1. Tips for
CAPE Participants
* MAPS
 Map
to Pagoda Hotel / UH Campus (PDF)
Map
to UH Dormitory / UH Campus (PDF)
 (Please
click the icon to download if you do not have Acrobat Reader).
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a. Predeparture
If
you plan to extend your trip to the mainland, make sure to
purchase tickets and confirm reservations before you depart
from your country.
It
would be very helpful to consult with a CAPE alumnus in your
region.
Learning
about Hawaii prior to your arrival may make your stay here
more enjoyable.
Other
helpful pre-departure tips for pleasant travel:
1) travel light by making a list of absolute essentials and
2) don't forget to bring your 'Sense of Humor'. TOP
b. Some things to Pack
It
is recommended that participants bring the following: light sweater/jacket,
sandals, casual shoes, swim suit, folding umbrella, spare suitcase,
camera,
emergency medicine for colds or indigestion. You may of course choose to
purchase such items here in Hawaii. Note, however, that it can
be inconvenient to purchase
emergency medicine in Hawaii, especially when they are medications that require
a doctor's prescription.
c. Weather
Hawaii
is the land of endless summers. Although the average temperature
is 71°-80°F (21°-27°C), you will be able to enjoy
cool breezes thanks to Hawaii's trade winds. From December through
March, mornings and evenings feel like autumn weather even though
daytime temperatures are like summer.
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d. Tipping in Hawaii
It
is customary to tip airport porters, restaurant waiters, and hotel
bellboys, etc. for their services. 10-20% is an appropriate amount.
For instance, if the taxi fare is $20, an appropriate tip would
be $3.00. A 15% tip is adequate in most restaurants, except in
cafeterias and fast food restaurants where you should not tip.
Although there is no set rate for porters, bellboys and housekeepers,
it is customary to tip one dollar for one or two suitcases and
add 25 to 50 cents per additional suitcase. Also leave a couple
of dollars on your pillow daily for the housekeepers who clean
your room. (One dollar would be sufficient if you are a student.)
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e. Arrival in Hawaii
Your
first day in Hawaii may be a bit challenging. Keep in mind most
international flights arrive between 6 am and 10 am but hotel
check-in is not until 3 pm. (Check-out time is 12:00 noon).
It
may take several hours to go through immigration and customs.
After processing through customs, use the marked Exit straight
ahead of you for individual arrivals, or take the left-hand Exit if coming with a group. (If you are alone and accidentlly take this Exit, just look for a taxi.) Upon
coming out, approach the taxi dispatchers and wait for them
to get you a taxi. Taxi fare from the airport to the Pagoda
Hotel are around $25 to $30 for an individual riding alone.
Go
to the Front Desk of your hotel and complete the check-in procedure.
It is convenient to use VISA or Master Card. You can also use
Traveler's Checks
or pay in cash (US dollars). If you are lucky, your room will be available
for early check-in. As always, please respect the other customers and stand in line.
If
early check-in is not possible, you will have to wait several
hours before you can get settled in your living quarters.
Here are some helpful suggestions
on how to spend those hours:
- Have your luggage stored in the hotel 'Storage Room' or leave
it with your friends who were able to check-in early.
- Once you get your room number, store your valuables, cash,
passport, etc. in the hotel 'Safety Box'.
- If you are desperate for sleep, you can relax on the chairs
around the hotel swimming pools (one at the Pagoda Tower and
one at the Pagoda Terrace.)
- Those who can do without sleep might want to drop by the conveniently
located Don Quijote supermarket where you will find a grocery store,
post office, and drug store.
- If you still have some energy left, you can go to Ala Moana
Shopping Center (one of the biggest outdoor malls in the world)
which is within 10 to 15 minutes' walking distance.
- Go to the beach! Cross Ala Moana Boulevard in front of Ala
Moana Center, walk through the park toward the ocean, and beautiful
Ala Moana Beach will welcome you.
Although you may not be able to do all the things listed above,
exploring some of the places mentioned will help you become familiar
with Hawaii.
