HAWAII SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE 2024
PLAN AND BOOK YOUR HAWAII SOLO TRAVEL
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WELCOME TO HAWAII!
Hi! I’m Gwen, and my passion is using my 28 years of solo global travel and sustainability knowledge and experience to help the solo over 50’s be and stay adventurous through solo travel with their eco-friendly, responsible travel foot forward. Here is my guide to Hawaii solo travel, all from my travel in Hawaii, so you plan and book your solo trip to Hawaii with ease. What are you waiting for?
HAWAII: DID YOU KNOW?
About Hawaii
Hawaii – “The Aloha State”, is the 43rd largest state in the USA and home to 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa and Kilauea) and Papahānaumokuākea. Entered into the USA as the 50th state, Hawaii’s capital, and largest city, is Honolulu.
Other popular Hawaii destinations are: Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, Diamond Head State Monument, Kauai, Haleakala National Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve.
Hawaii is an archipelago of eight major islands, with several atolls, that are home to Hawaiian Kingdom history, WWII history, Kona coffee, sugar cane, craft brewing, green sea turtles, volcanoes, water sports, Spam eaters, Dole Pineapple Plantation, macadamia nuts, luaus, surfing, and more.
Popular Hawaii Activities
Without a doubt, Hawaii’s top activities are water-based: diving, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, parasailing, and so on.
However, don’t forget the volcanoes and other natural areas for hiking, enjoying waterfalls, and cycling.
Hawaii has some of the best marine life watching with its plethora of fish, green turtles, dolphins and whale migration season. If you like to volunteer to protect marine life and natural spaces, Hawaii has those opportunities as well.
Popular Luaus in Hawaii
HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING
Hawaii Holidays
In addition to U.S. holidays, the Hawaii may observe additional state or local holidays. It may be a good idea to check what state or local holidays they celebrate to see if there are any public service, school, or other closures as this may impact your tourist itinerary, ability to obtain travel or other services, or it could mean more tourists and/or higher prices in your Hawaii destination.
Take a few moments to see if there are Hawaii holidays to better help you plan Hawaii travel.
Tipping in Hawaii
See tipping guidelines in my USA Travel Guide for tipping in Hawaii.
Travel Requirements
U.S. states do not impose additional travel requirements, such as documentation and vaccinations, other than those imposed at the national level. See the USA Travel Guide for all USA travel requirements.
Electronic Requirements
All U.S. state electric outlets require a Type A (two prong) and/or Type B (three prong) adapter. See the USA Travel Guide for electrical requirements in the USA.
Cyber Security While Traveling
Having a virtual private network (VPN) service and portable WiFi is always a good idea to not just stay connected, but stay connected securely in your hotel and all public spaces, like airports, train stations, and restaurants.
- Portable WiFi Hotspot for Travel: Experience seamless connectivity with the Solis Lite, your pocket-friendly companion that offers secure and reliable mobile WiFi hotspot coverage in over 135...
- SIMO’s virtual, multi-carrier network, includes all the major carriers, so you can work, learn, or play from anywhere. Stay connected domestically or abroad with your personal Wi-Fi hotspot and...
- Built-in 4700 mAh Power Bank: Stay online all day with 16+ hours of battery life in your Solis Wi-Fi hotspot. Keep all your gadgets charged on-the-go.
- Perfect Case for SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot
- Featured Design: Strong compact light weight case, the round square design best matching the round shape of the Solis and making it easy to in and out of the case
- Assured Protection: Semi-hard carrying case protecting the device from shock, shake, scratch. PEVA materials with pressure or hit absorbing and water resistant. The round square design make it best to...
GUIDES & ITINERARIES
Explore solo travel guides, itineraries, travel tips, day trip ideas and top things to do in top Hawaii destinations to plan the best Hawaii solo travel.
Maui
How You Can Help Maui
If want to know the best ways to help Maui fire victims recover from the 2023 wildfires, watch this video to find 7 legitimate Maui organizations you can donate to with peace of mind, like the Maui Food Bank, Hawaii Community Foundation, and Red Cross Maui.
