Flying from Washington DC to Hawaii - layovers?
 

My apologies if this topic has been covered in the past - I have tried to search and didn't find answers. We're considering a family trip to Hawaii with teens at the end of the year, and trying to figure out how to deal with the long flights. I know there is a United nonstop from Dulles to Honolulu, but we may only want to visit two other islands (Maui and Big Island? Maui and Kuaui?). Is it bearable to take a 10-hour nonstop to Honolulu and transfer to another island? Seems like that could be a very long, uncomfortable trip. Or would it make sense to fly to Dallas or Los Angeles or San Francisco, possibly spend a night or two, and then fly direct to whatever island we want want to see first, and to do the reverse at the end? The kids have never been to California. In theory, one could fly from DC to LA, stay a night, flight to Kona on the Big Island, stay a while, fly from HILO to Maui, stay a while, fly from Maui to San Francisco, stay a night or two, and come home. Does anyone have experience or advice either way? We will need to pay for extra legroom on whatever flights over 3 hours we are on. thanks!

On both of our Hawaii trips (from Miami), we have stayed overnight in San Diego and it worked well for us. Flew directly into Kauai.

I am of the opinion that it never pays to spend a night somewhere to break up a long flight. It will just mean that it takes longer to adjust to the new time zone and takes away time that you would otherwise be vacationing. On the other hand, I do like flying to the island where I want to stay, so it might make sense to fly to an airport that has a non-stop to your preferred island. Note that with your plan, you spend two or three nights in California rather than in Hawaii. Personally, I'd rather have that time in Hawaii.

It isn't the flying that I dislike, it's the boarding and disembarking process, the TSA lines, hauling my bags around, and the taxis from the hotel to the airport.
Once I'm in my seat, I can watch a movie, read or sleep. Of course if you really want to visit a city in the middle, then its worth it to break up the flight.

I'd do a nonstop to Honolulu, then the quick flight to your other island. Remember too, that on a 10 hour flight, you are crossing 6 times zones. If you take United's 8:35 am from Dulles, you arrive in Honolulu at 1:06 pm. Depending on the schedule, you could be on Maui or Kauai by mid afternoon.

We have flown home on the United non-stop from HNL several times; WONDERFUL. Getting to Kona is a bit more limited than flights to Maui - although both destinations have multiple choices from westcoast mainland. Eastern US not so much. We fly from Pittsburgh area and it usually takes us around 13 - 14 hours with layovers to Kona. It depends on what flights we get and what airports for connections.

No matter what, you're going to be jetlagged, so I suggest taking earliest possible departure from home - if the United Dulles nonstop works for you, book with Maui as final destination (don't buy a separate interisland flight) and try to get there around 3 - 5 PM local time. That way if you have any significant driving to do on arrival, it's still daylight. After dark, tired, jetlagged...bad mix.

Fly into your start city, limit interisland flights as they consume a lot of time..and fly home from your final stop. If it's just a one week trip, just do one island and enjoy. Too often people try to cram too much in and too much time is squandered on moving all the time.

Sorry for such short answer, at work but happy to expand on itinerary options if you want. We make this trip annually and have done so for almost a dozen years.

<<If it's just a one week trip, just do one island and enjoy. Too often people try to cram too much in and too much time is squandered on moving all the time.>>

I agree with one week=One island.

Especially coming from so far.

You say you will visit Hawaii "end of the year", and I see you have school-age children. Ack! Do you plan to come over Christmas/New Year's? Really busy season. One of the most expensive seasons. Books up *early*! Agencies even run out of rental cars. (Not a great- weather choice for California then -- or northern parts of Kauai and Oahu. You would find much the same weather at the year's best prices in early December.

You'll need flights, lodging (condos are my recommendation), and a rental car everywhere outside Honolulu proper.

How much time will you have for this trip? One week = One island. Ten nights = Two islands, shorting 'the other one' if one is Big Island (larger than all the others, times two).

We have escaped Chicagoland winters in Hawaii for about 40 years, staying Poipu on Kauai, Waikiki on Oahu, Kohala Coast plus a few nights Volcano on Big Island. For the last 20 years we have stayed South Kihei on Maui. We used to stay 2 - 4 weeks; now we stay three months.

I agree with Kathie. I want as much time in Hawaii as possible -- not west coast. I don't even want to fly via the coast, especially on return flights, where you often fly four hours on a narrow-body plane; are dumped on the coast at midnight to sit in a noisy airport; have a long leg home -- sometimes on another narrow-body plane.

We have flown ORD-HNL and floated through the airport (2 hour layover) to another island -- same on return. This is best booked 'single ticket', because the airline will cope with any airline-related delays, and because you can through check luggage. If you book the interisland flight separately, you must retrieve luggage at HNL; re-check it onto your interisland flight (often paying anther luggage fee); get boarding passes for all of you; go through the TSA line and then to your gate.

We fly ORD-DFW-OGG to get AA's lie flat seating (and pods). On returns, we have eight hours to eat and *sleep*, then only 2 hours home after a 1-hour layover. If first class is not available, the 'plus legroom' seating is a big help.

We have flown from the Washington D.C.area directly to Maui and Kauai several times over the years. I have found that the idea of the long flight is worse than the reality. We have changed planes in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and that has provided the break we needed. Agree with Kathie: We have found each time we appreciated the extra time in Hawaii and the long flight to get there is quickly forgotten. You will likely wake up at 3 a.m. the first day/night raring to go, but you'll get over that as well.

Edjim...I am not naturally an "early riser" - typically about 7 am most days...and I love the first few weeks in Hawaii getting up around 4...4:30 is my target time for 2 reasons - 1. I love Sunrise on KGMB and it starts at 4:30 and 2) I can spend the time before sunrise working as my customers are on mainland East coast and it's already 10:30 back there. By the time the sun has come up, coffee is done, we head out the beach for a walk and work is usually taken care of - rest of the day is ours to enjoy. End up fighting in the latter part of the trip to try to keep to that schedule and at the end of a few weeks...have to set an alarm to prevent sleeping past 6 AM as we get adjusted to time difference...

OP - you are getting a lot of similar advice from multiple experienced travelers - is it making sense to you and is it helpful?

Thanks very, very much you guys! I'm sorry I haven't expressed my gratitude earlier -- it has been a busy week. Your input is very helpful.

I would rather go all the way to Hawaii, unless you have a particular interest in a California stop. And, if need be, stay one night in Honolulu/Waikiki if it doesn't work to go on to your other island that same day.