Pearl Harbor during a stopover
 

Going back to Hawaii for the second time next summer. We'll be spending time on Maui and Kauai, but would really like to see the Arizona Memorial this time. I'm thinking about trying to do it during a layover. Two questions: 1. Is there a way of leaving your luggage at the airport so you don't have to drag it along? 2. Is there a way of getting from the airport to the memorial without renting a car? (bus or organized tour). Any suggestions?

We visited Pearl Harbor during a 10 hr layover. When we checked in to Hawaiian Air in Kauai, we asked if they could hold our luggage in Honolulu and then transfer it to our mainland, Continental flight. They did it, however, they usually have a 4 hr layover max. So I guess it would depend on who you talk to! Also, we rented a car, but that is bc we wanted to drive around the island. PH is really close to the airport, so if that is all you want to do, I would recommend a taxi. Others may be able to offer advice on buses, tours, etc...

I am in the same situation--we have about a ten hour layover and want to go to the Arizona Memorial and then out for dinner before our 11:15 p.m. flight home.

Given JennaJ's input, we'd probably be best renting a car since we may want to explore and also want to go out for dinner.

Any suggestions for conveniently located AND terrific restaurants to consider?
Any wonderful

You can probably check your luggage straight through so you don't have to worry about the luggage on Oahu.

You'll need a minimum of 5 hour layover to see the Arizona Memorial.

It is only a 15 minute drive or taxi ride to and from the airport to the Visitors Center.

You may have to wait in line up to an hour to get a ticket for a tour. Then you may have to wait up to 2 hours for your tour.

The tour itself is about an hour and includes a 20 minute film and a ferry to and from the Memorial

While you are waiting for your tour, you can visit the museum. You can also go through the Visitors Center to the lawn and Circle of Remembrance. You can get great pictures of the USS Bowfin (submarine) from here. Also good pictures of USS Missouri and USS Arizona Memorial.

You probably won't have time for USS Bowfin tour. But, it has a nice memorial to walk through with plaques for all the submarines that were sunk in WWII. This is outside of the Bowfin/Missouri ticket office and just across the parking lot from USS Arizona Visitors Center.

If you do not have time to go on the USS Arizona Memorial tour, you can still go to the Visitor's Center and go through the museum, and Circle of Remembrance. You can bypass the line and just tell the security personnel that you are just going to the gift shop & museum.

Here are three driving tours on Oahu to choose from if you have enough time:

1. Tour Chinatown & historic area of Honolulu & Aloha Tower. Also drive through Waikiki & Diamond Head Lookout. National Cemetery of the Pacific & Tantalus/Roundtop Drive if you still have time. 4-5 hours

2. Mini-circle island tour.

Include driving through Honolulu historic area on S. King St. past Iolani Palace. Drive through Waikiki.

Continue around the island stopping at Diamond Head Lookout & Lighthouse.

Continue around island to Hanauma Bay (don't need to go to the visitor's center). You can get some excellent views from the steps and lookouts. $1 for parking.

Continue to Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove (From Here to Eternity Beach) next to it.

Continue to Makapuu Pt. Lookout. Overlooks Manana (Rabbit) Island & Makapuu Beach & Sea Life Park.

Continue to Waimanalo Bay Recreation Area (Just past Waimanalo Beach). Scenic isolated beach.

Continue to Highway 61 (Pali Highway). Make a left onto Pali Highway. Take it back to Honolulu, stopping at Pali Lookout. 4-5 hours

3. Circle island tour. Take Pali Highway (61) across to Kaneohe. Stop at Pali Lookout.

Continue to Kaneohe. Make a left onto Highway 83 to Kaneohe.

At the far side of Windward Mall, make a left on Haiku Rd. Take Haiku Rd across Kahekili Highway to Haiku Gardens. The botanical garden is just below Haleiwa Joe's Restaurant.

Go back to Kahekili Hwy. Turn left. Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In Temple).

Back to Kahekili Hwy. Continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy. Continue around the island to Haleiwa.

Stops:

Kualoa Beach Park/Chinaman's Hat. There is a Macadamia Nut Farm close to here.

In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt.

Just past Laie, is Makaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach & several islands

Sunset Beach Park

Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)

Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove)

Waimea Bay Beach Park

Laniakea Beach About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here.

Just before Haleiwa, make a left onto the bypass to Honolulu. (Go through Haleiwa if you have more time). Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. You will pass Dole Pineapple Center. Stop there if you have time.

Continue to Honolulu. About a 5 hour tour.

The farthest you will ever be on any of the tours is about 1 hour from the airport so you could leave at any time.

We visited the Arizona our first day when we were still waking up at 4 a.m. (from the East Coast)- it opens at 7:30 a.m. It was perfect time - recommend getting there before the 9:00 tours show up. Definately worth trying to take the boat tour as well as the visitor center. If you drive, read the directions posted: http://www.nps.gov/usar/pphtml/planyourvisit.html

My flight doesn't get into Honolulu until 11:07 a.m.

Will this be too late to get to the Arizona Memorial to make it worthwhile, due to the lengthy waits?

I don't depart Honolulu until 11:15 p.m.

Cherie

The last tour is at 3:00. The tour actually only includes the film and the ferry to and from the Memorial and the time spent on the Memorial.

If you were to go to the USS Arizona Memorial straight from the airport, you should be able to get a tour.

Even if you are too late get on a tour, the museum, Circle of Remembrance and the submarine memorial across the parking lot are worth the stop.

Thanks, Dusty. That's good to know, my husband would be disappointed if we couldn't go.

After our day at the Memorial, are there certain areas that will be more convenient than others for dinner (our only dinner in Oahu) considering our 11:15 p.m. flight out, or is everything close enough that we shouldn't worry about location...

Crerie

After you go to Arizona Memorial, you'll know how much time you will have left.

Waikiki has many restaurants. Waikiki is about 25 minutes from the airport.

Aloha Tower Marketplace has several restaurants. It is 10-15 minutes from the airport. Nearby Chinatown has many more.

Any of the three driving tours I mentioned are good to find restaurants.

#1 includes Chinatown/downtown/Aloha Tower areas

#2 Mini-Circle - You are never more than 45 minutes or so from Honolulu.

#3 Circle Island - Haleiwa has some restaurants. Laie has a couple of restaurants. There are shrimp trucks in or near Kahuku.

This site lists restaurants all through the island. It also has reviews on them. It also has a lot of good maps, some detailed.

www.driveguidemagazines.com

You can also download a free (pdf) circle island driving tour map on this site. Look in the middle of the page:

http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/

Also at the airport baggage area, pick up free copies of Oahu Gold, This Week on Oahu, and one named The Aloha MAPS of Hawaii. Lots of coupons and good maps.

All of the islands have This Week, Gold, 101 Things To Do, and The Aloha MAPS.

Oahu is only 40 miles long and 20-25 miles wide, so you will never be far from the airport.

Thank you Dusty, that's extremely helpful.