Help rebuild the historic Lahaina town and the Lahaina community with a generous gift today. This Lahaina Maui video will remain on this west Maui 4 day itinerary until the Lahaina homes, businesses and environment are restored.
This video is not monetized. Please share this video. Mahalo!
Best Things to Do in Maui
Oahu
It has been many years since I was on the island of Oahu. If revisit Oahu, this will be updated. Until then, here are my recommended things to do in Oahu (from what I’ve already enjoyed or would do when I revisit).
Best Things to Do in Oahu
HOW TO BOOK HAWAII TRAVEL
It’s important to book the top three travel necessities early: flights, accommodations and ground transportation.
No Hawaii guide would be complete without the booking tools below. These, along with fun Hawaii things to do and ecotourism ideas, will allow you to realize your solo trip to Hawaii.
Cheap Flights to Hawaii
With the ever-growing demand for airline tickets to Hawaii, flights book quicker these days. Find cheap flights to Hawaii now.
Don’t Wait to Book Your Flight to Hawaii
Hawaii Places to Stay
Second in importance to buying airline tickets to Hawaii is finding the best place to stay in Hawaii for your Hawaii solo travel. Develop your Hawaii travel itinerary now and find the best Hawaii travel accommodations to knock one more travel planning item off your solo travel list.
Find the Best Solo Travel Hawaii Accommodations
Getting Around Hawaii
Hawaii has all forms of transportation, including Carpoolworld, Uber, Lyft, and other possible regional ridesharing services and apps (research in advance if they are in your destination area).
Of course, you can easily get a taxi or find a rental a car in Hawaii if it better suits your Hawaii travel itinerary.
Find the Best Deals on Hawaii Rental Cars
Things to Do in Hawaii
Here are some of the top things to do in Hawaii to book for your Hawaii solo travel.
Best Hawaii Food Tours and Activities
HAWAII ECO-TRAVEL IDEAS
There are ways to reduce your eco and carbon footprint through air travel, accommodations, tours, and activities in Hawaii. To help avoid greenwashing businesses, here are some eco-friendly or sustainable travel (also called responsible travel) tips and resources, you can use to book your travel.
Air Travel Tips
Skyscanner provides a ‘Greener flights’ filter highlighting flights that emit less CO2.
Purchase carbon offsets through your airline or through a third party, like MyClimate.org, Carbonfund.org, or terrapass. Carbon offsetting allows you to buy a certificate to reduce carbon emissions, a major contributor to climate change, which in turn contribute community projects across countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Ground Transportation
When booking a rideshare in Hawaii, select the Uber Green option, instead of a traditional rideshare, to support the use of electric cars and carpooling for cleaner transportation in Hawaii.
The best eco-friendly forms of ground transportation in Hawaii are public transportation, walking, or renting a bicycle or electric scooter.
Explore Hawaii Bike and Electric Scooter Rentals
Accommodation Tips
Look for Hawaii accommodations with the following self and third-party assessed certifications when you book:
Green Globe – Green Globe certifies hotels, resorts, conference centers, transportation, attractions, tour operators, and other tourism businesses globally on sustainable operations and management. Look for USA Green Global members.
Green Key Global is an internationally recognized environmental certification for the lodging and meetings industries, including hotels and hostels, campsites and holiday parks, restaurants and attractions in 65 countries. Search for Green Key awarded sites.
Living Building Challenge – if you want to stay in a true, sustainable building, find one certified by the Living Building Challenge. LBC’s certification directory shows all project types globally. Hopefully they will put in a filter soon to allow searching by hotels or hospitality type.
LEED Certified – the USGBC’s LEED Certified label on buildings, like many of the Marriott’s hotels, are those that have verifiably employed multiple and varying green building strategies to improve human and environmental health. Search the LEED directory for USA certifications.
