Hawaii Travel Supply Checklist

Things to bring to Hawaii:

The obvious:

Bikini or swimsuit
flip flops
waterproof sunscreen
loose-fitting lightweight clothing such as shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless dresses, yoga pants, pareau
hat with a chin strap or one that fits your head very well - gusting tradewinds may carry a loose hat away
sunglasses
small portable digital camera

Not so obvious:

Binoculars
inexpensive beach bag
reusable carry sack
hiking sandals or very light boots with tread
insect repellent
rash guard
board shorts
fingernail clippers and emery board
waterproof wallet
windbreaker with hood (Gore-tex if you can afford it)
reef shoes
SPF lip balm and/or SPF lipstick

Hotels will have:

Boogie boards
towels for beach
bamboo mats for beach
fins, mask, snorkel, beach toys

Definitely try local "grinds," aka local favorite foods sold from food trucks or in hole-in-the-wall food joints.  Favorites include huli-huli chicken plate lunches at weekend barbecue set-ups (nonprofits and charity groups make money by selling plate lunches); kahlua pulled pork, macaroni salad, potato salad, lomi salmon, lau-lau (slow-cooked pork rolled up in ti and taro leaves), kim-chee, sticky rice, teriyaki beef, and a few others.

If you see a red flag on  the beach and no locals in the water, stay out; there's a bad current and/or shorebreak (waves breaking right smack on the beach) and you will be risking the wrath of the lifeguard as well as your life if you ignore it.  Lots of people are swept out to sea every year.  It's not a joke.

Use sunscreen on the upper part of your feet.  Sunburn is painful anytime, but burn your feet and that's it for you for awhile - it hurts.  In Hawaii, tropical sun is more intense.  White skin can't be rushed into suntan as much as you would like to think so.  Darker folks still can burn if you're not used to the tropical intensity.  Pace yourself and sit in the shade a lot; you'll be much happier than if you burn.

Leave your aggression, impatience and bad attitude at home.  Locals in Hawaii drive more slowly, things get done eventually, but there's no rush, especially if you have a negative pushy attitude.  If you feel your blood pressure rising because things are moving too slowly, go get in the ocean and swim for a while.  You'll feel like you're back in your mother's arms again.

More and more food items are produced in Hawaii, and the quality is great.  Pineapple and papaya as well as other island-grown fruit taste fantastic.  Support the local farmers and small-business owners; it's good karma and more fun.  Check the paper for farmer's markets and craft markets.  You'll be able to meet the locals face to face and find out all kinds of good information.  We found one jeweler who grew up in Monterey but who has lived in the islands for 30 years.

The only guide book we ever use now is the "Revealed" series (Oahu Revealed, Kauai Revealed, Hawaii Revealed, etc.) by Wizard Publications.  Lots of good local info, especially about places you'd never known existed otherwise.

Aloha!