How to have the best trip ever?  How to stay safe and also safeguard the special sense of place that is Hawaii? 

Pono is the way!

Note: This is a cooperative effort to help visitors understand and savor (not harm) the land and people of Hawaii.  Volunteers can change the title, add sections...."Newly Contributed Material" at the end is a parking spot for contributions that are not yet integrated into the page (e.g,  material the author does not have the time or inclination to edit into the wiki).

WhyPono?

The Hawaiian word pono can be translated as with various meanings associated with the notion of righteousness, morality, virtuousness, balance, harmony.  The  State Motto of Hawaii is Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, which can be translated as "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." 

The goal of this wiki section is to share information, tips, perspectives, and experiences to help visitors understand the land and ocean thery are visiting and how to experience the best Hawaii has to offer, while staying safe, respecting the land and its inhabitants, and keeping Hawaii special for generations to come.  Welcome!

HAZARDS OF HAWAI‘I

The islands of Hawa'i easily could be described as paradise. But even paradise has its hazards and it’d be foolish not to at least educate you on a few of them. Please make sure you and those who travel with you know about these hazards. The statements below are rather candid because we want you to know the truth about the place you are visiting. This isn’t Disneyland; it is often wild, rough, and natural law prevails out here. The more you know, the better prepared you are to avoid the hazards of our beautiful island. This short writeup below is actually an entire chapter from Hawai'i Mile by Mile, and that should show how much emphasis is put on this material.

• Hazards YOU Pose

It may or may not surprise you, but one of Hawai‘i’s greatest hazards is us, humans. You may have heard about endemic species, or species found ONLY in Hawai‘i. These are incredibly fragile creatures that are at risk. Thus as visitors to these islands we must remember that we ourselves are one of the greatest hazards to the rare and endangered species that live here, and only here. There are a few general guidelines to follow while on the islands.

1.)As a general rule it is best to stay away from all wildlife. In fact, you should know it’s illegal to feed or touch them. That means no feeding the geese (Nene), no touching the turtles (Honu), and no swimming with the dolphins. These three issues are something we hear and witness a lot of in Hawai‘i. It seems innocent enough, but consider the consequences of your casual interaction with these creatures. Nene no longer fear our cars and are being killed off at an alarming rate. The touch of a human can deliver deadly infections to the honu as it basks in the sun or swims in a shallow pool.

2.)Kapu means kapu (off-limits).  Please show ho‘ihi (respect) for the laws that protect the island.
some ofthe sensitive places include lava tubes, caves, burial grounds, heiaus (temples), and private property.

3.) Remember that trails and roads exist for a reason. It’s easy to get off the beaten path and do a bit of exploring, but remember that just off that beaten path in Hawai‘i could be the home to a variety of animals and plants you might not be aware of.

4.)This one's up for debate. But a lot of folks will seriously tell you not to take the lava rocks or sand home with you. It's not illegal (unless you try to sell the sand), but it's disrespectful. You’re sure to hear the legend of Pele cursing all those who take her ‘children’ away from the islands. Along these lines, it is good to know that most residents, both Hawaiian and otherwise, consider the coral grafitti in North Kona to be a sign of tourism gone crazy. The resorts and some guide books may encourage this, but it is frowned upon by most residents. Imagine someone spelling out Joanie loves Chachi in that beautiful meadow near your own home, and you can understand why this behavior adds to the reputation of the ugly tourist.

If you follow these tips we can guarantee you that the Aloha you show will be most appreciated by all, people and animals alike. Mahalo nui!

• Volcano Area Hazards (primarily the Big Island and portions of Maui)

 The first thought that comes to mind when you hear about Hawai‘i volcano danger is probably the lava hazards. In reality the 2000 degree Fahrenheit lava probably poses the least amount of danger to the sensible person. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the surrounding Volcano area of the Big Island are subject to a number of hazards that are easy to overlook or just aren’t something you’d expect without prior knowledge of the area. Let’s go over a few.

Hiking on Lava:Around the Big Island and especially at the end of Chain of Craters Road you will have the opportunity to hike over lava. You may already know that there are two types of lava, pahoehoe and a‘a flows. You also likely know that trying to walk over a‘a is a fool’s errand. The only lava flows that are traversable are hardened pahoehoe flows like those found at the end of Chain of Craters Road.