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f. Daily Schedule
CAPE's
daily schedule begins at 8:30 am and ends at 12:20 pm. The CAPE
program is held at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH). You
can take the Bus to UH at 7:15, 7:30, or 7:45am at the corner
of Kaheka & Rycroft Street in front of the hotel. It takes about
15 to 20 minutes to reach UH by Bus. Bus fare is $2.50 for adults or $1.25 for Middle/High School students ("youth"), and exact
change is required. Either dollar bills (paper) or coins are accepted.
A monthly bus pass may be purchased for $60.00 (adult) or $30.00 (youth).
Participants
will have free time after class sessions--unless a field trip
or visitation is scheduled. Participants are urged to be active
and try to
gain various experiences. First hand knowledge of different cultures and
life styles can only be acquired through exploration. Helpful
information on the
use of free time will be provided in the CAPE orientation session.
While
attending the program, participants will have access to UH
libraries and can photocopy materials if necessary. Access
to e-mail will also be available.
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g. Computer Use
Computers are available for use at the University of Hawaii’s Hamilton Library, and Sinclair Library. A few public computers are usually available in the lobbies equipped with Internet Explorer, but some may be restricted to library search only. Other computers with Microsoft Office and other programs are available with a login Username & Password available by request for a $10 fee from CAPE.
You must request the Username & Password if you wish to have access to any of the computer labs on campus and/or use wireless internet with your own laptop. Printing at the computer labs is free, but you need to provide your own paper.
Otherwise, printing is available at a cost of $0.09 per page. All printing & copying require the use of a "Copy/Print Card," which can be purchased for $1.00 at self-service machines in the libraries. You can then add on specific amounts of money to use like a debit card. If the card runs out of funds, you may add more money to it at the self-service units on the first floor of Hamilton Library, or by going to the Business Counter of the Circulation Department in Hamilton Library.
Laptop Usage:
East West Center Dormitory: You can purchase an Ethernet cable ($5) and connect to the Internet.
Pagoda Hotel: Free internet (username/password) will be provided after arrival. There is only one internet access outlet per room. Wi-Fi is only provided in the main lobby. Therefore, it is recommended that one roommate brings a Wireless Router with them so that all roommates may have access to the internet.
Electronic outlets in Hawaii (and the rest of the U.S.) use 120 volts. If you have electronic equipment that requires 220 volts, please bring your own converter or purchase one here after arriving.
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h. Sharing a Dorm/Hotel Room/Roommates
It
is not always possible to satisfy all roommate requests due to
circumstances beyond our control. 1) If the number of double-room applicants is an odd number, one person will be assigned to a single room. 2) If your assigned roommate does not show up or give advance notice you may be responsible for the cost of the entire room.
Cases like
these, however, can be resolved through understanding and cooperation.
The
following participants will not need to concern themselves with
the problems listed above: single-room applicants, couples,
those who arrive together with roommates, group participants with
prearranged roommate lists.
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i. Meals
Participants
can eat either in their hotel rooms (Pagoda Terrace has kitchenettes
and cooking utensils) or at UH. Breakfast at the UH cafeteria
averages $3-4,
lunch $5-7. Participants have more options for dinner. Some participants
like to eat dinner in their hotel rooms. (Note: Pagoda Tower, unlike
Pagoda
Terrace, is not equipped with cooking facilities, just a small refrigerator.
Approximately 20% of the participants will be assigned to Pagoda
Tower.) Those
who plan to cook their own dinners may want to either bring some food items
from their countries or buy them here in Hawaii. Various ethnic
food items
such as rice, ramen, and kimchi are available. There are also a variety of
restaurants around the hotel.
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j. Miscellaneous
Please
be notified that, as a matter of policy, CAPE does not give discounts
on tuition under any circumstances, even when the participant chooses
to attend only a fraction of its program or programs.
CAPE
accepts VISA, MASTERCARD and JCB credit cards for payments.
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We hope that the information provided here may be of some
help with your preparation before departure. Note, however, the above information is merely a guide, and it may not be applicable to all participants as we have variety of programs. We cordially welcome
your participation. Aloha!
If you have any questions please e-mail cape@cape.edu.
To visit our homepage click on www.cape.edu
Helpful Websites
The Bus: www.thebus.org
Pagoda Hotel: www.pagodahotel.com
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