Things to Avoid
1. Sunburn
Everyone is at risk of sunburn in the tropics. It’s important to apply sunscreen often, including after swimming. A hat and sunglasses are good accessories, too. If you’re especially fair, you should wear light, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you’re in the sun. Parents should be particularly careful with young children. Be vigilant on cloudy days, too – those ultraviolet rays get through the clouds.
2. Flash Floods
During heavy rains, Hawai’i’s rivers are occasionally susceptible to flash floods. It’s best not to venture out on hikes or unfamiliar drives during heavy rains. Hawai’i radio and television stations always announce flash flood watches and warnings; you can also check recorded national weather forecasts by calling973 5286.
3. Heat Stroke
Although Hawai’i is blessed with cooling trade winds most days of the year, temperatures can easily reach into the 90s, especially in summer. It’s always advisable to stay out of the sun from 11am until 2pm when, obviously, the sun is at its highest point over the islands. Wearing light-colored clothing and drinking lots of water are also recommended.
4. Dehydration
With heat and sun comes the possibility of dehydration. Always carry water with you, whether you’re going for a drive, venturing out on a hike, or just relaxing at the beach. Drink often and drink plenty.
5. Bites and Stings
Scorpions and centipedes are Hawai’i’s most troublesome insect pests. It is unlikely that you will run into either but, if you do get stung, get medical attention as quickly as possible. Mosquitoes are more bothersome than dangerous, and can be controlled with commercial repellants.
6. Trespassing
It’s not difficult to accidentally wander onto private property, especially when hiking or going to the beach. Watch for No Trespassing signs, and always use the proper public beach accesses. You may see the word Kapu on signs, which is loosely translated as “forbidden.”
7. Littering
The physical beauty of the islands is most certainly one of the main reasons visitors are so drawn to them. Nothing is more jarring to that beauty than litter strewn along beaches, hiking paths, and streets. There’s no shortage of litter bins for food wrappers, cigarette stubs etc., so make use of them. ( Mahalo, often printed on the bins, means thank you.)
8. Removing Natural Objects
Traditional Hawaiians believe that everything – every stone, every shell, every plant – has both a life and a place of its own. So feel free to look, enjoy, and touch natural objects, but refrain from removing anything from its home.
9. Jellyfish
Hawaiian waters are susceptible to invasions of jellyfish – both box jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war – usually about a week after a full moon. Local radio and television stations are very reliable in reporting these incursions. Jellyfish stings can be painful and, if one is allergic, quite dangerous. The best way to treat them is with meat tenderizer (available at any supermarket) or, indeed, urine.
10. Sharp Coral
The islands are surrounded by reefs of coral, much of it very sharp. It can cause nasty cuts that are susceptible to infection, as coral is a living organism. Clean out a coral cut quickly and completely, treat it with an antiseptic, and keep it covered up. If a coral cut does get infected, it should be treated by a medical practitioner.
