The ‘State’ of Hawaii is made up of 6 main islands; Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai and the big island of Hawaii. All 6 islands have their own identities and unique qualities that should be considered before choosing your preferred destination. The birthplace of surfing and the hula and home to the world’s most active volcanoes and the world’s tallest sea mountain, Hawaii’s most unique feature is its Aloha Spirit.

The Hawaiian Islands are becoming a popular pick for J1ers to choose for their summer work and travel experience!! Although the job and accommodation hunt isn’t nearly as fierce as it would be in the major cities on the continent. Hawaii offers a relaxed tropical summer filled with beaches and adventure.

Climate: The climate of Hawaii is typical for a tropical area, although temperatures and humidity tend to be a bit less extreme than other tropical locales due to the constant trade winds blowing from the east. During the summer the average temperature is 31 degrees celcius during the day and 24 degrees celcius at night.

Culture: The culture in Hawaii varies by Island. The Big Island was the first to be populated, about 1500 years ago by the Polynesians who migrated over 2000 miles in canoes before finding the island. Captain James Cook was the first to bring a European influence to the islands in 1778. In 1959 the Natives of Hawaii voted in favour of becoming the 50th United State. With varying Monarchs, leaders and religions over it’s history Hawaii has a very diverse history and culture.

Transport: Travelling between the islands is most easily done by plane. Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are the 2 main carriers of Hawaii though the airline go!
Tickets can be as low as $60 return between the islands. Hawaii Superferry runs daily ferries between Oahu, Maui and Kauai with fares starting at $44 oneway. Oahu has an excellent bus service aptly named TheBus! Routes and schedules are available at TheBus website http://www.thebus.org

The majority of J1ers who head over to Hawaii for their work and travel experience get jobs in tourism industry. Be it working in a hotel, bar, restaurant or a beachside surf shop you are almost guaranteed to have a warm, chilled out summer of fun. There are some administration jobs and if you are brave enough there are likely to be banana, or pineapple picking jobs! Some hotels offer staff accommodation, which can decrease your salary but takes the stress out of finding somewhere to stay. Here are a few websites you can check out with information on finding work and a place to stay.

To start looking, check out the below sites:
http://www.craigslist.org
http://www.hawaiitribuneherald.com
http://www.jobshawaii.com
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com
http://www.sublet.com/Index3/HawaiiHousing.html
http://www.resortjobs.com

For accommodation details:
http://honolulu.craigslist.org/
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
http://www.hawaiihostelreview.com/
http://www.thestateofhawaii.com/apartments.html

There are a number of different festivals and events throughout the summer in the Islands of Hawaii. In mid July the Prince Lot Hula Festival will be held in Moanalua Gardens on Oahu. Many cities and towns have weekly markets with many hand made crafts and cultural items on offer. All of the islands will be holding a number of festivities for the 4th of July celebrations. A great site to look at for an events calendar is http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/

Especially if you are planning to travel around as many islands as you can, you will never be at a loss for things to do! There are island hopping cruises, surfing, snorkelling, trekking through the many parks, helicopter tours over active volcanoes, kayaking, golf, visit the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour, check out the numerous museums and aquariums, watch the sunset from a secluded beach, etc, etc, etc. Go to the official Hawaii Tourism website at http://www.gohawaii.com for information on what there is to see and do as well as events and festivals that are going on throughout the summer.

The nightlife in Hawaii depends on where you are. The quieter, more secluded areas are not likely to have much of a hopping bar scene. Whereas Honolulu and Waikiki Beach are filled with the young and young at heart and both have a vibrant nightlife. You’ll find most of the pub and clubs along the beaches in the more heavily populated areas.

The above tops provided by Go4Less are intended as a guide only. Go4Less accept no responsibility for any jobs or housing accepted by students through these contacts.