Weather

The weather in Honolulu is mild and pleasant in November. Temperatures range from to 71 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit (21.6 to 28.8 Celsius), but cooler evening temperatures and frequent rainfall is possible. Attendees are recommended to bring a light sweater or jacket.

Time

Honolulu is in the Hawaii - Aleutian Time zone (GMT -10 hours).

Tipping

Tipping in the United States is customary, with approximately 15-20% of the total bill before tax being appropriate – a bit more or less depending on the quality of service. Wait staff in restaurants receive low hourly wages and therefore depend on tips for their livelihood. Tips of $1-2 per bag are customarily given to baggage handlers at airports and hotel bellhops who take luggage to a guest room. It is also customary to tip hotel room cleaning staff $1 to $2 per day. Taxicab drivers are customarily tipped 10-15% of the fare.

Electricity and Water Supply

The standard electricity supply in the United States is 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles).
Tap water is safe to drink, but bottled water is widely available.

Smoking

Hawaii State law mandates that all indoor and partially enclosed public spaces, including restaurants and bars, are 100% smoke-free. Additionally, hotels frequently assess substantial cleaning fees to guests who smoke in non-smoking rooms.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Hawaii, although some small shops and restaurants may only accept cash payments. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover can be used at most establishments. In the event that a card is lost or stolen, the appropriate U.S. toll-free numbers to call are:

Currency and ATM Service

The official currency of the United States is the U.S. dollar ($). Retailers in Hawaii generally do not accept other currencies, and some small shops do not accept credit cards. APEC visitors may wish to have U.S. dollars for cash purchases when necessary.

Currency exchange services are offered at Honolulu International Airport and many Waikiki locations, including hotels. However, not all currencies will be available at all locations.

ATMs are readily available throughout Waikiki and the nearby Ala Moana Shopping Center and can be used to withdraw U.S. dollars, although banks typically impose higher fees for international transactions. Information regarding the location of area ATMs and banks may be found at hotel concierge desks.

Mobile Phone Information

Conference attendees who wish to utilize non-U.S. mobile phones during their time in the United States should note the following requirements:

• Mobile phones should be a Tri-Band or Quad-Band device possessing the ability to work on frequency range 850/900/1800/2100MHz
• Mobile phones should be provisioned with international voice and data through the international wireless local carrier
• Mobile phone users should verify with their local wireless service provider that a roaming agreement exists with the United States