Cane Spiders in Hawaii
 

My fiance and I are trying to figure out where to go for our honeymoon, and one of our top choices is Hawaii. However, I am a huge arachnophobe and am deathly, deathly afraid of spiders. I can deal with 2 inch flying roaches, huge centipedes, even little spiders, but huge 5-7 inch hairy big bodied cane spiders are my limit. I originally thought that these were only seen only outside or maybe in bungalows, but after doing some online research I see that people have seen them in high rise hotels like the Shearton Maui. I know some people will think this is silly, but this is a real phobia of mine, and I don't want to live in fear and be miserable for my whole honeymoon. I know these things are also in other tropical areas like the Caribbean. Maybe we should go to Europe instead? :)

It's not the spiders that terrify me, it's the bloody cane rats that I fear.

Sure, Europe would make a great honeymoon. Seriously, go to Paris ;-)

I've been to Hawaii 5 times (1 Maui, 4 Oahu) and have never even seen a spider of any size. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen though. If this is really as bad as you are making it sound here, you probably should not vacation in any tropical destinations then.

I too, have a very unreasonable fear of spiders! However, I lived on Oahu, in Waikiki for 10 months in a high rise. I explored every inch of the island, and I can honestly say that I never saw ANY spider. It sounds too good to be true, but it's not. I;m sure that there are some, but I can't imagine how they would get into a high rise unless someone brought them in. I think you should take the chance. You will really regret missing out if you don't.

I have lived in Hawaii over 30 years. Although I've been in a lot of homes and hotels, hiking, and sold my share of old empty buildings, the only cane spider I've ever seen was in a display at the zoo.

how do you feel about geckos?

I have no problem with geckos - I know they eat spiders, so that's a plus :) Too bad I can't bring my cat with me!

Well I guess it all comes down to how deep your phobia is. I would never want to deprive my futures spouse of tropical destinations, so I would work on that.

We have stayed in a lot of places on all islands but Oahu. I have seen those cute spider smiley face cane spiders a few times outdoors on Molokai and Kauai. Only once have I seen one of those brown furry bigger ones - about 3" diameter with about a 3/4" body in our bathroom in Hawi in a little bungalow on the Big Island. I turned on all the lights, opened the window and shut the door while screaming. Never saw it again. I don't think they really want to hang out with us humans all that much. Unlike the gecko. I chirp back at them and talk to them.

I don't know exactly what a cane spider is, but the only spiders I have seen were out hiking. They were black and yellow, about the size of a silver dollar. They looked alot like what we call garden spiders here in CA. I have never seen one inside anywhere.

Over the past three years I have spent at least six months in Kauai and have visited Oahu and the Big Island. I have never seen a large spider in any of these places. Not even sure I've seen a small one. I've seen a couple of things that looked like enormous flying cockroaches; several big centipedes; and a couple of geckos. But not one big spider.

In N. Queensland Australia we were warned that big spiders (I think "golden orb" spiders) are prevalent -- but never saw one there either.

Maybe you could borrow a cat while you're there. I adore Kauai. Good luck.

Cane spiders are around but don't see them too often. Buy a can of Raid insecticide upon your arrival and keep it near you. One zap and they're done. However, it's a very high probability that you won't see one.

I've only been to Hawaii four times (Maui twice, Big Island and Oahu) but we've been to the Caribbean probably 25 times. I don't recall ever seeing a spider and certainly not any big and hairy creatures. There are plenty of geckos and I see the occasional big roach and if we're really lucky we'll see a big iguana, but no spiders. Please don't let your fear stop you from visiting some very special places. Most resorts do a good job of keeping the undesirables away.

There's a REASOn they call them "cane spiders" and yes they are all over the place on Oahu and elsehwere IF you happen to also BE in those same "places."

No, that does NOT include Waikiki, the beach on Maui, or the road to Hana (but don't get out to pee on the roadsie)

and they aren't fat and hairy, either..just big and scary

CHILL OUT..not going to the islands because of that is more than arachnophobia, believe me.

We've also been going to Hawaii for many, many years and only saw a couple, outside, in a kingly part of the Big Island. Otherwise, I have never seen a apider indoors.

Jungly part, not kingly.

Do you think I should stay in a high rise hotel rather than a bungalow-type accommodation? Or maybe something right on the water, since (I think) spiders don't like water? I know people have seen them in the hotels too, but I figure you would have more of a problem with them in a bungalow. If these were normal spiders I would be ok, but these are enormous. I'm from the east coast, so not used to that! :)

There are no overwater accomodations in Hawaii...oceanfront, yes. Overwater, no. I don't think a high rise will make a difference.

I have been to Hawaii probably 8 times. I've never sen a cane spider like what you describe (5-7 inches). The most common insect I've seen is a cockroach.

Yes I would believe there is even less chance of seeing huge spiders in a high rise hotel in the city, than in a bungalow set in the jungle.

That said, as everyone here is posting, no one has ever come across anything like you describe in cummulative many years of Hawaiian living or vacations.

I honestly think you're making way too big of a deal out of this. DH and I have been to Maui 10 or 11 times and have never seen a cane spider, anywhere. And we've stayed at the Sheraton Maui several times (also the Westin and the Marriott on Kaanapali). We've also been all over the island many times, including areas where sugar cane is grown. The chances of you encountering one are almost non-existent.

