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Getting ready to go on your Hawaii vacation? Here are a few things you need to know before you go.

Weather. Hawaii’s amazing and mild weather averages lows in the upper 60′s and highs in the upper 80′s, but one thing many visitors don’t consider that it rains, sometimes a lot. Rainfall is higher over the ocean, between 25 and 30 inches a year, and in some areas on the islands, much more than that. Kauai’s Mt. Waialeale is the rainiest and wettest spot on the planet with over 472 inches or 39 feet of precipitation a year.

During the spring and winter, rainfall is higher than average, so be sure to pack at least a light jacket for unexpected rainy days. Don’t be surprised if rain lasts more than a few days either. More than a few tourists have asked, when will the rain stop? Even though you do get exposed to a little “Hawaiian sunshine”, it’s probably very warm and refreshing. Blue skies won’t be far away. If your vacation is during the winter months, you may be fortunate to see large surf in excess of 25 feet high.

Traffic. If you’re staying on Oahu, be prepared for the traffic. With almost a million people living on Oahu alone and the majority of jobs in the heart of Honolulu and Waikiki, traffic exists all the time. Morning and afternoon rush hours can be intense. Plan your daily travel accordingly to avoid spending hours on the freeway or potentially missing your flight home. Most locals are easygoing in traffic and if someone lets you merge into their lane, be sure to wave or give them the “shaka” or hang loose sign.

Local Customs. If you’re invited to someone’s house or to a party, it’s considered polite etiquette to bring something with you with a good option being a dessert dish. Also don’t forget to take your shoes off at the door. If you arrive at a party on time, don’t be surprised that you’re the first one there. It is acceptable to arrive “Hawaiian time” (late). However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Hawaiian parties often last late into the night too.

Mahalo Means Thank You. People often use the word Mahalo for thank you, but you may also see this word on trash cans (encouraging people to keep the islands beautiful and trash free).

Respect the environment. While you’re in Hawaii, be sure to clean up your trash and refrain from taking shells, rocks, and other items in nature. If you see green sea turtles or the Hawaiin monk seal, do not touch or approach them. They are endangered and shouldn’t be disturbed.

If you strike up a conversation with a local, don’t refer to the U.S. mainland as “the States”. This implies that Hawaii is not a state and considered rude. If you are white and someone calls you “haole”, do not be offended. Haole means “white” or “Caucasian” and is not meant in a derogatory way, but pay attention to the tone of voice.

Directions. If you ask for directions, most locals will point or tell you which way to go by saying “mauka” (toward the mountain), “makai” (toward the ocean), or “ewa” (east). Don’t ask which way is west because those directional concepts usually aren’t used. Locals will also use landmarks to explain which way to go.

Dress code. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone wearing a suit. Business attire for men can include Hawaiian or “Aloha” shirts and for women can include muumuus or flower print dresses. Avoid buying bright-colored Hawaiian print shirts from shops in Waikiki unless you want to stand out as a tourist. Look at what the locals wear and you’ll blend in nicely. Shorts and t-shirts are the norm.

Eye contact. It is considered impolite to stare or look directly into people’s eyes for more than a few seconds. This is because of the humble spirit of the island people. This may be hard for people from the mainland, but you’ll avoid uncomfortable situations by being aware of your demeanor.

Learn more about Hawaii, find amazing vacation rentals, and more at:

http://myhawaii-vacation-rental.com/

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Hawaii Vacation Deals

You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Vacation Parties $9.98 Despite the glam shot of the now-teenage twins on the cover, this trio of parties is strictly from their preteen years. Following their trademark formula of minimal conversation and maximum singing and dancing, the pair party from the islands of Hawaii to the Isle of Manhattan. First up: the gals hit the beaches of Waikiki along with three of their friends to sing odes to sand, surf, and swim...

Flirting With Forty $6.41 Heather Locklear stars in this lighthearted Lifetime comedy as a divorced mother of two about to hit the big 4-0. With her kids spending the holidays with their father, Locklear decides it's time for a long-overdue tropical vacation. Will an affair with a much younger man be the fresh start her life needs? With Robert Buckley, Vanessa Williams; based on the autobiographical book by Jane Porter. 87...

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Xtreme Accessory Package! $137.99 ...

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD Monitor Sports Package with Nikon 18-55mm VR Lens & Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF With SSE 16GB Starters Kit including 0.45x Wide Angle Lens, 2x Telephoto Lens, Filter Kit, Macro Lens Kit, HDMI Cable, and much more... Nikon's D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm Lens delivers a galaxy of professional features in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3" vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video...

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD Monitor Sports Package with Nikon 18-55mm VR Lens & SSE 16GB Starters Kit including extra ENEL-14 (ENEL14) Battery, HDMi Cable, Nikon Starters DVD, and much more... Nikon's D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm Lens delivers a galaxy of professional features in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3" vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video...

Disney Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation Deluxe 7 Figurine Set $10.96 Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation Set Turn play time into vacation time with this fun figure set featuring the characters from the hilarious Toy Story short Hawaiian Vacation. Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie are among those dressed up for their Polynesian performance. Features Woody Jessie Buzz Lightyear Slinky Dog Rex Hamm with two Space Aliens Mr Pricklepants...

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The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed $16.95 The finest guidebook ever written for Kauai and the only one written by a writer who anonymously reviews the island. He visits every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers....

Affordable Paradise: The Secrets of an Affordable Life in Hawaii $6.98 The Fourth Edition! Updated,and expanded with lots of new info and 2009 Real Estate pricing. Please note that some of the reviews below are for the first three editions. Since this is dated material, yes, they are ot of date!You will learn how to find bargain homes, how to save money in your everyday life in Hawaii, where the income opportunities are, what to expect in the schools, and maybe the m...

Original Coupon Book - Maui Hawaii 2012-2013 (The Vacation Coupon Book, Maui Hawaii 2012-2013) $21.99 Maui's Original Coupon Book 2012-2013 Edition. The Vacation Coupon Book. A-Rated Companies. Over 500 Coupons In The Book. Total Dollar Savings of Book: $10,000+ 264 Pages of Coupons. Save 40%-60% On Your Vacation. Includes Tourist Activity Coupons, Conveinent Restaurant Coupons, Conveinent Shopping Coupons & Tourist Services Coupons. Area: Maui Hawaii Only. All Coupon Expiration Dates are...

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