Driving in Hawaii

Hello everyone, I really enjoy reading the forums and the helpful advice from contributors.

A dumb question, but one that has my wife concerned is driving in Hawaii. As you know in OZ we drive on the opposite side of the road and I was wondering if any other folk from Australia have tips on driving in Hawaii.

We are looking to get a convertable and tour the island, but my wife is concerned about everything being on the opposite side.

Any tips.

Thanks

Driving in Hawaii

it%26#39;s not a dumb question ...

I%26#39;ve tried driving on my opposite side and it was hard, counter to all my driving instincts. I only tried it where traffic was very basic, more basic than Hawaii. And I STILL turned into a lane only to find myself facing oncoming traffic (but it was OK because I was on an island in the South Pacific with very mellow traffic).

If this is your first time, I don%26#39;t think you should get a convertible. Seriously. Get a car that offers you some protection in case you mess up. Or consider not driving and just walking, bussing, and touring (depends on which island how practical that is).

Driving in Hawaii

Very good advice, once again, from KK. My experience is limited to driving during one vacation on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. They drive on the other side of the road, too. One%26#39;s brain does not adjust to this as you would think! At least in Hawaii they don%26#39;t have %26#39;round-abouts%26#39; which were my undoing. This island was also a laid back destination with little traffic unlike Hawaii. I have driven on all four of the major islands and would not attempt to do so on any of them if someone told me I had to drive on the other side of the road....mostly for the sake of pedestrians and other motorists:)

You can do it! DH and I have driven all over southern GB on what is for us the ';wrong side';. The hardest part is exiting the airport rental car offices, getting onto a highway in heavy traffic. Since the steering wheel is also on the ';wrong side';, that also requires some adjustment -- shifting with the opposite hand. (Driving on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is even harder because you are driving on the ';wrong side'; in an American made car with steering wheel on the ';right side'; -- left side of the car.)

You will probably be in more danger walking, as you will tend to check for passing cars in the wrong directiion.

Especially if you are going to Big Island, I would not rent a convertible. You%26#39;ll drive greater distances there at higher speeds. The whole State of Hawaii has the worst record in the USA for drunk-driving traffic fatalities. A convertible offers little protection. I%26#39;d prefer a mid-size or full-size car -- with great air conditioning!

maybe you can do it, maybe not. But for the sake of those who live here as well as yourselves, please be careful. This island has too many fatalities on the roads. Roads here can be unforgiving if you make a mistake and some aren%26#39;t that easy to drive even if you%26#39;re used to that side of the road. Driving curvy mountain roads ...

If you just want to go from the airport to a west side resort and the restaurants in the area, that%26#39;s one thing. Taking on a drive to the East Side/Volcano is very different. You didn%26#39;t say what you plan to do, so I don%26#39;t know how ambitious you are thinking.

Thanks every one.

It was our intent to go from Waikiki to the PCC and perhaps another trip to Sunset Beach, Banzi Pipeline , Waimea Bay and then back to our hotel Ohana East, or where ever we get the hire car from.

You are right about looking the opposite way. In Sydney during the Olympics we had signs painted on the road reminding people to look right etc.

I am keen to give it a go. But will certainly heed the advice of the seasoned travellers here.

Really looking forward to the trip. 26 March can%26#39;t come soon enough!

Regards

John

ah, well my description of roads was based on Big Island, not Oahu, so scratch that.

My main problems were 1) feeling off center being in the wrong lane and the usual easy turns were the ones to watch; 2) my sense of where to stay in the lane was off, driving on the right, I was practically hugging the shoulder for fearing the car was over the center line because it felt like it was ... in the main, I was off a bit so not at my best for reacting to anything sudden.

Intellectually I knew how it all worked but as I realized, driving is more of a gut level activity, I%26#39;ve been doing it for so long, having to think it out was different. Enjoy your holiday!!!