Travel in Hawaii

The Hawaiian archipelago stretches 1,523 miles across an underwater mountain range. Identified as the tops of volcanic mountains, 124 minor and eight major islands include atolls and rocky pinnacles comprising the northern and middle group. The populated islands are found in the southern region: (west to east) Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii ("The Big Island"). The eighth "major" island, Kahoolawe (southwest of Maui), is unpopulated.

Oahu is an island of magnificent panoramas, ringed with white sand beaches, capped by towering volcanic peaks, and in between the mountains and the ocean lies the playground of the Pacific.
Read more → The “Heart of Hawaii”

Travelers who can go anywhere in the world come back to Maui again and again, because their Maui moments are some of the most treasured of their lives. The majestic leaps of Maui's humpback whales are the perfect symbol for the magic of this island, where natural wonders set your spirit free and the warm aloha of Maui's people fills your heart with a sense of belonging.
Read more → The “Valley Isle”

Kauai's incredible natural beauty extends from the breathtaking heights of the Kokee forests to the Na Pali coastline; from the ever-changing colors of Waimea Canyon to the romance of moonlit Hanalei Bay.
Read more → The “Garden Island”

Twice as large as all of the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, the Big Island is also the youngest of the island chain. At some 800,000 years of age, it's also still growing.
Read more → Island of Inspiration

Here are the general rules to be aware of when you seek to enter the United States temporarily for a specific purpose (such as vacationing):

• The purpose of your visit must be temporary

• You must agree to depart at the end of your authorized stay

• You must be in possession of a valid passport

• You must be in possession of a valid visa, if required, which was issued by an American Consulate

• You must be maintaining a foreign residence

• You may be required to show proof of financial support

• You must abide by the terms and conditions of admission

For more information on visas, please contact the nearest American Consulate.

The foregoing will be confirmed at the Immigrations Inspection Area at the airport. Once you have cleared the Immigrations Inspection Area, you will be directed to Customs. Your airline will give you a form to complete while you are still en route to the United States: either Form I-94(white), Arrival/ Departure Record; or Form I-94W (green), Non-immigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/ Departure Form. The forms ask for basic identification information and the address where you will stay in the United States.

Upon your arrival, the airline personnel will show you to the inspection area. You will queue up in an inspection line and then speak with an Immigration Inspector. If your passport is in a passport cover, please remove it from the cover before reaching the inspection booth.

Present your passport, completed Form I-94 or I-94W, and the U.S. Customs declaration to the Immigration Inspector. The Immigration Inspector will then ask some basic question to determine why you are coming to the United States and how long you should be allowed to stay in the United States. The Inspector may also ask you to present your airline tickets showing your departure from the United States. These determinations usually take less than one minute to make. If you are allowed to proceed, the Inspector will stamp your passport and issue a completed Form I-94 to you. The completed form will show what immigration classification you were given and how long you are allowed to stay. You will then be permitted to proceed to Customs.

US Customs Service
1001 Bishop Street Suite 2500
Honolulu, HI 96813

Customs declaration forms are distributed on vessels and planes and are available in many languages, including English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Fill out your declaration before you arrive so you can speed your customs and immigration clearance. You must complete the information requested on the front of the declaration. You need not itemize things you brought with you for personal use (for example, clothing, toiletries, portable radios) if they are within the exemptions allowed for arriving nonresidents. You must, however, declare the value of any gifts, business articles, or items not for your own use that you have brought with you.

Content provided courtesy of Aloha Hawaii Guide.