Shopping & Dining Tips
1. Opening Times
Large shopping centers are open, in general, Mon–Sat 9am–9pm; Sunday hours are usually shorter. Some supermarkets and convenience stores stay open 24 hours. Most retail stores are open on U.S. holidays (with the possible exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) and Hawai’i state holidays, such as Prince Kūhiō Day (Mar 26) and King Kamehameha Day (Jun 11).
2. Alcohol and Smoking Laws
The legal drinking age in Hawai’i is 21. The age limit applies, as well, to buying alcoholic drinks – including beer and wine – at retail outlets. Smoking is prohibited in all O’ahu restaurants, including bars and outdoor dining areas.
3. Early Bird Specials
Not surprisingly, everyone wants to dine at sunset. In order to encourage pre-sunset dinner reservations, many restaurants offer “early bird” specials (for further details see Ask about Discounts).
4. Sales Tax
There’s general excise tax – 4 percent statewide and 4.5 percent in O’ahu at the time of writing – on everything, without exception, in Hawai’i. That includes food – be it a restaurant meal or groceries from the market – all retail goods (even medicine), and all services.
5. Evening Dining Hours
“Early to bed, early to rise” is the credo throughout the Aloha State. Don’t be surprised if the restaurant on which you have your romantic heart set for a late night dinner stops serving at 8:30 or 9pm. The same is true of breakfast and lunch – many local folks take their lunch break at 11 or even 10:30am.
6. Casual and Formal Dining
There are few restaurants on O’ahu that require anything fancier than a shirt with a collar and footwear of some kind; there are only a handful that would frown on shorts and sandals.
7. Tipping
Those who work in the visitor industry – everyone from the hard-working hotel house-keepers to the handsome young men who park cars – depend on tips to supplement their wages, so generosity is greatly appreciated. Restaurant tips should be at least 15 percent of the total bill. Parking valets should be tipped $1–$2; luggage handlers at least $2 per bag. And if you avail yourself of the service, you should tip your hotel concierge.
8. Shop at the Local Stores
You’ll save money on souvenirs, resort wear, even groceries if you shop where the locals do. Local favorite Longs Drugs has locations all over O’ahu and is a great source for macadamia nuts, coffee, and lots more. There are farmers’ markets dotted around the island, and there’s a big weekend swap meet at Aloha Stadium for excellent buys on flowers, local produce, and crafts.
9. Cheap Eats
Hawai’i’s ethnic restaurants serve delicious food at low prices. You’ll find Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, and local-style food all over O’ahu – best bets are Chinatown and Honolulu’s suburbs. At more expensive restaurants, ordering several appetizers and sharing them is an inexpensive way to sample dishes.
10. Check When Buying Souvenirs
Unfortunately, much of what passes for Made in Hawai’i goods is actually manufactured in China, Taiwan, or the Philippines. A “Made-in-Hawai’i” label may, indeed, be fake. Always ask to be sure you’re getting the genuine article, and stick to places like museum gift shops and local art and craft galleries.