Makes me wonder who exactly is claiming they've seen one inside the Sheraton, and what exactly they really did see.... And how many maitais they had consumed when they allegedly saw the "spider." :D

If this is the only reason you would consider not going, I think you're missing out on an incredible experience. We honeymooned on Maui and fell in love with the place.

We have visited 5 islands about 12 times over the past 20 years. I have never seen a spider in a condo, hotel or timeshare on any of the islands. Don't miss out on a wonderful place to honeymoon.

I have been to Hawaii many times, mostly staying in condos and have only encountered one spider. It was outside my condo door and on the bigger side, but no where near the size that you describe. It was making a web near my front door so I took a broom and brushed it away. The thing jumped at me!! Which unnerved me a bit. I asked the condo manager about it and he told me that it was a cane spider. He said that they were burning brush in the hills nearby (Maui west shore) and sometimes they come down. He told me that they are harmless, but will jump if you swipe at them.

If you stay in a hotel, I can't imagine you will have a problem as i expect the hotels have a more frequent spraying schedule.

I do understand how you feel, I have a phobia of snakes and it has affected my travel plans and what i am willing to do on vacations at times. That said, if my fear was spiders, I would still go to Hawaii, your chance of an encounter is so slim, unless you plan to be in the middle of the cane fields while they are burning brush! Now geckos, I have almost always encountered geckos, on every trip, including in my car one time! But they are a symbol of good luck and pretty cute.

On my last trip to Maui I came out of my condo and found a cane spider trying to hot-wire my rental car.

I know many of you have said you have never seen a cane spider on your vacation, which is good. I have come across many stories on the internet of people seeing these in their rooms though. This was in Kauai in a 5-star hotel - THIS is what freaks me out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U__vmaB_jXk

yeah, that's about the size of the one I saw

It was surely not 5"
and that hotel was surely not 5*

why are you searching out these videos and stories?

I wanted to do a little research to see just how common it is to encounter these things; that's why I was searching.

I think you are scaring yourself needlessly. I'm not particularly afraid of spiders but I wouldn't seek out watching frightening videos about them before going on a Hawaiian vacation!

Searching out videos will not prove to you whether something is common. It just proves that someone found something that was worth video taping. Most people post videos of the *exception* to something. Wouldn't it be odd for people to post videos saying, "all clear - no bugs in my room?" You'd need folks to do that to have any sort of confidence of what could possibly be considered "common."

I agree with suze. I think you're scaring yourself needlessly. I also think that if your fear is so great that you are obsessing about it and even considering alternate locations that it might be worthwhile to find someone to help you deal more appropriately with your fear. (And by "more appropriately" I mean dealing with your fear in a way that does not cause disturbance to your life and the lives of those you're with.)

Kittyluv,
Go to Hawaii! I highly recommend the Grand Hyatt Kauai--perfect for a honeymoon.

The posts here brought back fond memories of my first trip to Hawaii in 1980. We were young and traveling extra cheap. On Maui our condo was overrun by what looked like huge cockroaches. We tried to sleep in the car and checked out the next morning. At Hanalei Bay the public restroom had spiders up in the corners of the ceiling. They stayed right there and didn't bother us. They looked different than the spider in the video posted above however. In subsequent trips I haven't really seen bugs just lots of chickens on Kauai. Go and please don't worry.

kittyluv: if all of these replies haven't convinced you that the chances of your seeing a cane spider are about a zillion to one, then you probably won't have a good time. Searching the 'net for stories about them isn't helping - you're only feeding your phobia.

If you insist on searching the net, however, I just googled the words "how common cane spiders Hawaii" and found dozens of postings on other sites that are nearly identical to this thread - someone's terrified of cane spiders and gets dozens of replies from people who have lived on the islands for years or visited many times and have never encountered one.

I would respectfully echo what beanweb said, in that you might consider some way to work this out, and if you can't, then don't go - you'll only be miserable (and your new hubby probably will be too). That would be a shame, because Hawaii is simply ... breathtaking, enchanting, amazing and glorious - to put it mildly. ;-)

kitty, I have been to Maui more times than I can count and haven't seen a huge cane spider since I was six and trust me, that is a long time ago. At that time, my mom and I got cornered by onein the bathroom and the housekeeper heard us screaming, came in, stepped on its leg with her bare toe and then carried it outside. I have never, ever forgotten it, and have always wanted to see one as an adult to see if it was really as big as I remembered but I just never have seen one.

Also, look into the Laws of Attraction, because if anyone is going to see one, it will surely be the person most focused on it. :)

Just today, my nail tech was describing camel spiders, via a boyfriend in Afghanistan, talking about their many endearing qualities.

<b>Don't look,</b> if you are afraid of spiders!

http://0.tqn.com/d/urbanlegends/1/0/...mel_spider.jpg

jetset...now those are the kind of spiders that would scare me! Although they actually look kind of like stuffed toys, don't they?

Now THAT'S a spider!

kittyluv-

I was born and raised in Hawaii and excepting an approx. 8 year period into my 20s, have lived here my entire life.

I have never seen a cane spider before and had to look at the video you posted to see what you were talking about.

You are much, much, MUCH more likely to run into cockroaches and geckos than a cane spider. Even the occasional centipede is more commonly seen.

I get the phobia thing (I have a gecko phobia which is unfortunate for me, living in Hawaii) but really, you don't have to worry about the cane spider.