At times (currently no lava flows are active in this area) this is the only location you can also safely approach active flows. The dangers involved in crossing lava, even pahoehoe lava, are primarily due to the razor-like sharpness of the hardened lava. Even the pahoehoe flows are as sharp as glass, and you can easily cut yourself (especially your hands) in the event of a fall. Extreme care and/or precautions should be taken when hiking over lava. Long pants and gloves are always a good idea. The heat produced by the sun on top of the black asphalt-like lava surface deters many visitors from wearing long pants, but don’t risk the injury. The pahoehoe surface is smooth but can contain all sorts of variations in the surface that can catch your foot or cause you to stumble. It is also important you remain keenly aware of the texture of the flows you are walking across, as shallow lava tubes can cave in, dropping you a few inches (or more) below the surface. If you plan to make any lengthy hikes, also be sure to bring adequate amounts of water as dehydration can occur quickly on the shade-less black lava surface.

Viewing Active Lava Flows: As a continuation of the above hazard and warning, we again encourage all visitors to be prepared for any hiking they do on hardened flows out to see active flows. When approaching active flows your body will only let you get so close before the heat forces you to stand back, but use common sense and don’t attempt to get any closer than you must to view the lava safely. Lava temperatures average around 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not attempt to cross any active flow up slope as active flows are often concealed in lava tubes beneath the surface, and you do not want to find one by mistake.

Do not cross any National Park boundary ropes in the park, as they are in place for your protection. The park service is fairly liberal about how close they will allow people to get to lava flows; so traversing beyond the boundaries they’ve set up is extremely dangerous. Usually the roped off areas are near the lava entry point into the ocean. Violent explosions, deadly steam plumes, and gases make this a treacherous area to be near. Furthermore, all lava benches are roped off for the same reason. Lava benches can easily collapse at any time spelling certain catastrophe for anyone on the bench at the time.

Volcanic Gases & Vog:Where hot lava meets the sea, and especially at the source of the eruption, the volcano produces a deadly concoction of gases. In fact, it’s estimated Kilauea puts out about 2,500 tons of sulfur dioxide a day. Enough of those fumes can kill someone almost instantly, (as if you needed another reason to stay behind those barriers the park service puts up). Even far away from the sources of these sulfur dioxide plumes visitors can experience another type of gas, Vog.
 
Vog is a mixture of the sulfur dioxide gas, water vapor, carbon dioxide, dust, and other airborne particles. Vog exists in fairly high amounts all around the volcano area and can even wrap around the island into Kailua-Kona depending on trade wind activity. Hilo, Puna, Kohala, and the Hamakua coast are usually vog-free. Vog affects different people in different ways. Visitors with asthma and respiratory troubles will have the most problems. In our experiences with vog we’ve been mostly unaffected by it. It’s unpleasant to smell, but it has never had any adverse affects on us. We have though, on a few occasions, experienced especially heavy vog settle upon us near the end of Chain of Craters Road (usually coming from Pu‘u O‘o up the pali, “cliff”) when the trade winds were blowing light. Usually this causes coughing and a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and mouth. If possible, avoid areas where you notice a lot of vog. Usually you can see it in the air like a low cloud moving south down the coastline from the volcano. If you are caught in thick vog, try and get out of it as quickly as possible. You can call 808-885-7143 for a vog index update.

If you want more information on vog, hiking over, and viewing lava safely, please consult the park rangers inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

A handy brochure with safety information is also available from the Hawaii County web site at http://lavainfo.us/KalapanaSafetyInse...  If you are thinking of trying to view the active flow by land or water, take a look, especially at the pictures diagramming "bench collapse."

• Wildlife, Plants, & Insects

For the most part you are very safe on the Hawaiian Islands from all animal and plant life. There are no large predators or snakes, and there are few plants that will cause irritation when hiking (no poison oak/ivy for example). However, other hazards still exist.
The main culprit we’ve come across in the animal world is actually an insect, the centipede. In Hawai‘i these aggressive insects carry quite a punch and getting bit or stung by one is not what you want during your visit to the islands. The resorts usually spray for them very well, but be careful with any shoes left outside during the night, etc. Another insect that gets a lot of attention is the Cane Spider. But it’s mostly hype. The brown cane spider is mostly feared due to its appearance (size). It is about the size of a can of tuna; that includes its long legs. Typically it will run versus defend, and the bite of a cane spider is rarely dangerous. None-the-less, we wanted to give it a mention. 

There are also scorpions on the drier sides of the island, but they usually stay out of sight. Mosquitoes typically frequent the wetter side of the island, so prepare accordingly. Geckos are nothing to be worried about; they’re the cute lizards that actually keep the bug population somewhat under control here. The other cute, but pesky, resident of the Big Island is the coqui tree frog. Especially prevalent on the Hilo/Puna side of the island, they will likely be music to your ears the first night. By the fifth night you’ll probably understand why they spray for them.

