12-hour layover in Honolulu: What to do?
Apr 18th, 2015, 03:10 PM
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12-hour layover in Honolulu: What to do?
Hi everyone,
I have a 12-hour layover in Honolulu in late July and I'm wondering what would be worth seeing/doing in that limited time. Including time to exit the plane, pass customs and get back to the airport with a 2-hour buffer, I assume I realistically have about 7 hours to myself. I arrive at 10am and my outward flight leaves at 10pm. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you!
I have a 12-hour layover in Honolulu in late July and I'm wondering what would be worth seeing/doing in that limited time. Including time to exit the plane, pass customs and get back to the airport with a 2-hour buffer, I assume I realistically have about 7 hours to myself. I arrive at 10am and my outward flight leaves at 10pm. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you!
Apr 19th, 2015, 07:54 AM
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Take a cab to Pearl Harbor. You'll *see* Diamond Head; I wouldn't want to climb it in the heat of July. How about a drink at the Royal Hawaiian? You could eat anywhere along Waikiki. There's not much on offer at HNL airport.
Apr 19th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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I forgot to ask if you can get your luggage checked onto your departing flight right after customs. There's no place to store luggage at an airport since 9/11, and you don't want to lug it around with you -- even if you rented a car (which I would not do given Honolulu traffic).
Apr 19th, 2015, 04:01 PM
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I was planning on getting an airport locker for my luggage but it looks like that's not an option? Good to know, though I'm not even sure if I'll have anything besides a backpack.
How far ahead should I reserve online for a visit to Pearl Harbour? And how hot does it get in July? Thanks for all the info!
How far ahead should I reserve online for a visit to Pearl Harbour? And how hot does it get in July? Thanks for all the info!
Apr 22nd, 2015, 07:26 PM
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Just came back from Waikiki. You can get a shuttle from the airport to the main hotel area. There are lots of nice restaurants with gorgeous views. You could get a nice meal, check out Pearl Harbor, go to the beach or even a luau, or take a taxi to Hanauma Bay.
Apr 22nd, 2015, 08:59 PM
#8
How timely; here is NYT's "36 Hours in Honolulu"
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/tr...av=bottom-well
I really like the idea of checking in a bag for your next flight if it isn't easy to carry around.
One option if you do not go to Waikiki is to do Pearl Harbor tour, then go to the more local places such as Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu Academy of Art which has a lovely cafe and lunch (reservations advised--closed one day). If you do go to Ala Moana area, there's a cable car type shuttle, $2 I think, from right in front of the shopping center that can take you to Ft. DeRussy open area and Hilton Hawaiian Village and onward to Waikiki if desired as discussed above.
In your shoes, I might take a shuttle or taxi to Hilton Hawaiian Village where you can eat, walk along a very nice long beach walk toward Waikiki with a nice view of Diamond Head, and I might even wade into the lagoon if you can sling that backpack over your shoulder. Then a taxi to Pearl Harbor - prefer the free Navy tour to commercial tours, but FYI, HHV runs all kinds of tours from the hotel to places like Pearl; the taxi savings might make the bus trip over there on an organized tour worthwhile. However, logistically doing the PH tour should be when you get there or before departing, to minimize back and forth.
It's worth inquiring at HHV or any nice hotel where you decide to stop if the bellmen can hold the bags for you for a nominal fee. Not sure what the rules are but worth asking if you don't want to schlep a bag.
Yet a third option if you decide on a car is to drive fairly directly to the other side of the island via Like Like Freeway or Pali. They go to the quieter windward side--just avoid commute times! If you get a car and drive to Pearl, you could then take the H3 freeway over to the "other side" and come back via Pali or Like Like. The windward side tends to be cooler (yes Hawaii will be hot in July!)
Cultural options besides the Academy of Art (which is also where you'd take the shuttle to the Doris Duke house, Shangri-la) include the Bishop Museum.
It really depends on whether you'd prioritize culture, cuisine, history, or views. In general be ready for a slower pace and "Hawaiian time" as you plan, as well as heavy traffic, so be wary of doing too much.
I highly recommend The House without a Key for Sunset drinks and snacks/pupus. Live traditional music plays while you listen, drink it all in, and watch the sunset from under a banyan tree. The NYT article mentions it. It's at Halekulani Hotel near HHV menetioned above.
