Wife and I will visit Hawaii for first time in April. Will spend 3 nights on Oahu then 7 on Maui. However we are flying in and out of Honolulu (frequent flyer restriction…) and our return departure flight isn’t until 9 PM. So we are searching for ideas re what to do that last day that will begin in Maui but end in Honolulu. We could catch early flight, rent a car and have solid half day to do last minute stuff we failed to do earlier.

Other option is Hawaii Super Ferry which would depart Maui 11:15 AM and arrive Honolulu around 2:15 PM. While the ferry seems attractive it then leaves us at port with no rental car. Also not certain how reliable ferry service would be?

Would appreciate your thoughts on how we might want to maximize our time that last day.

Thanks!

The ferry has cancelled its trips at the last minute a few times due to rough seas. So you are right: it is not as dependable as flights.

I'd stick to the flight since the ferry can cancel due to rough seas.

We were on Oahu for 1/2 a day before heading to Kauai and we spent that time at the USS Missouri. I believe that you can check your bags with the airline when you arrive from Maui. There is public transportation that will take you to the Missouri so you wouldn't need a car....too much time wasted trying to get in and out of the car rental place.

Ajolder:
I think your idea of catching the first flight is a good option or you could leave from Maui last flight out the night before spend the night in Honolulu that way you don't have to rush in the morning some of the hotels in Waikiki (not sure if other places do it too)offer a courtesy room for those with late flights, you get to freshen up before you go to the airport. I was there in June and our last stop was Honolulu we stayed at the Royal Hawaiian last day there we wanted to have a "relaxed beach day" spend the day at the beach had a nice early dinner went back to the hotel at around 6:00 to get ready picked up our luggage and headed out. Hope this helps. Gina

We just had the same situation with an 8:45PM HNL-Mainland flight. We opted to spend most of the day on Maui and took a 4:30PM flight OGG-HNL. Had time to last minute shop andd have a leasurely dinner just prior to boarding. Then we were ready to sleep through the red-eye flight to DFW.

Thanks all for your response. We have dropped ferry as option and will probably take mid-morning flight, rent car in Honolulu and have leisurely day, early dinner before departure flight.

AJOLDER