Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [476]
Some activities (like horseback riding, surf lessons and helicopter tours) require that children be of a certain age, height or weight to participate. Always ask if restrictions apply. Each island chapter includes specific advice for the best kid-friendly activities; see O′ahu (boxed text, Click here), the Big Island (boxed text, Click here), Maui (boxed text, Click here), Lana′i (Click here), Moloka′i (Click here) and Kaua′i (Click here).
If you forget some critical piece of equipment, Baby’s Away (on the Big Island 800-996-9030, on O′ahu 800-496-6386, on Maui 800-942-9030; www.babysaway.com) rents cribs, strollers, playpens, high chairs and more. The easiest and most reliable way to find babysitters is to ask the hotel concierge.
For general advice about traveling with children, check out Travel With Your Kids.com (www.travelwithyourkids.com), which also has specific advice for O′ahu and Maui. Go City Kids (http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com) covers Honolulu, and Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children has lots of valuable tips and amusing tales.
Na keiki (children) are welcome most every-where in Hawaii (except at some B&Bs). Children under 17 or 18 often stay free when sharing a hotel room with their parents and using existing bedding. But always ask. Cots and roll-away beds are usually available (for an additional fee) at hotels and resorts.
Many restaurants have children’s menus and high chairs are usually available – but if a high chair is a necessity at every meal, bring a collapsible seat.
Car-rental companies (Click here) are required to provide child-safety seats, but only if you reserve in advance; bring your own and you’ll avoid any mixups.
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CLIMATE CHARTS
Native Hawaiians have about as many words for rain and wind as Native Alaskans have for snow. However, if each day’s weather is impossible to predict, the overall climate is remarkably even tempered.
Average temperatures in Hawaii differ only about 7°F from winter to summer. Near the coast, average highs are about 83°F and lows around 68°F. Hawaii’s mountains trap tradewinds blowing from the northeast, blocking clouds and bringing abundant rainfall to each island’s windward side. Conversely, those same mountains block wind and rain from the southwesterly, or leeward, side, where it’s the driest and sunniest.
During kona (leeward) weather, winds blow from the south, turning snorkeling spots into surfing spots and vice versa. Kona storms usually occur in winter and are very unpredictable.
The Honolulu office of the National Weather Service (www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl) offers a comprehensive online weather forecast, but for the coolest infrared and satellite images, visit the University of Hawaii Meteorology Department (http://weather.hawaii.edu).
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COURSES
Some resorts and shopping centers, for example Whalers Village on Maui (Click here), offer free or low-cost classes and workshops in hula, traditional Hawaiian arts and the like. Since many schedules are unpredictable, keep your eyes and ears open. The hotel concierge is always a good source of information. Also check out the Big Island’s East Hawai′i Cultural Center (Click here) and the Volcano Art Center (Click here), and Maui’s Hui No′eau Visual Arts Center (Click here).
For an overview of meditation, yoga and alternative healing classes and retreats on the islands, p88.
The main venue for courses is the University of Hawai′i (UH; www.hawaii.edu), which has its main campus at Manoa on O′ahu and a smaller campus in Hilo on the Big Island. UH offers full-time university and summer-school courses. The summer session consists primarily of two six-week terms. For a catalog, contact the Outreach College office (956-5666, 800-862-6628; www.outreach.hawaii.edu/summer; Room 101, Krauss Hall, 2500 Dole St, Honolulu, HI 96822).
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DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
In general, Hawaii is a very safe place to visit. For travelers, the two main concerns are car break-ins