Hawaii Guide

Hawaii Guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com Independent Hawaii Travel Tips and Advice en-us Tue, 19 May 2026 09:03:39 +0000 https://cdn.hawaiiguide.io/files/images/branding/logo-hawaiiguide-v17-120px.png Hawaii Guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com Where to Hear Live Hawaiian Music in Summer 2026 Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Live Hawaiian music — slack key and ʻukulele on a Hawaiʻi lanai

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/live-hawaiian-music-where-to-hear-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/live-hawaiian-music-where-to-hear-summer-2026 Hawaii Trade Winds Explained: Why One Side of Each Island Is Wet and the Other Is Dry Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

View from Nuuanu Pali Lookout across Oahu's windward coast, the iconic gap in the Koolau Mountains where the trade winds funnel through

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-trade-winds-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-trade-winds-visitor-guide Hawaii Skydiving: Summer 2026 Tandem Guide Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Tandem skydive over the Oahu coastline — the view from a Dillingham Airfield jump

Hawaii skydiving for summer 2026 — both Dillingham operators, what a tandem jump costs, weight and age limits, and when to book.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-skydiving-summer-2026-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-skydiving-summer-2026-guide Hawaiʻi Mango Season 2026: Varieties, Peak Months, and Where to Find Them Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hawaiʻi Mango Season 2026: Varieties, Peak Months, and Where to Find Them

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-mango-season-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-mango-season-summer-2026 Hawaii Windsurfing and Kiteboarding: A Visitor's Guide to Summer Trade Winds Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Windsurfers and kiteboarders on the water at Ho‘okipa Beach Park on Maui's north shore, viewed from the cliff lookout

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-windsurfing-kiteboarding-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-windsurfing-kiteboarding-visitor-guide Hawaiʻi's Ancient Petroglyph Sites: Where to See Them Summer 2026 Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs carved into pāhoehoe lava along the King's Trail at Waikoloa on the Big Island.

Where to see Hawaiʻi petroglyph sites on the Big Island and Maui in summer 2026, plus what to know about Kauaʻi's rarely exposed carvings.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-petroglyph-sites-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-petroglyph-sites-summer-2026 Cash vs. Cards in Hawaii: When You Need Each One Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hilo Farmers Market on the Big Island, with cars parked alongside a painted vendor building.

When you need cash in Hawaii vs. when cards work: food trucks, fruit stands, farmers markets, tipping, parking meters, and ATM access by island.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/cash-vs-cards-in-hawaii-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/cash-vs-cards-in-hawaii-visitor-guide Should You Visit Hawaii? My Answer, After 24 Years and Counting Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

My first sunset on Maui in May 2002, looking west from Kamaole Beach III toward Lanai and Kahoolawe.

Most people ask 'should I visit Hawaii?' like they're weighing a destination. They're actually asking whether something will happen to them. I can only answer one way: by telling you what happened to me.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/should-you-visit-hawaii https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/should-you-visit-hawaii Kīlauea Episode 47 Ended After 9 Hours of Fountaining at Halemaʻumaʻu Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Kīlauea lava fountains rising from Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea's summit on the Big Island

Kīlauea Episode 47 lava fountaining ran 3:27 PM May 14 to 12:27 AM May 15 HST at Halemaʻumaʻu — about 9 hours. Fine ash and Pele's Hair fell on Volcano village and nearby subdivisions.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/kilauea-episode-47-ended https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/kilauea-episode-47-ended Flying to Hawaii This Summer? Don't Forget the REAL ID Rule. Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Passengers settling in for a flight to Hawaii — the REAL ID rule happens long before you board

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-real-id-summer-2026-flight-rules https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-real-id-summer-2026-flight-rules Hawaii Lava Tube Tours: What's Open Summer 2026 Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Nāhuku Thurston Lava Tube interior, paved walking path lit by overhead lights

Hawaii's open lava tubes for summer 2026: Nāhuku/Thurston, Kaumana, and Kazumura on the Big Island. Plus why Hāna Lava Tube on Maui is currently closed.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-lava-tube-tours-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-lava-tube-tours-guide Hawaii Beach Etiquette: 12 Rules That Earn You Local Respect Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A Hawaii beach scene with palm trees, turquoise water, and a sandy shoreline.

Twelve Hawaii beach etiquette rules: wildlife stay-back distances, reef-safe sunscreen, parking, lifeguard flags, and the small things locals actually notice.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-etiquette-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-etiquette-visitor-guide Hawaii Siren Test: What the 11:45 a.m. Sound Means Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Waikiki beach and skyline on Oahu, where visitors most often hear Hawaii's monthly siren test

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-monthly-siren-test-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-monthly-siren-test-visitor-guide Hawaii Cell Service: Coverage and Dead Zones Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A visitor using their phone at a Hawaii lookout, where cell coverage varies sharply between resort areas and remote stretches

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-cell-service-coverage-dead-zones-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-cell-service-coverage-dead-zones-visitor-guide Hawaii Guided Hiking Tours: Summer 2026 Operator Guide Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hikers on the Pipiwai Trail walking through Maui's bamboo forest near Hāna

Hawaii guided hiking tours for summer 2026 — the operators worth booking on each island, what they actually show you, and when a guide beats going solo.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-guided-hiking-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-guided-hiking-tours-summer-2026 Hawaiʻi Beach Gear: Rent, Buy, or Pack From Home? Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A snorkeler floating over a Hawaiʻi reef with mask, fins, and snorkel — the basic gear set most visitors end up using.

