Hawaii help
 

I am traveling to Kaua'i in March but have a 1 day layover (late afternoon to late afternoon) in Honolulu and would like to see a few sights while I am there. I won't have a car but hear the bus system is very good. One thought was to hike Diamond Head in the early AM and then see the Arizona Memorial. Does anyone have suggestions for (1) a relatively inexpensive place to stay one night that would be convenient to getting out and about (2) how/when to get Diamond Head to hike it (3) an inexpensive way to get to the Arizona Memorial? Can all this (or more) be done in one day and still make a 4 or 5 PM flight to Kaua'i? Any other suggestions. Thanks for any help!

Aloha philsbert1,

I stayed at Queen's Surf last year, which is quite affordable for Waikiki (room was $100/night with an AWESOME view of Diamond Head, but you can get even cheaper rooms there, comfy, nice modern/island decor) Anyway, the hotel is on the south end of Waikiki, right on the end of Kapiolani Park. Assuming you are pretty active, I think you could walk/jog to the Diamond Head entrance and hike Diamond Head in the early am. However, I might suggest collapsing on the beach or under a tree for the remaining part of the day...;-)

I'm sure it's posssible to do this, and then hop a bus to Pearl Harbor before your afternoon flight, but sounds like an awful lot to me.

Thanks! Sounds like a good suggestion. Is the hike that strenuous? I am pretty active and want to utilize my time in Honolulu well, but you're right...don't want to overdo it. I have the option of staying an extra day in Honolulu, and cutting a day off my time in Kauai---would that make more sense? I wish I had a month but am limited to 7 days total.

There are excellent busconnections all over Oahu. Also between Waikiki and Pearl Harbor.However, be prepared for long wailinglines at the Arizona. Also after 3 pm no more tickets are issued.
So, I think to do both is just too much.

I don't think doing both in one day by bus is practical.

Figure an hour to get to Arizona Memorial, three hours there and an hour to get back to Waikiki.

Diamond Head hike is about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. And that is if you start at the trailhead inside of the crater. Add another 1/2 hour to the hike if you take a bus, because the bus will drop you off outside of the Diamond Head tunnel.

If you walk from Waikiki, you can add at least another hour.

Here is some info regarding transportation to Arizona Memorial and Diamond Head.

City bus is $2 each way.

This link has a shuttle roundtrip from Waikiki to Arizona Memorial for $6. I don't know if that is still current. But I would surely pay the extra $2 roundtrip on a shuttle to the Arizona Memorial than to take a city bus.

http://www.alohafriendshawaii.com/oahu_land.html

The Hawaiiana Hotel is a nice simple low rise family style hotel in Waikiki. The Bus is great to get around, or trolley, or taxi. I've yet to rent a car.

That said I agree with others that doing both those activities in less than 24 hours car-less would be a bit tight.

I've stayed at the Hawaiiana as well, and yes it would also be a good option for you. What I liked about Queen's Surf was waking up to the view of Diamond Head. (These hotels are at opposite ends of Waikiki.) I was doing a long marathon training run while I was there and it was a great way to greet the morning and start my run.

I don't know if I would cut my time in Kauai. How long will you be there? Unless you are really interested in going to Pearl Harbor, maybe save it for another trip.

aloha!

I've tried to find more info to Queen's Surf but haven't been able to. Is it the same as the Waikiki Grand Hotel? Queen's Surf Vacation Rentals got glowing reviews as well at TravelAdvisor.com, but some reviews of the ?Waikiki Grand on other sites have panned it. I had read about the Hawaiiana also, but it would be nice to stay closer to Diamond Head (since it looks like it will be my only activity. Pearl Harbor looks like it requires an entire day of its own.) Any other suggestions for someone with a 24 hour layover in Honolulu? How much is a taxi to Waikiki? I read that there was a shuttle from the airport, but if it's anything like Las Vegas, the wait for it and the wait for dropping off a billion other people before your hotel just isn't worth the savings.

I booked through this site. http://www.queenssurf.com/

I think the Queen's Surf condos are located within the Waikiki Grand Hotel? You could always call and ask. Actually, I ended up calling to book and the girl I talked to was really helpful and from my hometown.

You are right. The location is key if you are doing Diamond Head. I've taken cabs from the airport but don't remember how much, I think at the time I was just so exhausted from traveling and just wanting to hop in the first vehicle I saw and get myself to the beach. :-)

Good luck with your plans!

Thanks so much for all the great info! Another question re Pearl Harbor: Is there any advantage to using one of the tour companies (Polynesian, Roberts Hawaii, etc.) as opposed to doing it on your own? i.e., do the touring companies guarantee entrance, do they get in quicker, or do the people on those wait in line for spots just like everyone else?