Note that this written from the perspective of US-based readers.

1. The flight is cheaper.

2. You won’t need to purchase travel insurance for overseas medical coverage.

3. If an emergency happens, it’s a lot more reassuring to rely on emergency services in Hawaii (like fire or ambulance) than in less developed countries.

4. The beaches are as nice or nicer, at least during the summer 6 months of the year when the seas are calm. I challenge you to find better beaches than Lanikai or Sunset beaches anywhere.

5. You won’t need to mess around the roaming charges, foreign SIM cards, or foreign currency.

6. Since it’s closer, there’s less jet lag.

7 Since the flight/s to Hawaii are shorter, you’ll have less time on the plane and more actual time on holiday.

8. You’ll likely be able to get here nonstop or with one easy connection. You can often fly direct to the island you want to be on. You won’t need to take an additional flight within a foreign country and/or a boat.

9. The locals speak English.

10. It’s still possible but you’re less likely yo get food poisoning from eating out in Hawaii. I had diarrhoea and vomiting for 1.5 days in Cambodia earlier this year and it was no fun, let alone losing 2 days of my precious holiday.

11. Hawaii doesn’t have a monsoon season like South-East Asia. Hawaii does have occasional tropical storms, mainly between October and March, but in general most rains comprise of only a light evening shower.

12. The temperatures in Hawaii remain very stable throughout the year – 85-90F( 29-32C) in the Summer and 79-83F (26-28C) in the Winter. I find it less humid and sticky c.f South-East Asia and the trade winds make it more pleasant and cooler.

13. In Hawaii you’ll still have access to some of your favourite US shops and supermarkets (e.g Ross and Wholefoods), especially on Oahu.

14. Being a US state Hawaiians drive on the right side of the road so it is easy for US travellers to rent a car and drive there. If you’re from the In Thailand and Malaysia they drive of the left, whereas the rest of S-E Asia drives on the right. But you’d be crazy to hire a car and drive in South-East Asia anyway, right ?!! Certainly in Cambodia nobody seems to follow any road rules and they often drive on the wrong side of the road!

To be fair we should list a few downsides of skipping a South-East Asia beach holiday:
– South-East Asian food is generally delicious and cheap
– your US$ goes further than it will in Hawaii.
– the water temperatures will be a bit warmer.

Both South-East Asian countries and Hawaii have a different culture from the US mainland so that is a win win, which ever you choose.