Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [480]
Major credit cards are widely accepted (except occasionally by B&Bs), and they are required for car rentals. Most ATM withdrawals using out-of-state cards incur surcharges of $2 or so.
Post
Mail delivery to and from Hawaii usually takes a little longer than similar services on the US mainland via the US postal service (USPS; 800-275-8777; www.usps.gov). For 1st-class mail sent and delivered within the USA, postage rates are 44¢ for letters up to 1oz (17¢ for each additional ounce) and 28¢ for standard-size postcards. International airmail rates for postcards and letters up to 1oz are 75¢ to Canada, 79¢ to Mexico and 98¢ to other countries.
You can have mail sent to you c/o General Delivery at most big post offices in Hawaii (it’s usually held for 30 days). Most hotels will also hold mail for incoming guests.
Practicalities
For phone, dialing and electrical advice, a good online resource is www.kropla.com.
Voltage is 110/120V, 60 cycles (the US standard).
Hawaii’s major daily newspaper is the Honolulu Advertiser.
Hawaii has about 50 radio stations, and it receives all the major US TV networks and cable channels (including Japanese-language programs).
Video systems use the NTSC standard (not compatible with the PAL system).
As on the mainland, distances are measured in feet, yards and miles; weights in ounces, pounds and tons.
Telephone
Always dial ‘1’ before toll-free (800, 888 etc) and domestic long-distance numbers. Some toll-free numbers only work within the state or from the US mainland.
To make international calls from Hawaii, dial 011 + country code + area code + number. For international operator assistance, dial 0. To call Hawaii from abroad, the international country code for the USA is 1.
Pay phones are readily found in shopping centers and public places. Calls on a single island are considered local and cost 25¢ or 50¢. Calls from one island to another are always long distance and require dialing Hawaii’s area code 808. Private prepaid phone cards are available from convenience stores, supermarkets and pharmacies.
Most of the USA’s mobile-phone systems are incompatible with the GSM 900/1800 standard used throughout Europe and Asia. Check with your service provider about using your phone in Hawaii. In terms of coverage, Verizon has the most extensive network, but AT&T, Cingular and Sprint are decent. Cellular coverage is best on O′ahu, more spotty on Neighbor Islands, and nonexistent in many remote regions.
Time
Hawaii has its own time zone and does not observe daylight saving time. Noon in Hawaii equals 2pm in Los Angeles, 5pm in New York, 10pm in London, 7am the next day in Tokyo, 8am the next day in Melbourne, and 10am the next day in Auckland.
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INTERNET ACCESS
Most hotels and B&Bs, and many restaurants and other businesses, now offer high-speed internet access; in this book, the symbol indicates the availability of an internet terminal, and the symbol indicates wi-fi. Always ask about rates; they can sometimes be exorbitant.
Most towns have cybercafés and business centers with inexpensive internet access (see Information sections). Hawaii’s public libraries (www.librarieshawaii.org) provide free internet access if you have a temporary nonresident library card ($10).
For a list of wi-fi hot spots in Hawaii (plus tech and access info), visit Wi-Fi Alliance (www.wi-fi.org) and Wi-Fi Free Spot (www.wififreespot.com). If you bring a laptop from outside the USA, invest in a universal AC and plug adapter. Also confirm that your modem card will work; for advice and technical help visit TeleAdapt (www.teleadapt.com).
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LEGAL MATTERS
You have the right to an attorney from the moment you are arrested. If you can’t afford one, the state must provide one for free. The Hawaii State Bar Association (537-9140, 800-808-4722; www.hawaiilawyerreferral.com) makes attorney referrals, but foreign visitors may want to call their consulate for advice.