Finally, there are certainly personalized tours by car/shuttle if that seems less trouble.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/tr...av=bottom-well
I really like the idea of checking in a bag for your next flight if it isn't easy to carry around.
One option if you do not go to Waikiki is to do Pearl Harbor tour, then go to the more local places such as Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu Academy of Art which has a lovely cafe and lunch (reservations advised--closed one day). If you do go to Ala Moana area, there's a cable car type shuttle, $2 I think, from right in front of the shopping center that can take you to Ft. DeRussy open area and Hilton Hawaiian Village and onward to Waikiki if desired as discussed above.
In your shoes, I might take a shuttle or taxi to Hilton Hawaiian Village where you can eat, walk along a very nice long beach walk toward Waikiki with a nice view of Diamond Head, and I might even wade into the lagoon if you can sling that backpack over your shoulder. Then a taxi to Pearl Harbor - prefer the free Navy tour to commercial tours, but FYI, HHV runs all kinds of tours from the hotel to places like Pearl; the taxi savings might make the bus trip over there on an organized tour worthwhile. However, logistically doing the PH tour should be when you get there or before departing, to minimize back and forth.
It's worth inquiring at HHV or any nice hotel where you decide to stop if the bellmen can hold the bags for you for a nominal fee. Not sure what the rules are but worth asking if you don't want to schlep a bag.
Yet a third option if you decide on a car is to drive fairly directly to the other side of the island via Like Like Freeway or Pali. They go to the quieter windward side--just avoid commute times! If you get a car and drive to Pearl, you could then take the H3 freeway over to the "other side" and come back via Pali or Like Like. The windward side tends to be cooler (yes Hawaii will be hot in July!)
Cultural options besides the Academy of Art (which is also where you'd take the shuttle to the Doris Duke house, Shangri-la) include the Bishop Museum.
It really depends on whether you'd prioritize culture, cuisine, history, or views. In general be ready for a slower pace and "Hawaiian time" as you plan, as well as heavy traffic, so be wary of doing too much.
I highly recommend The House without a Key for Sunset drinks and snacks/pupus. Live traditional music plays while you listen, drink it all in, and watch the sunset from under a banyan tree. The NYT article mentions it. It's at Halekulani Hotel near HHV menetioned above.
Finally, there are certainly personalized tours by car/shuttle if that seems less trouble.
Apr 22nd, 2015, 10:58 PM
#9
If Pearl Harbor interests you, reserve as soon as you can. They often fill up, and if you arrive late in the morning, it's even more likely they'll "sell out"
A bus to DH will take about 2+ hours. Not worth it, and as mentioned, it gets really hot later in the day. If you do pearl Harbor, I'd go downtown afterwards. You might be able to get into a late tour of Iolani Palace, or you could wander Chinatown then have an early dinner at a downtown restaurant before heading back to the airport.
If you don't go to Pearl Harbor, I'd just recommend you go straight to Waikiki and see what thats all about. Wander, go into the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, or have late afternoon tea on the Veranda at the Moana Hotel, or get takeout somewhere and sit on the beach at Ala Moana Beach park for a sunset dinner. If you love to shop, of course Ala Moana center has lots of that.
A bus to DH will take about 2+ hours. Not worth it, and as mentioned, it gets really hot later in the day. If you do pearl Harbor, I'd go downtown afterwards. You might be able to get into a late tour of Iolani Palace, or you could wander Chinatown then have an early dinner at a downtown restaurant before heading back to the airport.
If you don't go to Pearl Harbor, I'd just recommend you go straight to Waikiki and see what thats all about. Wander, go into the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, or have late afternoon tea on the Veranda at the Moana Hotel, or get takeout somewhere and sit on the beach at Ala Moana Beach park for a sunset dinner. If you love to shop, of course Ala Moana center has lots of that.
Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:57 PM
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House Without a Key at the Halekulani is wonderful. Old style Hawaiian music with a hula dancer. You don't find this many places anymore. You can go there for drinks and pupus or dinner. Seating is first come, first served. We never miss a visit!
Apr 24th, 2015, 09:05 AM
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I haven't been to the House Without a Key, but I really enjoyed the Tiki Bar and Grill at Kuhio Beach for the sunset view:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...hu_Hawaii.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...hu_Hawaii.html
