Honolulu Travel Tips

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Honolulu has a big city feel, but it still retains the trademark "aloha spirit" of the islands. Of course, this is evident in the tourist areas like Waikiki, where making tourists feel welcome is an economically important pastime. But Honolulu as a whole is a laid back place with plenty of local attractions that are exciting enough for an urban aficionado and laid back enough to fit into anyone's idea of an ideal Hawaiian vacation.

Here are some tips to help island travelers get the most out of a stay in Hawaii's main metropolis:

1. It is actually quite easy to avoid the tourist scene in Honolulu. Bars and restaurants in the downtown area generally have more of a local vibe. Local restaurants serving authentic Hawaiian cuisine are also easy to come by.

2. Traffic in Honolulu can be a problem. This is the only truly dense pocket of population in the state and with a limited number of roads; it only takes a small traffic problem to slow down the entire system. In Honolulu, especially the Waikiki area, the local bus is a good alternative to driving. Even if you plan to drive around the island, consider the bus for trips around the city.

3. Hawaii is a reasonably safe destination for anyone who does not go out looking for trouble. However, there is a rather high incidence of property crime. Pickpockets patrol crowded tourist areas looking for easy marks and thieves have been known to break into cars or hotel rooms. The easiest way to avoid this type of crime is to be vigilant, never carry money in an easily accessible place - such as a back pocket - and keep your valuables out of sight if you leave them in your car.

4. Hawaii is known for its sunny, perpetually warm weather. It is sunny much of the time, with the mountains and valleys on the northeastern side of the islands getting a majority of the rain. The good thing about Hawaii is that rain showers are usually localized. This means that rain patterns are affected by the inland mountains; so if it is raining on one side of the island, it will, more than likely, be dry on the other.

5. Many people come to Hawaii to try water sports. While this is a great place to get a taste of surfing or scuba diving, it is best to know your limits. Surfing lessons are easy to come by, and many are reasonably priced. There is no need for novices to risk life and limb on more advanced waves like the famous Banzai Pipeline.