state is formed by 8 main islands, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii. Thanks to the advances in aviation now you can reach Honolulu from Los Angeles or San Francisco in just over 5 hours. 

The islands are a true and natural paradise of unparalleled beauty, with plenty of soft sand beaches with transparent crystal waters, renowned for relaxing or for aquatic and adventure sports. The Hawaii Islands offers to the visitor a unique experience which can't be compared to anywhere else on the planet with mother nature at its most essential. 

Whether it's the nature which attracts you to Hawaii or the glamour of it's popular resorts and beaches, make sure your visit is complete and get to experience as much of the islands as possible.

The distance and location of Hawaii is one of the reasons why not that many people actually travel there. However since 2010 the cost of travelling to Hawaii has dramatically decreased thanks to the revolution in air travel, with more advanced planes and lower costs. Nevertheless when travelling to Hawaii now a days you need to consider the cost of accommodation as the main factor as to how many days to stay. The islands have always been associated with luxury, so paying for services, tours and accommodation is always at a premium rate. 

In our guides we will tell you how to maximise your time in Hawaii and make the most of your stay.

The islands location makes it ideal to visit any time of year. The average temperature is between 24-30°C. There are two main seasons, Summer, (April to November) is warm and dry with temperatures up to 33°C at the peak of the Summer (July-August). While winter, (December to March, is a bit cooler (20-26°C).
If you're coming to watch the Whales, the season begins in late December and ends in early May. 

For surf lovers the best time to come is November to February when the big wave surf season is located on Hawaii’s north shores.

Hawaiian food offers the best mix of Pacific influence and some new American cooking styles, influenced by Chinese, Japanese, Mediterranean, Mexican and other Asian countries. Many dishes are based on chicken, pork, seafood and local fruit and vegetables. When visiting in Hawaii, don't miss out on trying the juices, cocktails and smoothies which are made with exotic fruits from the Pacific area. Served in long glasses, with a straw and lot's of ice is the best way to keep cool during the hot days.

The typical dishes you can find on the islands are: The traditional Hawaiian feast, the luau  based around a puaa kalua (whole pig) that has been shaved and rubbed with rock salt on the inside. It is then placed on chicken wire, filled with hot stones from the fire, and cooked in an imu (pit) along with sweet potatoes, plantains and sometimes laulau (pork, butterfish and spinach-like taro shoots wrapped in leaves and steamed) served with traditional Hawaiian poi (thick paste made from ground taro). Other dishes includes moi (mullet) ulua, opakapaka (pink snapper), lobster, yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi. 
Hawaiian breakfast specialities are macadamia nuts, banana and coconut pancakes with coconut syrup. Pineapples are the biggest crop in Hawaii and you will see many variations of this fruit, together with other tropical fruits to make juices, smoothies and ice-cream. , banana and coconut pancakes with coconut syrup. Pineapples are the biggest crop in Hawaii and you will see many variations of this fruit, together with other tropical fruits to make juices, smoothies and ice-cream. 

✔️Tip: Try Shave Ice cream: a very popular dessert and snack on the islands which become popular in the 80’s when new tropical flavors surfaced such as mango, lilikoi (passion fruit), and guava. Hawaiian shave ice became magical when a scoop of vanilla ice cream was placed at the bottom of the cup before piling snow on top.  Then you can add syrup flavours on top of the snow, which gives it it's distinctive colours. As the sweet flavors drip there way down the cup and blended in with the ice cream, you can imagine the treat that awaits you!  Today Hawaii shave ice establishments continue to push the envelope with flavors & toppings, and create some of the most amazing creations has ever seen,  available all over the islands. 

On Hawaii Island or the Big Island as it's commonly known, the weather factors vary greatly because of the Volcanoes which are constantly erupting and mixing into the sky, gasses and fumes from within the Earth. Generally the climate is the same as the rest of the islands, warm and humid during most of the year. However on the big island it can seem always more cloudy and grey, due to the clouds which gather around the mountain hills and the wind currents which bring in precipitations.
When the sun shines it can feel really hot but when the sun is hidden by the thick clouds, temperatures can drop easily by 5°C. Evenings and nights are also fresher, so it's advised to take jackets, and mountain gear if you are staying for longer.

Also an interesting aspect of the island is it's rainfall which falls mainly at night, it can be at times heavy rain and constant the higher you travel into the centre of the island. 

The days can always change in a matter of a few hours, so taking umbrellas or waterproof gear is very advisable when visiting Hawaii Island. 

Although most of Hawaii Island remains safe, caution should be taken in or around the area of volcanic activity. The volcanic activity and accompanying earthquakes, tsunami risk, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions pose deadly risks. Visitors in the area must pay attention to official information in order to protect themselves in the case that the Volcano starts erupting more violently.  

