Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [490]
Helicopter tours get you to some amazing places. Prices vary depending on the destination and the length of the flight, with a 45-minute tour averaging $130 to $180 per passenger. These are mainly offered on the Big Island (see the boxed text, Click here), Kaua’i (Click here) and Maui (Click here). For chartered sightseeing flights, see the airlines listed on Click here.
If you want to visit another island while you’re in Hawaii but only have a day or two to spare, consider an island-hopping tour to the Neighbor Islands. The largest company specializing in ‘overnighters’ is Roberts Hawaii (on O’ahu 523-9323, from the Neighbor Islands & US mainland 800-349-3888; www.robertsovernighters.com).
Elderhostel (800-454-5768; www.elderhostel.org) offers educational programs for those aged 55 or older. Many of these focus on Hawaii’s people and culture, while others explore the natural environment. Fees range from $1400 to $3500 for one- to two-week programs, including accommodations, meals and classes, but excluding airfare.
Health
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CONTENTS
BEFORE YOU GO
Insurance
Medical Checklist
Internet Resources
IN HAWAII
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Infectious Diseases
Environmental Hazards
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BEFORE YOU GO
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INSURANCE
The USA offers possibly the finest health care in the world – and the most expensive. It’s essential to purchase travel health insurance if your regular policy doesn’t cover you overseas. For more information, check the Lonely Planet website (www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/insurance.do). Find out in advance if your insurance will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.
Bring any medications you may need in their original containers, clearly labeled. A signed, dated letter from your physician describing all medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also handy.
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MEDICAL CHECKLIST
acetaminophen (eg Tylenol) or aspirin
anti-inflammatory drugs (eg ibuprofen)
antihistamines (for hay fever and allergic reactions)
antibacterial ointment (eg Neosporin) for cuts and abrasions
steroid cream or cortisone (for poison ivy and other allergic rashes)
bandages, gauze, gauze rolls
adhesive or paper tape
scissors, safety pins, tweezers
thermometer
pocketknife
DEET-containing insect repellent for the skin
permethrin-containing insect spray for clothing, tents and bed nets
sunblock
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INTERNET RESOURCES
There is a wealth of travel-health advice on the internet. The World Health Organization publishes a superb book called International Travel and Health (www.who.int/ith/en); it’s free to download. Another general-interest website, with advice for every country, is MD Travel Health (www.mdtravelhealth.com).
It’s usually a good idea to consult your government’s travel-health website before departure, if one is available:
Australia (www.smartraveller.gov.au)
Canada (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca)
UK (www.nathnac.org)
USA (www.cdc.gov/travel)
IN HAWAII
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AVAILABILITY & COST OF HEALTH CARE
For immediate medical assistance anywhere in Hawaii, call 911. In general, if you have a medical emergency, the best bet is to go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. If the problem isn’t urgent, consider calling a nearby hospital and asking for a referral to a local physician; this is usually cheaper than an emergency-room visit. In Hawaii the nearest hospital may not be close, so the best choice may be an expensive stand-alone, for-profit, urgent-care center. See the Information sections of island chapters for local hospitals.
Pharmacies are abundantly supplied, but some medications available