Banks: 08.30 to 15.00, Monday to Thursday; 08.30 to 18.00, Friday; some banks open on Saturday
Post Offices: 08.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday; 09.00 to 15.00, Saturday
Government Offices: 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10.00 to 21.00, Monday to Friday; 10.00 to 17.30, Saturday; 10.00 to 17.00, Sunday

Water-sports like windsurfing, jet-skiing, scuba diving and snorkelling all place visitors at greater risk of having an accident and the surf is particularly strong in Kauai during the winter. Also, beware the disease leptospirosi (a bacteria that inflames the eyes), which is present in streams on Kauai. Taking out travel insurance is a must when visiting Hawaii.

110V, 60Hz – twin flat-pin sockets (as with the US mainland)

Hawaii is on par with the US mainland as to its health status, with high standards of food hygiene in restaurants and good hospitals. You may want to stick to bottle water, though. On Kauai, always wear sunscreen in the summer and winter and be careful when hiking in Waimea Canyon.

Emergency services: 911
Wilcox Hospital Lihue: +1 808 245 1100

English, as well as the Hawaiian language, an Austronesian language, are both the official languages of Hawaii.

As a state of the US, Hawaii uses the US dollar (US$). All bills are green and all coins round.

Visitors over the age of 21 years can bring the following duty-free amounts into Hawaii: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars (non-Cuban), or three pounds of tobacco; one litre of wine or spirits; and gifts to the value of US$100.

Social conventions on Kauai differ from those on the US mainland and you may find the locals as being easily ruffled or touchy, although they are generally friendly. Do not refer to the locals as natives or Hawaiians, as only native Hawaiians should be so-called, and also don’t be offended if a local calls you a haole, which means ‘white’ in Hawaiian and is not meant to be offensive.

European Union nationals need to fill out a form requesting a visa at least 72 hours before they plan to travel to the US. You may need to show evidence of funds and an onward ticket. Canadians also require a passport to enter the US.

The Kauai Visitors Bureau has useful information on the island and can be found on the first floor of the Watumull Plaza, 4334 Rice Street, Suite 101, Lihue. Phone: +1 808 245 3971; www.kauaidiscovery.com