Main thing. Watch for pedestrians. Highest incidence of pedestrian deaths in the nation. I almost take out a few every month, which is why I almost never go to Waikiki.
My parking "crime" is the first in 6 years...so..not too bad.
Drive better anytime you are in a rental car. Bring proof of insurance if you decline the rip-off type at the rental agency.
Don't honk or casually flip the bird, it isn't done here.
If someone is just sitting there, they are probably trying to time it perfectly to pull out right in front of you.
Forget the whole concept of the responsible west coast merge. Instead, go in to polite mode and make eye contact first and hesitate for permission.
Entrance ramps are very short, you might even have to stop, as weird as that is to wait for a break.
Everyone drives slower.
Don't shaka fresh off the plane.
Parking stalls are minature.
Parking garages are incredible. Hope you aren't claustraphobic.
Parking is very expensive in Honolulu. Many times I drive to the area, park some place free and cab it. Cabs are cheap.
Speedtraps yes, tickets for illegal u turns, etc, never seen one. Streets get coned around 4:30 for lane reversal, and this makes driving on one way streets, no L turns, etc , nuts. Just pull into an establishment and turn around...the further you drive the worse it gets. If you see H 1 east, don't assume a westbound exists as well.
My advice due to the fact there are no constonants here, except for "K's"...MAPQUEST everything.
Don't get on the H3 by mistake...no getting off for MILES.
Do not use your turn signal, it tips people off that you are slowing down and just gives them "ideas".
Whew.
No offense, Hawaii...I can write one of these for most places I have lived.
Do not ever ask for directions unless you can decipher "mauka", etc. East, west, south, north doesn't really exist here.
Drivers VERY forgiving. Right after I moved here, I went the wrong way because I did not know they stole lanes at rush hour and they were reversed. Not one car honked, everybody waited for me to get turned around...very polite drivers. many different cultures from different places so they are accustomed to people making mistakes or being lost.
