Hawaii Guide

Hawaii Guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com Independent Hawaii Travel Tips and Advice en-us Sat, 23 May 2026 22:42:06 +0000 https://cdn.hawaiiguide.io/files/images/branding/logo-hawaiiguide-v17-120px.png Hawaii Guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com Hawaii Food & Wine Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets & How to Plan Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A plated dish of fresh local Hawaii ingredients served at a culinary event

The 2026 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival runs Oct 16–Nov 8 across three islands. Tickets go on sale May 23. Here's how the festival works and how to plan a trip around it.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-food-wine-festival-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-food-wine-festival-2026 Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Race 2026: Big Island Guide Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

An outrigger canoe crew paddling together through open Hawaiian ocean water

The world's largest outrigger canoe race runs September 3-7, 2026 in Kailua-Kona over Labor Day weekend. What it is, where to watch free, and how to plan.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/queen-liliuokalani-canoe-race-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/queen-liliuokalani-canoe-race-2026 Hawaii Activities for Non-Swimmers (Summer 2026) Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Aerial view from a Hawaii helicopter tour, one of the best ways to see the islands without ever getting in the water

You don't have to swim to love Hawaii. The best dry-land, in-the-air, and stay-aboard activities for non-swimmers and nervous-in-water travelers in summer 2026.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-activities-for-non-swimmers https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-activities-for-non-swimmers Getting Around Hawaii Without a Car: Buses & Rail Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Waikiki and the Honolulu skyline backed by Diamond Head, the most walkable, transit-friendly spot in the islands

Can you visit Hawaii without renting a car? An honest island-by-island look at TheBus, Skyline rail, Maui Bus, free Hele-On, and the Kauai Bus.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/getting-around-hawaii-without-a-car https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/getting-around-hawaii-without-a-car Labor Day Weekend in Hawaiʻi 2026: What to Know Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Visitors enjoying a sunny day on Waikīkī Beach on Oʻahu over a busy holiday weekend

Labor Day weekend 2026 in Hawaii falls September 5-7. Aloha Festivals, crowd and pricing tips, what to book now, and why the week after is the real bargain.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/labor-day-weekend-hawaii-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/labor-day-weekend-hawaii-guide What to Wear in Hawaii: An Honest Dress Guide Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A fire dancer performs at a sunset luau on Maui, the kind of evening where Hawaii visitors wonder whether they're dressed right

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-what-to-wear-visitor-dress-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-what-to-wear-visitor-dress-guide Hawaii Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Akaka Falls dropping through dense rainforest on the Big Island's Hamakua coast

A rainy day in Hawaii doesn't have to waste a vacation day. Aquariums, museums, farm tours, lava tubes, and the dry-side trick that saves the afternoon.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-rainy-day-activities https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-rainy-day-activities Puʻukoholā Heiau Cultural Festival: August 2026 Guide Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Puʻukoholā Heiau, the stone temple platform above Kawaihae on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi

Free Hoʻokuʻikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival at Puʻukoholā Heiau, Big Island, August 15-16, 2026. What happens and how to visit.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/puukohola-heiau-cultural-festival-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/puukohola-heiau-cultural-festival-2026 Hawaii Wellness That Isn't a Spa Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

The green taro fields of Hanalei valley on Kauai, framed by steep ridges

The most restorative thing about Hawaii isn't on a spa menu. How to find real wellness in the ocean, the forest, the quiet, and the mālama mindset on any budget.

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-wellness-without-a-spa https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-wellness-without-a-spa Where to Go in Hawaii When You Want to Slow Down Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Hanalei Bay and its pier on Kauai's north shore, calm water ringed by green mountains

The unhurried Hawaii trip is also the most restful one. Where to base on Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, and Molokai when you want to slow all the way down.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-slow-paced-neighbor-islands https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-slow-paced-neighbor-islands Hawaiʻi Distillery Tours: Craft Rum, Vodka & Whiskey for Summer 2026 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A couple toasting tropical drinks in Hawaiʻi, the kind made with island-distilled rum

Hawaiʻi grows its own sugarcane and distills it into rum, vodka, and whiskey. Where to tour the distilleries on each island this summer.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-distillery-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-distillery-tours-summer-2026 Bugs in Hawaii: What Visitors Actually Need to Know Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Manoa Falls on Oahu surrounded by dense rainforest, the kind of cool, damp, shaded valley where Hawaii's mosquitoes actually concentrate

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]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-bugs-mosquitoes-centipedes-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-bugs-mosquitoes-centipedes-visitor-guide Sharks in Hawaii: An Honest Safety Guide for Visitors Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A shark glides through clear blue water off the coast of Hawaii

How worried should you really be about sharks in Hawaii? Honest numbers, real ocean risks, and simple habits that keep your already-small risk low.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/sharks-in-hawaii-visitor-safety-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/sharks-in-hawaii-visitor-safety-guide Oahu's North Shore in Summer: Beach Days Visitors Miss Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

Waimea Bay on Oʻahu's North Shore, turquoise water and a curve of sand framed by green hills — the summer face of a coast better known for winter surf.

Oahu's North Shore calms down in summer. Waimea Bay swims, Sharks Cove snorkels, Three Tables turtles. A planning guide for May through September.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/oahu-north-shore-summer-beach-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/oahu-north-shore-summer-beach-guide Hawaii Waterfall Rappelling Tours: Summer 2026 Guide Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A tall windward Maui waterfall, representative of the rainforest setting (the actual commercial rappel site is on private land further along the Road to Hana)

Hawaii waterfall rappelling, summer 2026: it's really a two-island activity. Rappel Maui on the Road to Hana, plus a guided waterfall rappel on Kauai.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-waterfall-rappelling-tours-summer-2026 https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-waterfall-rappelling-tours-summer-2026 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 Doing Laundry on a Hawaii Vacation: A Visitor Guide Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 John C. Derrick

A family enjoying a sandy beach day in Kauai with toddlers in swimwear

How to handle laundry on a Hawaii vacation: in-unit condo washers, resort and laundromat costs, and the sand-and-salt problem nobody warns you about.

]]> https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-laundry-vacation-visitor-guide https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-laundry-vacation-visitor-guide 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.

]]> 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.

]]> 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

]]> 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.

]]> 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