Hours of Operation in Big Island

Hours of Operation

Even people in paradise have to work. Generally local business hours are weekdays 8-5. Banks are usually open Monday-Thursday 8:30-3 and until 6 on Friday. Some banks have Saturday-morning hours.

Many self-serve gas stations stay open around-the-clock, with full-service stations usually open from around 7 AM until 9 PM. U.S. post offices are open weekdays 8:30 AM-4:30 PM and Saturday 8:30-noon.

Most museums generally open their doors between 9 AM and 10 AM and stay open until 5 PM Tuesday-Saturday. Many museums operate with afternoon hours only on Sunday and close on Monday. Visitor-attraction hours vary throughout the state, but most sights are open daily with the exception of major holidays such as Christmas. Check local newspapers upon arrival for attraction hours and schedules if visiting over holiday periods. The local dailies carry a listing of "What's Open/What's Not" for those time periods.

Stores in resort areas sometimes open as early as 8, with shopping-center opening hours varying from 9:30 to 10 on weekdays and Saturday, a bit later on Sunday. Bigger malls stay open until 9 weekdays and Saturday and close at 5 on Sunday. Boutiques in resort areas may stay open as late as 11.

ATMs & Banks

Automatic teller machines for easy access to cash are everywhere on the Islands. ATMs can be found in shopping centers, small convenience and grocery stores, inside hotels and resorts, as well as outside most bank branches. For a directory of locations, call 800/424-7787 for the MasterCard/Cirrus/Maestro network or 800/843-7587 for the Visa/Plus network.

Credit Cards

Throughout this guide, the following abbreviations are used: AE, American Express; D, Discover ; DC, Diners Club; MC, MasterCard; and V, Visa.

It's a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel, especially if you're going abroad and don't travel internationally very often. Otherwise, the credit-card company might put a hold on your card owing to unusual activity -- not a good thing halfway through your trip. Record all your credit-card numbers -- as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen -- in a safe place, so you're prepared should something go wrong. Both MasterCard and Visa have general numbers you can call (collect if you're abroad) if your card is lost, but you're better off calling the number of your issuing bank, since MasterCard and Visa usually just transfer you to your bank; your bank's number is usually printed on your card.

Reporting Lost Cards

American Express (800/992-3404 in the U.S.; 336/393-1111 collect from abroad. www.americanexpress.com). Diners Club (800/234-6377 in the U.S.; 303/799-1504 collect from abroad. www.dinersclub.com). Discover (800/347-2683 in the U.S.; 801/902-3100 collect from abroad. www.discovercard.com). MasterCard (800/622-7747 in the U.S.; 636/722-7111 collect from abroad. www.mastercard.com). Visa (800/847-2911 in the U.S.; 410/581-9994 collect from abroad. www.visa.com).