When taking tours, always pay attention to the guide's safety advice and experience on the routes chosen. Also sometimes, due to the weather factors, some activities and tours needs to be cancelled due to higher lava activity, high gas emissions or intense rainfall (which might contain toxic particles).

Local residents and visitors are urged to stay informed about any recent notifications on the volcanic activity.
You can register to be part of Hawaii County’s emergency notification system by going to this link.

❗Attention:  What can you do if you encounter volcanic threat activity?

• Maintaining mental and emotional health: Most importantly don't panic and remain calm. Evacuations and the insecurity of not knowing what will happen are a source of stress and anxiety for many people. Talk to your family members and friends to maintain a strong support system. Children are particularly vulnerable. Help your children by sharing age-appropriate information and being honest.
• Stay up to date: Watch local news or check updates online that can warn you of level of action being taken in the area. Another option is to contact your accommodation and informing them about your plans, dates and needs for them to be informed and transmit the necessary information to the authorities if necessary. 
  
• Don't rush to the airport: Most flights will not operate if the threat of volcanic activity is high. The best thing is to remain in your hotel and call the airline for advice on ticket changes and checking online for status updates.
  
• Be aware of vog and vog risk: It's mog or haze containing volcanic dust and gases. When levels of vog are high, avoid outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and avoid smoking. Stay indoors and close windows and doors. If an air conditioner is in use, set it to recirculate.
• Volcanic ash health risks. When explosive volcanic eruptions occur, volcanic ash can be a health hazard, even miles away from the eruption. Volcanic ash can cause problems breathing, especially for those with respiratory issues. Thin strands of volcanic glass fibers carried on the wind can cause damage to the eyes and lungs.
  If you experience any difficulties in breathing or other not usual symptoms call immediately 911. 
  
• Masks for protection from volcanic ash: If you happen to encounter an eruption, always stay indoors and contact your accommodation for advice. They are prepared in distributing free N95 masks for protection from volcanic ash.
  
• Water catchment systems and volcanic emissions: If there is an eruption don't use / drink tap water and instead only drink bottled water. Volcanic emissions may contaminate these water sources, making them unsuitable for drinking or preparing food. Volcanic ash may also interfere with common water treatment methods such as filtration and chlorination, raising health risks.
• Take breaks and don't do any physical exercise that might require breathing more air that could potentially contain traces of ash.

The island of Hawaii, has two main airports, Hilo and Kona. When visiting the island for it's rainforests, waterfalls and active volcanoes the best airport to travel to is Hilo (ITO). When arriving, the airport is very small and it will take only a few minutes from plane to exit. As you arrive you will notice a tourism information desk situated in the arrivals area. They will give you handy information, maps and bus times to move around the island. 

From the airport you can travel to downtown Hilo in around 25 min. Note that the bus does not operate on Sundays, and on Saturdays there are reduced services.
Scheduled times to the airport from Hilo Bus Station: 8:00am, 9:20am, 10:40am, 12:00pm, 1:20pm, 2:40pm, 4:00pm, and 5:20pm. 

Local transportation around the island is very limited, if you are not renting a car, you will need to adjust the travel by the bus times which operate throughout the island.

Once in Hilo, the town is not big to walk around. However if you going to other areas, then it's essential you look at the bus times, or you will be getting a taxi back to your accommodation. Most busses stop in the evening around 7-9pm. 

Note: Some busses will travel around the island via neighbourhoods and estates which increases the travel by several hours. 

To check the routes and schedules please see the link below, by the official bus company Hale-On Bus.

Staying in Hilo is much cheaper than other areas around Hawaii, saying that, it is still pricey to stay in Hotels close to the centre or the bay. Hotels in the area can be found with a more humble approach, informal and relaxed service. Prices can be found for a double room at $70 per night. However, there are also lots of hostels in the area near Hilo downtown which offer shared accommodation and cheaper prices. ($25-30 per night).

Alternatively staying in other areas will also drastically reduce the price, but you will need a car ideally to move around, because some accommodations can be in the middle of the rainforest literally! 

💭Suggestion! One recommended Hostel for short stays is the Wild Ginger Inn Hostel. It offers basic accommodation with breakfast and Free Wifi, conveniently located in Hilo, 5 min walk to the centre. It has private rooms as well as shared and dormitory rooms.  

Hilo, as a place to visit by itself is not worth staying for more than a day, specially make sure you visit by a Friday or Saturday because the rest of the week can be quite empty and shops close early. The key to stay in the area relies on the tours which are available from Hilo and the beautiful scenery and specially the Volcano Park located nearby.

When doing the tours or visiting other areas of the island then it's suggested to stay from 2 to 4 nights.