subject: A commonsense guide to vacationing in Hawaii [print this page] The scenery is beautiful, the weather is perfect, and you're on vacation! You "ooh," and "aah," and slow down to a crawl to gaze at the view. You stop your vehicle in the street and let passengers out because there's no street parking. "Wait!" you say. "Where are we meeting you again? What time...? What about...?" Oops! You forgot you're still in the middle of the street, and there's a line of cars waiting behind you. Whew! It's hot out. Or, you look "hot" in you new bikini or swimsuit, and hey, let's check out downtown. Why cover up?
Are these extreme scenarios? Nope, as most people who've visited Hawaii know!
While you are on a well-deserved vacation, remember that people work and live here. (Hence the term "locals".) They have schedules to keep and commutes to make, although the commutes can be very scenic. Though rarely will they honk their horns at you, traffic no-no's are not beloved. A good rule of thumb is to signal, then pull over to the shoulder as soon as it's safely possible. Now you can take pictures, or check out the scenery to your heart's content. You may avoid an accident that could ruin your vacation.
When you stop in the middle of a street to let passengers out, locals understand. Parking is limited in a lot of places. Just remember, don't sit there and carry on a conversation. Traffic backs up in Hawaii, just like at home.
Speaking of home, how would walking around downtown in bikinis or swimsuits in the summer go over there?
Okay, do you get the picture? Remember that your vacation locale is the home of families, too. Keep in mind that if something would be considered in "poor taste" where you live, it's probably viewed similarly here. Locals love our state, and love to share its beauty with visitors. Follow some common sense rules, and you'll be loved even more, too!