The many edible plants and fruits of Hawai‘i also create a hazard. Many visitors believe that they can pop just about anything in their mouths for a taste in Hawai‘i, not so. Many plants here are poisonous and no fruits or plants should be eaten unless you absolutely know for sure it is safe. Remember that many plants will have similar looking fruits.

• The Sun

The sun - A UV index of near 14+ every day speaks for itself. We recommend at least 15+ sun block in Hawai‘i at all times. Don’t ruin your visit by trying to get that tropical tan. The tan will be gone within a month of your return home, the memory of the burns will last a lot longer.

• Streams, Rivers, & Pools

Our primary message here is short and sweet. Pay attention to the flow of the stream where you are and be aware of the weather inland. Streams and rivers can change flow rates and heights very quickly in the islands. Flash flooding is a regular occurrence in some places. One good rain, even far inland from where you are, can cause a stream to rise substantially. If you’re crossing any streams or rock hopping, pay close attention to the weather and the water levels. Anytime you are crossing a stream or river where it empties into the ocean, we also advise crossing inland a bit. Dangerous rip currents can form in the ocean at the mouth of a river or stream. Hiking poles may be extremely useful for any crossings you do make, as they provide an extra set of limbs to help you keep your balance.

If you go swimming, make sure you don’t swallow any water, and try and cover up any open wounds you have so that water can’t get in them. In Hawaii leptospirosis can be found in water contaminated by animal droppings, and you do not want to get mixed up with the likes of this disease. It causes flu-like symptoms and in rare cases death.

On the Big Island, Hilo residents have also urged us to point out that swimming at Boiling Pots is incredibly dangerous. The power of the water here is very intense. Don’t risk it.

• Ocean Life & The Beach

If you’ve ever been to the beach then you likely already know about the hazards of the ocean. Rip currents, sharp coral, large waves, surf, and various creatures are just a few. The most notable sea-creatures to watch out for on the islands are coral, jellyfish (Portuguese Man-of-War), and sea urchin’s. If you plan to swim, snorkel, or scuba dive on the island, make sure to do your homework and become fully educated on the hazards of the ocean here.

• General Sightseeing

There are many locations on Hawai‘i that are private property. If a trail says it’s closed, it’s closed. If you see a sign that says “Kapu” then it’s off-limits. Don’t explore places you’re not sure about - waterfalls, pools,  trails, caves, lava tubes, etc. You likely wouldn’t want people exploring your backyard at home, so be mindful and respectful of residents here. Your courtesy will be greatly appreciated.

* Public Access

Even though the beaches (below the high water mark) are public in Hawaii, contrary to popular beliefs and some guide book suggestions, the access to the beaches and many other sights are regulated or forbidden. Please don't confuse the PASH (Property Access Right for Native Hawaiians) with the Public Access. Native Hawaiians have the right to access or cross over any property (that is larger than one acre and is not in a subdivision) for religious and cultural purposes. The visitors do not have the same rights. Please use only the designated public access to all areas and do not trespass on private properties to get somewhere. While most private properties in "visitor suspect" areas are marked with a "KAPU" (off-limits") sign, there are others with signs like "This Property Is Guarded By A Shotgun!" giving clear warning to the visitors. Respect the property rights and privacy of others the way you would like yours to be respected.

It's kind of unique here in Hawaii that there are many many many private roads and some are even paved. If you happen to end up at such a road please do not continue your journey. Beyond that, residents use many four-wheel drive roads. check with your rental car company and ask them directly if your vehicle can go on these roads and you will discover that it is strictly prohibited. Additionally, roads like the one to Papakolea green sand beach require a permit to use and are subject to fines. 

* Place Names

Understanding the correct place names for the many sights you will see is an excellent way to self-discover our host Hawaiian culture. Years of misuse can pile up from the publication of maps and guide books that neglect to use the proper names of the places they talk about. You don't need to become a language expert, but just as you learn a little bit about the language when you travel to foreign country, it can be a lot of fun to go on-line and learn a little Hawaiian pronunciation so that you can actually say some of the names. Below is a growing list of some of the names that are commonly confused with an English term.

• Ka Lae is the southern tip of Hawai`i Island. South Point Road leads to it. There is no place called South Point.
• Papakoleais the flat area above Mahana Bay. It has an olivine green sand from an erosive cone. There is no Green Sand Beach.
• Pu`uhonua `O Honaunau is a National Historic Park. It is referred to as a place of refuge. There is no City Of Refuge.
• Pali `O Haukiuki, located near Ka Lae includes a cliff face that was destroyed in the 50's to build an ill-fated boat ramp. It should not be referred to a Broken Road.
• please add 

Newly Contributed Material

This is where clips and snips and short pieces can rest until someone comes and builds them into a page section.  Keep 'em coming!

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