Know Before You Go to Honolulu: Reservations, Fees, Getting Around and Ocean Habits

You step out of the airport into warm, soft air that smells faintly of plumeria and jet fuel, and within minutes the trade winds have undone the stiffness of the flight. Honolulu is a big, busy city that happens to sit beside some of the most famous beaches in the world. A few habits, from reserving a crater hike to reading the signs on the sand, make the visit run smoothly.

What should you know before visiting Honolulu?

Four things matter most here: several popular sights run on reservations, the bus system is better than you expect, the ocean decides your beach plans, and a few local rules protect the reef and the wildlife. Plan around those and the rest falls into place.

What surprises first-time visitors is how much of Honolulu is an ordinary American city. People commute, grab plate lunches, and park at the grocery store. Waikiki is only one corner of it, and the neighborhoods beyond, from Chinatown to Kailua, feel quite different.

Entry, fees and paperwork

Since Hawaii is one of the United States, if you fly in from the mainland, no passport or visa will be required. The charges you will meet are the taxes on your room and the fees at a few popular sights, where non-residents often pay more than Hawaii residents.

Lodging taxes stack up: the state rate and a separate city tax on Oahu both apply to your hotel or rental bill. Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay both ask non-residents to reserve ahead, while Pearl Harbor has no entrance fee but charges for parking.

Money, cards and tipping

Everything is priced in U.S. dollars, and cards are taken almost everywhere, from food trucks in Haleiwa to the shops along Kalakaua Avenue. A little cash is handy for small purchases at stands and markets, such as the lei sellers in Chinatown.

Tipping follows mainland habits. Servers, bartenders, drivers, hotel housekeepers and surf instructors all expect a tip, and most visitors treat it as part of the cost of the meal or outing.

Getting around and staying connected

From the airport, the simplest way into Waikiki without a car is TheBus W Line, which passes through downtown and Ala Moana Center before ending in Waikiki. It runs every 10 to 30 minutes depending on the hour, and Route 42 covers the late-night hours. The ride is a cheap, scenic way to see the city, though luggage is limited to one medium suitcase and one smaller carry-on.

Adults pay $3.00 for a single fare, which comes with 2.5 hours of transfers and daily and monthly caps that help frequent riders save. Multi-day passes and the HOLO card, which costs $2, can be bought at machines in Skyline stations or at ABC Stores in Waikiki. The Skyline train requires a HOLO card.

Having a rental car proves worthwhile for Ko Olina, Kualoa Ranch, and the North Shore, because from Waikiki the airport, Pearl Harbor, and Hanauma Bay are about 30 minutes away, while Waimea Bay can take as long as an hour and a quarter. Traffic can stretch any of these. For Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Pearl Harbor, parking is part of the planning.

Health, water and the sun

The sun is strong all year, and even the cooler months bring afternoons in the low 80s. Hawaii prohibits the sale of sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate unless you have a prescription, so pick a mineral formula that guards both your skin and the reef.

The ocean calls for attention. In winter, big surf rolls onto the North Shore and the water at beaches like Pupukea turns dangerous, while summer is gentler. Seasons change the ocean, the daily waves, and the currents, and on the south shore box jellyfish usually show up around 8 to 10 days following a full moon, so check the warnings that are posted before entering and swim near a lifeguard wherever one is on duty.

Wildlife gets space. Stay at least 10 feet from sea turtles and 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals, never touch or feed them, and keep well back from a mother seal and her pup. From November through April, humpback whales add to the scene offshore, and boats and swimmers keep more than 100 yards away. When an emergency strikes, 911 is the number for police, fire, ambulance and ocean rescue.

Local customs and etiquette

Honolulu is relaxed and friendly, and a smile and a mahalo go a long way. Shoes come off at the door of a home, and people often do the same at a friend’s place, so expect a row of slippers on the step.

Dress is casual almost everywhere, from aloha shirts at dinner to sandals in town. Cover up when you leave the beach for a restaurant or shop. Places tied to history, such as Iolani Palace and Pearl Harbor, call for quiet voices and respectful clothing, and no bags at the memorial and visitor center.

Much of the land is sacred to Native Hawaiians, so stay off heiau stones and walls, keep to marked paths and leave lava rock and sand where they are. Drivers let each other merge with a friendly wave, and honking is rare.

Good to know before you go

The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so those months are the ones to keep your lodging and flight terms in mind. Keep your reservation confirmations on your phone, since Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial all ask for them. Last, slow down: the island rewards a relaxed pace, a long lunch and an early start.