Hawi does have plenty of geckos. The houses there are not built tight and there are lots of entry points for the geckos. They do not approach people.

If you are terrified of geckos in the living space, stay in a hotel or a newer condo that is built with tighter construction and has active maintenance to keep them out.

It is an irrational fear, but if it’s a problem to you that you can’t get past, then don’t stay in a place overrun with geckos. There is absolutely nothing you can do to change that if you book in a place where geckos are already well established.

PS. If your question is how to get over a phobia, there are professionals who offer treatment on that. It takes time, so you may not be able to get past it before you come.

If your fear will go away by knowing they won’t hurt you, then you should be over it by reading this topic. They are harmless. However, Hawi has some really big centipedes, and they can get in houses, depending on whether the owner uses a pest service. If geckos scare you, I’m pretty sure that a centipede will put you through the roof.

Stay in a hotel or condo, not in a rural vacation rental, if you’re afraid of critters.

>>>If geckos scare you, I’m pretty sure that a centipede will put you through the roof.<<<

Or the 3 inch flying cockroaches and cane spiders 😊

One treatment, which I saw touted to treat gecko phobia, was to binge-watch all of the Geico ads on YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7OIEFo2axGE

Cannot attest to the power of that cure though. 😉

We have them in AZ, and I often chase them around, trying to gently put them back in the garden - they ARE quick!

Best of luck,

Hunt

You should be afraid of centipedes. They are POISONOUS! Geckos? Oh, please.

If you are phobic about them, therapy takes time. Ask yourself if Hawaii is really for you. Why spend thousands to be stressed?

How did you eventually managed? I have the same phobia - once I have been to Thailand and I had to move to another accomodation. I am about to visit Zanzibar and I am scare this can ruin my 2 weeks trip..

When we first went to Maui we had a gecko run up the wall. I screamed and told my DH that it was snake with feet! I eventually got used to them but hated the ones in the house on Molokai because they crapped everywhere. Disgusting

#18,

We have had them in Hawaii, and also here in AZ. I can tell you, from experience, that they CAN NOT be “house trained.”

Best of luck,

Hunt

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