Hawaii Safety and Hazards
The islands of Hawaii could each easily be described as paradise. But even paradise has its hazards and we'd be foolish not to at least educate you on a few of them. Please make sure you and those who travel with you know about these hazards. Our statements below are rather candid because we want you to know the truth about the place you are visiting. This isn't Disneyland; it is often wild, rough, and natural law prevails out here. The more you know, the better prepared you are to avoid the hazards of our beautiful islands. We've made this short section a chapter in all of our recent guidebooks, and that should show how much emphasis we put on this subject.
Wildlife, Plants, & Insects (All Islands)For the most part you are very safe on the Hawaiian Islands from all animal and plant life. There are no large predators or snakes, and there are few plants that will cause irritation when hiking (no poison oak/ivy for example). However, other hazards still exist.
The main culprit we've come across in the animal world is actually an insect, the centipede (seen here). In Hawai'i these aggressive insects carry quite a punch and getting bit or stung by one is not what you want during your visit to the islands. The resorts usually spray for them very well, but be careful with any shoes left outside during the night, etc. Another insect that gets a lot of attention is the Cane Spider. But it's mostly hype. The brown cane spider is mostly feared due to its appearance (size). It is about the size of a can of tuna; that includes its long legs. Typically it will run versus defend, and the bite of a cane spider is rarely dangerous. None-the-less, we wanted to give it a mention.
There are also scorpions on the drier sides of the islands, but they usually stay out of sight. Mosquitoes typically frequent the wetter sides of the islands, so prepare accordingly. Geckos are nothing to be worried about; they're the cute lizards that actually keep the bug population somewhat under control here. On the Big Island, the other cute, but pesky, resident is the coqui tree frog (seen here). Especially prevalent on the Hilo/Puna side of the island, they will likely be music to your ears the first night. By the fifth night you'll probably understand why they spray for them.The many edible plants and fruits of Hawai'i also create a hazard. Many visitors believe that they can pop just about anything in their mouths for a taste in Hawai'i, not so. Many plants here are poisonous and no fruits or plants should be eaten unless you absolutely know for sure it is safe. Remember that many plants will have similar looking fruits.
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