I will tell you one thing that makes it easier for DX to hear you...
Change modes.. A few years ago I discovered PSK-31 and I'm still feeling like a kid in a candy store... I've worked some really rare DX and get 599's. and the evidence is that they are not just sending 599 cause that's the default RST on the software
I push 30-50 watts to the wire and work Italy, France, Grand Cayman's Belgim, Cuba, Russia, and a host of other countries.
NO tower, just trees and 100' of wire (With an auto-tuner on one end)
Lots of fun.. I'm not really a DX chaser (Though I might easily become one) more of a rag chewer (As if my many posts on the internet don't show that off) but hey.. IT's fun
I have not heard Hawaii though S.A. yes, HI no. and I want both HI and CA