Green Lodging Program – Audubon International has an environmental stewardship certification through third-party verification. Search its certified members directory.
GSTC Certified – the Global Sustainable Tourism Council provides global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, as well as international accreditation for sustainable tourism Certification Bodies. Booking sites that offer GSTC certified sustainable are bookdifferent, EcoHotels, and Transat.
Another way to find accommodations in Hawaii implementing eco-friendly or sustainable practices, certified or not, is to reserve a Booking.com Travel Sustainable accommodation. Booking.com started the Travel Sustainable program in 2022.
Find Your Travel Sustainable Stay in Hawaii
Eco-Friendly Things To Do
Hawaii has ecotourism ideas available to explore for your next vacation.
Search Green Global and Green Key awarded members for eco-friendly activity providers in Hawaii. Some may also have the GSTC Certified logo.
As of March 13, 2023, Hawaii may also be implementing a Green Fee for entry to state parks and beaches to help preserve and conserve Hawaii’s fragile ecosystems. Keep checking Hawaii Green Fee for updates.
Best Hawaii Ecotourism
Eco-Travel Products
There are more ways to do your part for the planet in your responsible travel, like bringing sustainable and eco-friendly products to protect Hawaii’s environment.
For more ideas on how to travel with the planet in mind, read my 10 Easy Eco-Travel Tips and view my suggested Eco Travel Resources to learn more.
HAWAII TRAVEL SAFETY
Before You Go
Buy USA travel insurance and international medical insurance for your solo travel in Hawaii to protect yourself and cover for emergencies.
Safety in Hawaii
In addition to the solo travel safety tips in the USA Travel Guide, if you are planning on going hiking, backpacking, camping, swimming, diving, snorkeling or doing any other activity that will take you into remote places, please ensure you research the local travel and weather advisories in advance and respect warnings not to travel.
Let people know where are you going, provide them your itinerary, and ensure you have safety and emergency measures provided for in your travel belongings.
HAWAII BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS
Hawaii Sales Tax
Hawaii levies a statewide sales tax and islands levy an additional, local sales tax. Where you vacation in Hawaii could increase your holiday budget. Reviewing Hawaii islands’ sales tax rates may help you prepare your Hawaii travel budget.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii
Hawaii’s high tourist season and most expensive time to visit is mid-December to mid-April and July and August. The least expensive time to go to Hawaii is mid-April to mid-June or September to mid-December. April and May have great weather with decent prices. Plus, in April you can still catch whale watching.
Budget Accommodations
Staying in Hawaii hostels could save you a lot of money on accommodations in Hawaii, especially if you stay in a dorm-style room. Save more money by booking well in advance.
Many hostels also offer private rooms, which I choose from time to time. Private rooms in hostels could possibly be cheaper than hotels in Hawaii – it depends on where you stay and how far in advance you reserve.
Don’t overlook exploring hostels in Hawaii if you’re on a budget.
Reserve Your Hawaii Hostel
Best Time to Book Travel
Hawaii at minimum is pricey, and more so depending on your Hawaii destination and time of travel. The sooner you book your reservations, the more you’re likely to save money and get the best flight, accommodation, and rental car choices and deals.
Ready to book Hawaii solo travel? Don’t miss out and find the best Hawaii travel deals. The best time to book travel is now. Bundling flight, hotel and/or transportation reservations may even save you more money when traveling the Hawaiian islands.
Book Hawaii Travel Early to Save Money
PERSONAL STORY
I’ve been lucky enough to go to Maui twice and Oahu once. Still, it’s not enough. Considering Hawaii has some of the best chances to swim with sea turtles, one of my favorite activities, I would like to go to every island possible – they are on my bucket list. Remember, you cannot touch or harass the sea turtles in Hawaii or you could be fined up to $10,500 (at time of writing). No joke.
Hawaii also has great diving and beaches, and hiking, of course. Dining and wine tasting are also very enjoyable in Hawaii. Hawaii is laid back with much to offer at the same time. It is very Aloha.