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Guest Mobile AppThe app is not meant to replace meeting us in person but is a fabulous tool to compliment your guest experience.  The app gives you access to your reservation information and guest information from your mobile device. Make reservation payments, check-out from your reservations, and even book future vacations. These are just a small amount of things the Happy Stays Guest Mobile App can do for you! We are regularly adding new content, restaurants, tours and adventures for you to consider. Enjoy and always have a Happy Stay!

Once you complete your reservation, we will send you a link to download the Happy Stays app and provide you with a reservation access code.

Guest Mobile App  Apple iOS App Store
Guest Mobile App Google Play App Store

Navigating the Happy Stays Guest Mobile App

The main screen contains your reservation information and your Wi-Fi broadband Internet code.  A link to reservation details is available with cost and payment information. You can use the reservation details link to provide us feedback on your stay. At the top right of the app you have three horizontal lines which is the button to access visitor information.  Within visitor information, you have access to information specific to

    1. First Time Visitors
    2. Shuttles
    3. Office Directions
    4. Hawaiian Culture
    5. Guest Experience
    6. Local Restaurants
    7. Tours and Excursions
    8. Weather
    9. Videos

 

Pest wise you a most likely to come across a gecko. Some consider them cute and others are terrified by them.  They are afraid of you and will avoid you but they will eat any bugs that may be around.  You are unlikely to come across any bugs in your accommodations as all our units are inspected and treated by EPA-certified, safe pesticides, quarterly.

Water Fall

Traveler checks are usually accepted, but you should be aware that some merchants might look at you like you just tried to offer them a foreign currency. You should also know that Discover Card seems to be less welcome here than at other destinations and many places do not accept them.

If you are going to spend any time at the beach, woven bamboo beach mats can be found all over the island, are inexpensive alternatives to beach towels, can be rolled up for convenient storage, and the sand comes off the mat rather easily.

Please remember that Hawaii is not a Disney Land rather it is Mother Nature and she is hard, slippery, sharp, and unpredictable. Hiking guides and websites do not know the current conditions. Nothing is static and nothing can take the place of your own observations and good judgement.  Always trust your judgment and if you are seeking adventure prepare yourself for adventure. There are lots of wonderful things to do on the island and we want you to be safe and happy.

Hawaii is regarded as a paradise for its beautiful oceans, mountains, forests, and weather. Visitors often remark how the days are long and the weeks are short. Those lucky enough to a stay a while longer feel as if summer never ends.

Because of our tropical location, the length of daylight does not vary greatly throughout the year. Hawaii Standard Time is in effect year round.  In summertime, we enjoy longer days with the sun rising over the horizon around 5:30 am and setting to the west around 7:00 pm.  While the winter time brings us shorter days with the sunrise around 7:00 am and sunset around 6:00 pm.

Hawaiian time seems to slow down with calm relaxing beach scenes epitomizing a commonly held perception of life in Hawaii being inherently relaxed.

Hawaii does not change its clocks for Daylight Savings Time so depending on the time of year we can be 5 to 6 hours behind the east coast of the United States and 19 to 20 hours behind Tokyo, and 20 to 21 hours behind Sydney.

Hawaiian Time

One aspect of Hawaiian culture you may have heard is Hawaiian time.  According to the urban dictionary, Hawaiian time entails employing a Laissez-faire attitude towards matters of punctuality. The stereotype is that everyone in Hawaii move just a little bit slower than on the continental United States. After your visit you can decide whether Hawaiian time is a stereotype or something that actually exists. Hopefully, during your visit, you will notice that this feeling infects you.  The reason you are visiting Hawaii is for its beauty and sense of peace. If someone is moving a little bit slower than you, just go with it.

Getting Around Waikiki

Rental car prices as a transportation alternative in Waikiki, and Hawaii in general, can vary considerably. Competition between different rental car agencies is pretty fierce. Oahu is the only major Hawaiian Island where visitors can stay without renting a car. Waikiki is small and walkable and many activity companies will shuttle you to their locations. If you are trying to save money, and spend much of your trip in Waikiki, get a rental car for least some part of your trip.  Consider renting a car to explore sights that the city buses and even the tour buses do not visit.

When renting a car, unless you booked an accommodation that includes parking, you will need to pay parking fees. Depending on where you park, you can pay just as much for parking as you did to rent the car. Our recommendation is to consider renting a car from within Waikiki. Consider renting a car for a day then you do not have to pay the exorbitant parking rates.  If you are lucky, you might score the free street parking. Just keep in mind that street parking is very limited and may not be conveniently located near your accommodation.

If you want a fun alternative transportation, many places in Waikiki rent mopeds or scooters that are convenient to zip around Waikiki and the nearby areas.

Oahu Roadways

Oahu has some of the most confusing roads and highways in the United States. Roads change names randomly and there is no logic to the layout of the roadways.  You cannot drive around the circumference of the island as once you get to Keana Point the road ends.  The three interstates, which do not connect to another state, are simply named H1, H2, and H3. A mistake is to assume if you exit an interstate that you can simply get back on and head in the opposite direction.

Do not let the road ways drive you mad. If you use Google maps or other mapping application, you increase the likelihood that you will get to your destination. Also we claim to have the worst traffic in the United States. Our rush hour traffic can be heavy. Keep in mind the island is only 597 square miles with 112 miles of coastline and 44 miles from east to west and 30 miles from north to south.

Driving Tips

For directions, locals usually describe places as being on the mountain or mauka (mao-ka) side of the road or toward the ocean or Makai (ma-ki) side of the road.

It is best not to leave anything valuable in your car. Rental cars are easy to spot and are targeted by thieves. If you are going to store items in your trunk, do so at a different location then where you park the car.

Following is a suggested list of what to bring on your trip to Hawaii including common travel necessities as well as reminders for those often forgettable travel items.

Helpful hint: Check with your airline regarding what you can carry on the plane as new rules and regulations change. Also, check the weather forecast for your destination, as well as local customs for clothing guidelines. Remember, travel experts advise to pack light.

Waikiki is a self-contained metropolis where nearly 70 percent of Oahu visitors reside with the remaining 30 percent being permanent residents and of those permanent residents the majority of local residents are unmarried enjoying the glitz and glamour in this languorous tropical paradise.  The Waikiki lifestyle is not a normal routine. An eclectic and blissful harmony of honeymooners, teenagers, conventioneers, business people, retirees, beach goers, and local residents. Waikiki is a fantasy world – exciting and relaxing, fleeting and eternal.

WHAT TO BRING

How to prepare for your Hawaii stay? Assuming you are coming to Hawaii to enjoy the outdoors then this list can assist you in planning what to bring for a safe and enjoyable stay.  All the items on the list can be purchased or rented once you are here but if you have the space in your luggage and want to save some $$ consider packing these items.

General Packing Tips

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