My husband and I have a 24 hour layover on our way to Sydney from LAX at the end of August. Neither of us has been to Hawaii, and would like to know how to make the most of our short time in Honolulu.

We will be staying at the Doubletree Alana, and have a Jeep Wrangler reserved for our time there.

We were considering driving around the island. Would that be worthwhile? How long would that take?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

DKW

Yes, drive around the island. Go counterclockwise. Without stopping and no traffic it would take about 1.5 hours. Stopping along the way you will have all day.

Have breakfast at Duke's in Waikiki.
Go by Hanauma Bay
Blow Hole
Sandys Beach
Makapuu
Waimanalo Beach
Lunch in Kailua- Maui Taco's
Laei point
Sunset Beach
Waimea Bay
Shaved ice and shopping in Haleiwa
Dinner back in Waikiki
Drinks and pupus at Sheraton Moana Surfrider.

Thanks for the ideas islandmom.

I'm sure after a one day taste of Hawaii we will want to return soon!!

dkw

Personally, I'd recommend going to the Pearl Harbor area and seeing the USS Arizona Memorial. It is VERY moving and very patriotic, and something every American should see within their lifetime (IMHO).

If you like hiking there are a few hikes that are relatively easy, but allow you to see a side of Oahu that is not easily seen from a tour bus or a road around the island. It can take you to a water fall and into an old bamboo jungle.

But if you are not up for that sort of thing, you may not enjoy it. Oh and the mosquitos will be out in force.

As far as driving around the island - the above schedule is pretty nuts. I wouldn't want to spend 24 hours in hawaii driving my tail off. Do Pearl Harbor, or rent a tandem kayak, come out to Kailua beach (my home town!) and kayak out to flat island (easy kayak even on a slightly windy day). Then have lunch at the little Kalapauai Market (deli) or Buzz's steak house on the beach. This way, you can kick back and relax.

You could even do Pearl Harbor AND the kayak trip at Kailua beach in one day.

Denise