In an effort to help you to have the best trip possible, I've put together some pre-travel advice born from experience. This gets a little detailed, but you really should read it to avoid grief. I hope you will find this information useful.

What to bring!

Bring high SPF sunscreen! Maui's latitude is nearly the same as Mexico City and you will burn badly in only a few minutes out in the intense sun if you are not already tan.

Don't forget your sunglasses! Be sure that they are approved as 100% UV filters. If they only darken and don't filter out ultraviolet light, your eyes could possibly be injured as your pupils will be more dilated than without sunglasses.

Bring comfortable and/or sturdy shoes. You will probably do a lot of walking to take in the sights and sturdy is a must if you hike around Makena or the other areas with lava flows. The local-style "rubbah slippah" or flip-flop sandal will be just fine around the pool or on the beach.

Bring your camera and/or compact camcorder! See the "Tips for Photographers" section below for more information.

Bring the largest two suitcases you own and pack no more clothes than absolutely necessary. This will allow you to have plenty of room to bring back goodies from Maui and not have to pay an expensive surcharge to the airlines for extra checked baggage. The airlines are getting very serious about carry-on luggage and most only allow two pieces per person, so don't count on bringing back crates of pineapples and the like as carry-on. Some are now counting purses as well as cameras as carry-on luggage.

Remember is to buy some small padlocks to secure your luggage if it doesn't already have locking mechanisms. This will help to prevent theft of the contents in transit or in the hotel/condo. The tiny padlocks that comes with many brands of soft luggage are very easy to pick and should be replaced with something a little more substantial. Master®, Samsonite® and others makes small padlocks that are more secure.

Bring cash! Most of the roadside and swap meet vendors that will give you the best deals on local stuff won't take travelers checks. If you do bring travelers checks, bring only the most prominent brands, such as American Express. Although robbery is rare on Maui, burglary is not, so don't leave cash or valuables in your hotel/condo rooms or car. Most of the better resort hotels have in-room safes or safety deposit boxes that should be used at every opportunity.

Tips for Photographers

Don't forget your camera! You will miss the pictures of a lifetime. A word of caution however: be prepared for multiple exposures to x-rays at the security checkpoints in coming to Maui, as well as returning home. Films with speeds faster than ASA400 stand a high risk of fogging. Don't trust your exposed or unexposed film to the lead bags that are available. With fast films, even they may not totally prevent damage. Also the security people don't like them as they can't see what's in the bags going through the x-ray scanner and may require hand inspection (much to the annoyance of the people waiting behind you).

I've found a way to not only protect your film but keep the security people happy at the same time. Go to your local photo film processor that sells Fuji or Kodak film that comes in the white transparent canisters. Ask them to give you some of them that are probably just waiting to throw out. Take your film and place each roll in the canisters. Place all of the canisters into a clear ziplock type storage bag and request that they be hand inspected at each security checkpoint. The security people can then quickly and easily see that it is film in the canisters and not a bomb. If you leave it in the original boxes, they may make you open each one to show them that it is indeed film inside. As you prepare to leave Maui going home, you will have to submit all of your luggage, both carry-on and checked to the x-ray scanner of the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture (checking for contraband mangoes?) and your carry-on will be scanned again before entering the boarding areas. In other words, a lot of risky exposure that can be avoided if you are prepared.

If you are bringing a camera and especially a camcorder as carry-on, be prepared to have to show the security people that it is functional. Camcorders will usually be required to be turned on and they will look into the viewfinder and open the tape drive. Be sure to have a charged battery with you to prevent delays. I would recommend that camcorders be included in your checked luggage to cut down on the aggravation.

On a lighter note for photographers, I would recommend that you bring at least twice the amount of film that you think you will use. You will probably use it all and film is more expensive than on the mainland (as is most everything shipped in). I would also bring a polarizing filter if you have one. It will make the pictures clearer and give you richer colored skies in your prints. If you don't already own a camera with a very wide lens, I would definitely recommend that you buy one of the disposable panoramic cameras that are available. You will find plenty of shots that will make you want to kick yourself if you don't have one with you.

What not to bring:

Don't plan on bringing your dog (or cat) unless you are planning to permanently move here. Hawaii has a rabies quarantine program (rabies isn't found in Hawaii) that requires you to board your animal at a state approved quarantine station on Oahu for more than a month. They also have very specific requirements to even get to that point and it is a very expensive and traumatic experience for both pet and owner. They even require an expensive microchip inplant for your pet.

Don't bring any plant or animal material with you. You will be required to fill out a form on the plane declaring that you are not bringing any plants or animals with you to Hawaii. This is in an effort to prevent the introduction of new plant or animal species and/or diseases into Hawaii. Many native plants and animals are becoming endangered due to new introductions of species that have no bounds due to the tropical climate and lack of predators or natural controls.

If you are required to take prescription medicines, be sure to keep them in their original containers with all pharmacy labels visible or you might not be able to get a refill if you run out. It almost goes without saying that you shouldn't bring any illegal drugs with you or buy any on Maui. Even though Maui has long had a reputation for "Maui Wowee" (marijuana or pakalolo as it's known locally), if you get caught, the penalties are very severe. Also, don't be tempted to pick any you might happen to come upon in the wild. Chances are it's not "wild" and you never know who might be watching you.

Bringing Plants or Fruit Back Home?

You will probably see many plants or fruit that you will want to bring back home with you. But you must consider several things before you spend your money on them only to have them confiscated at the airport. Please check with your state or local Dept. of Agriculture to see what plants or fruit are prohibited from being brought into your area. Many states such as Arizona, California, Florida and others are very restrictive on what they will allow due to disease or insect problems. Remember the Medfly? You won't be able to bring any fruit into California due to this insect. Don't buy any plant that doesn't have an inspection certificate from the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture attached. You will have to declare all plant materials that you have with you at the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture inspection station at Kahului Airport prior to boarding. If you think you can sneak it through, forget it. All carry-on and checked luggage will be x-rayed. If you don't declare it and they find it, you could get into big trouble.

Hey! Turn that frown upside down and smile because you're going to Maui! The rest of your trip through this site will be fun! Enjoy your flight.

Please go to "Upon Arrival to Maui"

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Last modified on Aloha Friday, May 25, 2001