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State · Havaí
Havaí
Hawaii is an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific: Waikiki and Pearl Harbor on Oahu, the road to Hana on Maui, the volcanoes of the Big Island and the Nā Pali coast of Kauai.
In the photo: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Havaí
Hawaii is a volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 3,900 km from California, and the only U.S. state made entirely of islands. It was a Polynesian kingdom until the late 19th century, and Hawaiian language and culture appear in the names, in the music and in the hula. The capital is Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.
On Oahu, Honolulu brings together Waikiki beach, the Diamond Head crater, Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, and the Pearl Harbor memorial. Kailua, on the east side of the island, has light-sand beaches like Lanikai, and Haleiwa is the village on the North Shore, the coast of big winter waves.
On Maui, Kahului has the airport, Wailea and Kaanapali have resort beaches, and Hana sits at the end of the road to Hana, with waterfalls and narrow bridges. The Haleakalā volcano, at 3,055 m, is known for sunrise above the clouds. On the Island of Hawaiʻi, the Big Island, Kailua-Kona, Hilo and Volcano lead to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO site, featuring Kīlauea.
Kauai, the oldest of the main islands, has the Nā Pali coast, Waimea Canyon with the village of Waimea, and Hanalei Bay; Lihue has the airport. At the table, poke of raw fish, the rice-based plate lunch, and shaved ice with syrup (shave ice). Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time.
When to go
The climate is usually warm year-round, between 24 °C and 31 °C on the coast. From April to October it usually rains less; from November to March it rains more, especially on the windward sides of the islands, and the North Shore waves grow. Humpback whales typically pass the archipelago from December to April, most frequently in February and March.
Getting there
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu is the main gateway; Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), Hilo (ITO) and Lihue (LIH) receive flights from the mainland and between the islands. Connections from Brazil are usually via a stop on the U.S. West Coast. Check before booking. Between the main islands, travel is by plane on short flights.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Havaí
Which Hawaiian island to choose?
Oahu is the busiest, with Honolulu, Waikiki and Pearl Harbor; Maui combines beaches and Haleakalā; the Big Island has the volcanoes; Kauai is the greenest. On a first ten-day trip, two islands fit well.
Do you need a reservation for sunrise at Haleakalā?
Yes: to drive into the park before sunrise you need a timed reservation in addition to the entrance fee. Up there the temperature can drop near freezing: bring a jacket.
How to visit Pearl Harbor?
The memorial is about 15 km from Waikiki. Entrance to the visitor center is free, but the boat to the USS Arizona memorial requires a timed reservation. The ships and the aviation museum beside the center have separate admission fees.
Does Hawaii have a different time zone from the rest of the United States?
Yes. Hawaii is 7 hours behind Brasília year-round because it does not observe daylight saving time. Compared with California, the difference is 2 hours in the U.S. winter and 3 hours in the summer.