It is suggested that you arrive with at least enough cash or traveler's checks in U.S. dollars to cover the first three weeks of expenses, including your initial stay in hotel, meals, transportation, first month's rent and security deposit (usually equal to one month's rent). This may be as much as $3,000.

It is also recommended that you bring some cash even if you plan to bring the majority of your funds in the form of traveler's checks. If you plan to transfer money via a foreign bank check, there may be a waiting period of approximately three weeks (or 10 days for checks drawn on a U.S. mainland bank) before funds become available.

Participants find it convenient to open a local checking and/or savings account. A checking account will allow you to write checks in order to make purchases and to pay bills such as rent and telephone costs. Most retailers and service providers will accept a personal check drawn on any U.S. bank as long as you provide appropriate identification such as a passport.

Credit cards are also widely used in the U.S., particularly for car rentals, hotel check-in procedures and payment, mail-order shopping, and airline ticket reservations.

Major banks in Hawaii include: American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank. Each bank has different business hours. A sample of typical bank hours is as follows:

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am-4:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am-6:00 pm

Note: Banks are usually closed on public holidays. Some branches have evening and/or Saturday hours, and some have tellers in supermarkets.

Tipping and Taxes

Unlike many other countries, the United States has a system of tipping those who provide services. The standard tip for someone assisting with luggage might be one or two dollars. In a restaurant, the usual tip is 15%-20% of the bill; make sure that the tip has not been added to the total bill beforehand. Each state has established its own tax rate, which is added to the retail price. In Hawaii, the state tax is 4.167% (some businesses charge 4%).