DO have the top down on your cabriolet before 9AM; and after 6PM on sunny days in Hawaii. [The same rule applies on cloudy days.] Why? Because there are way too many tourists driving around with the top down - especially those sitting in black interiors - like so many baked red potatoes. The Hawaiian sun burns the skin in about twenty minutes....
^ get plenty of spray on sunscreen, that sun burns...... Also, pack lightly, every place is casual. Ed
Don't leave ANYTHING of value in a locked car or hotel room - even if you're on a Military base. The locals know how to unlock a rental-car door, steal everything (including whatever you think you've hidden under the seat or trunk), and RELOCK the car. Hotel maids often serve as 'lookouts' for local thief-gangs, who often canvass ground-floor hotel rooms and will steal everything of potential value in a hotel room in as little as 15 minutes. Hotel staff will LIE about how-often this is happening, and the cops won't investigate too hard, otherwise there's a paper-trail that might support a rising petty-theft statistic and scare the tourists away. Much of the 'merchandise' at the flea-market is stolen goods from tourists - don't go to these.
I've visited many times over the years and no troubles whatsoever. Volcanic rock is cool.. plenty more where that came from.
Dont know if it was mentioned: - Don't go to Waiphu looking for Pakalolo. You will be robbed - Don't rent a ragtop jeep and drive to the punch bowl. You will get caught in the rain and sumarily soaked while you fumble with it. - Don't ask a hooker on Kuhio ave of she'll accept 47.50 for her services, she wont give you a second chance. - Dont go to the International Polynesian Village, its a waste of time, unless you like mean korean women selling chinese Chotskies. All from personal experience.
If a rent-a-car agency offers you a Dodge Charger, decline the offer. They are very easy to break into.
Best not to leave anything of value in any rental car, or any car period. Then it doesn't much matter whether it's easy to break into.
Don't complain incessantly about how Hawaii is not like __________ place. Don't buy groceries anywhere other than WalMart or Costco (unless you like paying double). Don't bring valuables in your car to the beach. Violent crime and shootings are rare, but petty theft rates are high. As for danger, I never really had any instances where I was afraid for my safety other than a few times in Makaha (West side of Oahu) and some sketchy industrial areas on the West side of Honolulu metro. Bigger guys get more threats, but usually not life threatening. My observations after 5 years in the islands was that in Polynesian cultures there is a tendency to fistfight for social position or to resolve disputes - you hear about beatings or fights but not as much knives or guns. This doesn't include drug/gang activity around Town though. But if you stay out of that scene there's not a lot of risk. About La'ie's lack of alcohol: the town is actually a private entity, owned by a trust and operated by a corporation.