Protect Yourself Against Hypothermia—Even in Hawaii

Although Hawaii’s waters hover around 74–84° Fahrenheit most of the time, exposure over a long period of time can reduce your core temperature and cause mild to moderate hypothermia. A drop of just a few degrees below the range of normal body temperatures can cause shivering, mild confusion, and loss of muscle coordination. Overnight, water temperatures may drop 10–15° Fahrenheit. It’s a good idea to understand hypothermia and strategies for dealing with it. Being over-prepared is almost always better than being under-prepared.