Should you rent snorkel gear, buy at ABC Stores, or pack from home? An honest, item-by-item breakdown for first-time Hawaiʻi visitors.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-gear-rent-buy-pack-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-gear-rent-buy-pack-visitor-guide Hawaii Beach Access Laws: What Visitors Need to Know Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Kailua Beach Park on Oahu — a public county park with marked parking and clear beach access

Hawaii law protects public use of the shoreline, but legal paths to the sand can be contested. Here's what visitors should know for summer.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-access-laws-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-access-laws-visitor-guide Hawaiʻi Snorkeling for Beginners: A First-Timer's Guide for Summer 2026 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Tropical reef fish over hard coral at Hanauma Bay on Oʻahu — the kind of scene first-time snorkelers in Hawaiʻi come for.

First-time snorkeling in Hawaiʻi this summer? The four easiest beaches by island, the gear basics that matter, and the five rookie mistakes worth avoiding.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-snorkeling-for-beginners-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-snorkeling-for-beginners-summer-2026 Hawaii Jet Ski Tours: Summer 2026 Rider's Guide Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Kāʻanapali Beach on Maui, the launch zone for Maui's only jet ski operator, which reopens for summer 2026 on May 15

Hawaii jet ski tours summer 2026: where to ride on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, why Maui reopens May 15, and why Kauai has none.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-jet-ski-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-jet-ski-tours-summer-2026 Swimming in Hawaii Waterfalls and Streams: What to Know Before You Jump In Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Swimming in Hawaii Waterfalls and Streams: What to Know Before You Jump In

What every visitor should know before swimming in Hawaii waterfall pools and streams — leptospirosis, flash floods, jumping risks, and where to go anyway.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-freshwater-swimming-safety-waterfalls-streams https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-freshwater-swimming-safety-waterfalls-streams Altitude Sickness on Mauna Kea and Haleakalā Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Sunset atop Mauna Kea above a sea of clouds, Big Island Hawaii

Mauna Kea (13,803 ft) and Haleakalā (10,023 ft) put visitors in altitude-sickness range. How to plan, what symptoms to watch for, and when to turn back.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-altitude-sickness-mauna-kea-haleakala-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-altitude-sickness-mauna-kea-haleakala-visitor-guide Kona Coffee Harvest 2026: When to Visit Hawaiʻi's Coffee Belt and What You'll See Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Coffee picker hand-harvesting ripe red cherries on a Kona coffee farm on Hawaiʻi Island during harvest season

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/kona-coffee-harvest-2026-when-where-visit https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/kona-coffee-harvest-2026-when-where-visit Hawaii Movie Location Tours: A Summer 2026 Visitor's Guide Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Aerial view of Kualoa Ranch's Kaʻaʻawa Valley on Oahu, the filming site for Jurassic Park and Jurassic World

Hawaii movie location tours for summer 2026: Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, Manawaiopuna Falls and the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, plus booking lead times.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-movie-location-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-movie-location-tours-summer-2026 Flying a Drone in Hawaii: Rules Visitors Miss Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

The dramatic green cliffs of the Koʻolau range as seen from the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout on Oʻahu

A plain-English guide to Hawaii drone rules for visiting pilots: FAA airspace, the NPS ban, DLNR state park permits, and the county patchwork.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-drone-rules-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-drone-rules-visitor-guide Hawaiʻi Jet Lag: A Visitor's Guide to Beating the Time Zone Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Sunrise over Lanikai Beach on Oʻahu, with calm turquoise water and the Mokulua Islands on the horizon

How to handle Hawaii jet lag from any US time zone. Arrival day rules, sleep schedule math, and why the trip home is the rough one.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-jet-lag-time-zone-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-jet-lag-time-zone-visitor-guide Hawaii Cultural Tours Summer 2026: Heritage Experiences Worth Booking Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hula dancers in red dresses performing at an outdoor cultural event in Honolulu — the kind of context most travelers only see at a single luau, but that's the surface of a much deeper cultural-tour landscape across the four main islands.

A 2026 guide to Hawaii cultural tours on each island — palace tours, place-of-refuge walks, voyaging exhibits, and taro-valley visits beyond the luau.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-cultural-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-cultural-tours-summer-2026 Hawaiʻi Beach Picnic Guide Summer 2026: Best Beach Parks, Where to Pick Up Food, and What to Pack Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hawaiʻi Beach Picnic Guide Summer 2026: Best Beach Parks, Where to Pick Up Food, and What to Pack

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-picnic-guide-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-beach-picnic-guide-summer-2026 Hawaiʻi Sport Fishing Charters Summer 2026: What's Biting and Where to Book Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A blue marlin breaks the surface off the Big Island during peak summer fishing season

Peak blue marlin season runs June through September. What's biting, which Hawaiʻi harbors are running, 2026 charter prices, and booking lead times.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-sport-fishing-charters-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-sport-fishing-charters-summer-2026 Hawaii's South Shore Surf Season 2026: A Watcher's Guide Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A rack of longboards lined up on a south-shore Honolulu beach with palms and ocean behind.

Hawaii's south shore surf season runs May–September. Where to watch summer swells safely on each island.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-south-shore-surf-season-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-south-shore-surf-season-summer-2026 Hawaiʻi Rainbow Eucalyptus: Where to Actually See the Painted Trees Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Rainbow eucalyptus tree trunk showing patches of green, orange, blue, and maroon bark

Where to find rainbow eucalyptus trees on Maui, Kauaʻi, the Big Island, and Oʻahu, why the bark turns those colors, and how to photograph them well.

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