Being evasive before holiday taking in Rhode Island (13)
I believe the answer is:
prevarication
'being evasive' is the definition.
'before holiday taking in rhode island' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'pre'.
'holiday' becomes 'vacation' ('vacation' can be a synonym of 'holiday'**).
'taking in' indicates putting letters inside.
'rhode island' becomes 'ri' (US postal abbreviation).
'vacation' enclosing 'ri' is 'varication'.
'pre'+'varication'='PREVARICATION'
(Other definitions for prevarication that I've seen before include "Evasive speech or deeds" , "Evasive behaviour" .)