what should i know (anything at all) for an extended trip to Hawaii?

[mark414]

next month a friend of mine and I are leaving the mainland to head to Hawaii to work on a couple organic farms and in between ride our bicycles around to take in the sights and the culture...I'm also looking into making a canoe trip (on our own, not as part of a paid tour) down either the Wailua or Huelia Rivers (or maybe both?) in Kauai...we'll be in Hawaii until march/april

so what can Hawaiian DUers tell me about their state and islands? any can't miss places to see? traveling tips? we are not much interested in the beaten path or extremely touristy areas (with exceptions of course for volcanoes and other natural phenomenon).

has anybody ever ridden their bike long distance around the islands? do Hawaiians really not like mainlanders? any absolute must do's or must dont's to remember?



thank you in advance...looking forward to seeing what Hawaii has to offer...

[mahina]

1. There's a lot...

first and foremost do not expect to camp and be greeted warmly. People have been coming here deluded that they can pick fruit off the trees and live for free, and you can not. Lots of those people get stuck here and end up sleeping in the park or on the beach, endearing themselves to no one.

On the Big Island there are places you do not want to go. If you're coming to work on Ma'o farm, you are in luck, those people are super cool.

The ocean is more dangerous than you think, and no, Hawaiians aren't usually hostile unless you are an ass or are where you should not be. There are exceptions.

I've done long distance rides on the continent but not here, because here, it is suicide. Unless you are in a large group where your odds are better.

It's a beautiful place with wonderful people but you can't expect to sleep for free.

[ellisonz]

2. Mahina has some good points.

This ain't the 60s no more so don't expect to find free shelter or food on the road. You should have a detailed plan of where you're going and what you're going to do and always need to let someone behind know these things (especially when leaving the roads). Hiking/kayaking in a jungle is a hell of a lot different than in many places on the Mainland. It rains alot here, trails are unpaved roads can be very muddy. Also, do not go into freshwater with open cuts as leptospirosis is a serious risk. Furthermore, I would note that there is a distinct "local" culture here and that you don't want to be a "fucking haole," be aloha and treat everyone as ohana, and don't take yourself too seriously.

:hi: