There is a sad reality that the Aloha Spirit can be stressed to its breaking point., especially for those living in Hawaii. There are times when the phone starts ringing off the hook by people who want to come and visit the islands (usually in the spring). Here are my Top Ten suggestions (and the stuff your hosts won't tell you) to make a visit palatable to your friend or relative who resides in paradise and wants to keep it that way.
1. Plan ahead: Everyone wants to visit someone who lives on the island. It's cheaper and oftentimes more fun, but it can often feel like a revolving door to your hosts, especially in the summer months. Be aware of this and ask your potential hosts the right questions. Find out if their schedule is busy and plan accordingly. You might have to put off your trip for a year or two, but that's the breaks.
2. Don't come with unreal expectations: Don't be a negative guest with great expectations. Don't expect that because you dropped a wad on airline tickets that you have a right to be served or catered too. Demanding guests can suck the life out of their hosts. Be polite. Be patient. Be kind. Be courteous. Think ahead. Be aware of your surroundings and don't put your hosts in uncomfortable situations. In fact, put your hosts first and you will benefit with many happy returns!
3. Don't bring the kids: If you hosts don't have little kids, chances are they're not too excited about having them in their home for days on end. It might be better to plan a single person/couple trip. Leave the kids home with grandma and come to the islands to unwind.
4. Rent a car: If you are planning on visiting the island for more than two days, rent a car and take yourself places. Look online to see what's available on the island you are visiting and keep yourself busy. Don't rely on your hosts to tour you around every day. They have a life and need to live it. I can't tell you how many residents put in a full day extending their hospitality to guests, then secretly staying up an extra three or four hours after they go to bed to catch up on their job.
5. Offer to help around the house: Please don't treat your hosts like your personal maids. Don't expect them to cook and clean for you every day. Offer to help out in the kitchen. Do the dishes. Empty the dishwasher. Make your bed. Straighten/clean the bathroom/bedroom before you leave. If you have time (depending on your flight), wash the sheets and towels. Get the cleaning supplies/vacuum out and spruce everything up!
6. Fix something around the house: Surprise your hosts and spend a half day of your trip (choose the "rainy" day) to help with a honey-do list. Let them know you want to do this beforehand so they can make a list. This will also help them look forward to your visit!
7. Be appreciative: Thank your hosts often. Use your words and verbally appreciate all they do for you, because it often comes at great sacrifice to them. More than likely they are happy to be with you, but it's nice to hear it!
8. Treat your hosts out once and awhile: Offer to take your hosts to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It doesn't have to be every day, but a few times during the course of your stay won't hurt. Give them a break every once in awhile! It's difficult to watch a guest horde their monies, only to have them go to the store and spend a wad on souvenirs. Strike a balance. Be generous during your stay. One of my visiting friends said "It's the least we can do, and we always do the least we can do!"
9. Leave a monetary gift: Write a thank you note and include some money in the card as your return gift of aloha. Although most hosts don't expect or count on it, this is a nice gesture, as the cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical and adding extra people into the household can double, even triple the electric, food, and propane bills. I suggest you give anywhere between $20 to $50 a day, depending on how much you can afford.
10. Wait until you're invited back: Depending on your relationship with the hosts, don't assume that you can make yearly or bi-yearly plans to visit your friends/relatives in Hawaii. Wait until they invite you back. If you follow the first nine tips on this list you will be considered a friend from HEAVEN and, more than likely, that will probably going to be a guarantee you will be asked back. On the other hand, it's awkward for a guest to have a potential guest bugging them for a return trip, especially if the first visit didn't go very well. It happens!
1. Plan ahead: Everyone wants to visit someone who lives on the island. It's cheaper and oftentimes more fun, but it can often feel like a revolving door to your hosts, especially in the summer months. Be aware of this and ask your potential hosts the right questions. Find out if their schedule is busy and plan accordingly. You might have to put off your trip for a year or two, but that's the breaks.
2. Don't come with unreal expectations: Don't be a negative guest with great expectations. Don't expect that because you dropped a wad on airline tickets that you have a right to be served or catered too. Demanding guests can suck the life out of their hosts. Be polite. Be patient. Be kind. Be courteous. Think ahead. Be aware of your surroundings and don't put your hosts in uncomfortable situations. In fact, put your hosts first and you will benefit with many happy returns!
3. Don't bring the kids: If you hosts don't have little kids, chances are they're not too excited about having them in their home for days on end. It might be better to plan a single person/couple trip. Leave the kids home with grandma and come to the islands to unwind.
4. Rent a car: If you are planning on visiting the island for more than two days, rent a car and take yourself places. Look online to see what's available on the island you are visiting and keep yourself busy. Don't rely on your hosts to tour you around every day. They have a life and need to live it. I can't tell you how many residents put in a full day extending their hospitality to guests, then secretly staying up an extra three or four hours after they go to bed to catch up on their job.
5. Offer to help around the house: Please don't treat your hosts like your personal maids. Don't expect them to cook and clean for you every day. Offer to help out in the kitchen. Do the dishes. Empty the dishwasher. Make your bed. Straighten/clean the bathroom/bedroom before you leave. If you have time (depending on your flight), wash the sheets and towels. Get the cleaning supplies/vacuum out and spruce everything up!
6. Fix something around the house: Surprise your hosts and spend a half day of your trip (choose the "rainy" day) to help with a honey-do list. Let them know you want to do this beforehand so they can make a list. This will also help them look forward to your visit!
7. Be appreciative: Thank your hosts often. Use your words and verbally appreciate all they do for you, because it often comes at great sacrifice to them. More than likely they are happy to be with you, but it's nice to hear it!
8. Treat your hosts out once and awhile: Offer to take your hosts to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It doesn't have to be every day, but a few times during the course of your stay won't hurt. Give them a break every once in awhile! It's difficult to watch a guest horde their monies, only to have them go to the store and spend a wad on souvenirs. Strike a balance. Be generous during your stay. One of my visiting friends said "It's the least we can do, and we always do the least we can do!"
9. Leave a monetary gift: Write a thank you note and include some money in the card as your return gift of aloha. Although most hosts don't expect or count on it, this is a nice gesture, as the cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical and adding extra people into the household can double, even triple the electric, food, and propane bills. I suggest you give anywhere between $20 to $50 a day, depending on how much you can afford.
10. Wait until you're invited back: Depending on your relationship with the hosts, don't assume that you can make yearly or bi-yearly plans to visit your friends/relatives in Hawaii. Wait until they invite you back. If you follow the first nine tips on this list you will be considered a friend from HEAVEN and, more than likely, that will probably going to be a guarantee you will be asked back. On the other hand, it's awkward for a guest to have a potential guest bugging them for a return trip, especially if the first visit didn't go very well. It happens!
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