Oahu, HI Master Thread

[efflpetzel]

Sure! plenty of people! we even met people in the forest on our way up so we did the beginning of the hike together (the bushes part, which guess what we did get a little lost, but again it just made it more fun and if you have a good sense of direction you can't really get lost)

Sounds very cool, it's been on my list for a while. How long does the hike take

[tmendy226]

Sounds very cool, it's been on my list for a while. How long does the hike take

It really depends on the way you get to the stairs
We went through the woods to avoid the guard and ended up doing some real climb (lots of fun)...
The actual stairs took us around 2 and half hours on the way up including stops. way down is much faster though make sure to get gloves with grip

[efflpetzel]

It really depends on the way you get to the stairs
We went through the woods to avoid the guard and ended up doing some real climb (lots of fun)...
The actual stairs took us around 2 and half hours on the way up including stops. way down is much faster though make sure to get gloves with grip

No guards on the way down?

How dangerous actually are the stairs

[tmendy226]

No guards on the way down?

How dangerous actually are the stairs

Sure there's and actually bigger chance of getting the 1000$ fine on the way down, but first it was light and second we joined a whole group of people who knew their way around a little better than us

The stairs aren't dangerous at all for adults I would say. no one ever died on the stairs besides one guy from a heart attack

[Sammie]

Hi,

I'm short 10,000 miles for my united 1k status this year and found a good price for a trip to HNL this week. Landing at 3:00 pm and departing the following day at 5:00 pm - giving me just over 24 hours on the ground.

So far from reading the trip reports and general searching it look like hiking up Diamonds head is worth it and I am tempted to taking a surfing lesson.

- Any good suggestions for a reasonable hotel? I traveling alone so I don't need anything too fancy.
- Should I do the hike or the surfing the first afternoon?
- Any other suggestions of what to do while there? Should I try to get tickets for the Arizona memorial? The entire evening is open.
- Should I rent a car? I wasn't planning on it but between the back and forth to the airport and then the Diamonds head, it seems like its wort it for $35 for the day.
- Any other tips or suggestions?

Thanks in adnavce!
Sammie

[mordechain]

I'd sleep...

[Dan]

What have you done in HNL before?

[Sammie]

It will be my first time.

What have you done in HNL before?

[Dan]

It's a nice hike, but personally I'd go snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, jetskiing on the North shore, kayaking off the east coast, Arizona memorial, surfing or SUP, etc.
And I'd definitely rent a car.

Get a Hyatt anniversary night for the Hyatt Place?

[SSLPhD]

I think you're landing too late to do the Arizona memorial the first day.  If you can, be there first thing the next day to get a ticket, if you can't get online in advance (try exactly at 7 am HST day before you want to go, which is when additional tickets are released, or have someone do it for you if en route).  It's a bit of a pain to get tickets so late...

If you decide to do Diamond Head first day, calculate how long it'll take you so you'll be back before dark, or be prepared to hike in dark.

If you want a great view of HNL and Diamond Head, drive up into the mountains.  There are some nice pullouts.  Check out @PBaruch's TR for a photo.

Remember that HNL is a city.  Driving there feels like NYC.  Definitely get a car, but don't drive to your hotel until you are DONE for the day.  Driving from the airport to Waikiki, if you stay there, is awful.  You'll wonder if you're actually in Hawaii.

All Dan mentioned sounds good.

[mochjas]

Sorry to go off topic and I guess I'm a noob with this. But how do you find a great deal on a mr with UA? I'm under the impression that they are dollar based and not distance based so it goes by how much you pay nor how far you flied. Where am I going wrong?

[yhaller14]

Sorry to go off topic and I guess I'm a noob with this. But how do you find a great deal on a mr with UA? I'm under the impression that they are dollar based and not distance based so it goes by how much you pay nor how far you flied. Where am I going wrong?

With your impression, miles earned depends on amount paid only because it depends what fare class you book

[PieRSquare]

Landing at 3, best case you get out of the airport around 3:30.

I'd go a pick up snorkel gear (assuming you have your own) and we were happy with Snorkel Bob. If you stay in Waikiki, then just find somewhere there to grab a drink and watch the sunset. IIRC, think the Hale Koa Bar sells to non-military and is cheap.

Early the next morning go down to Hanauma Bay when it opens (6:30ish) for an hour or two.

Then head to Diamond Head on your way back towards downtown. Plan at least an hour to an hour and a half to hike.

Next head to Punch Bowl Cemetery in place of the Arizona Memorial. Punch Bowl is Hawaii's equivalent of Arlington National Cemetery and includes a few monuments with a great view of Honolulu and the ocean. This way you can support the troops without worrying about tickets, parking, etc.

After that it will probably be close to time to head to the airport to return the car, etc.

[Sammie]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

@Dan The Hyatt place is sold out for that night.

@SSLPhD If you want a great view of HNL and Diamond Head, drive up into the mountains. - I think I will do that instead of the hike :-)

@mochjas Everyone was a noob at some point. Good question, my united account is not US based so I dont have the PQD requirement, just 4 flights on United metal and PQM.

[E R K]

So I would like to see Pearl Harbor on the way back to NYC from Kauai. The flight from HNL to NYC is at 3PM. Ideally I would like to take a 10:10 AM from kauai that gets me in to HNL at 10:50 AM. That would leave me with a bit over 4 hours to deplane, see pearl harbor and check back in to the airport for my flight back to NYC. I see that pearl harbor is about 15 minutes away from the airport. I also saw on pearl harbors website that a tour last around and hour and 15 minutes (for the USS Arizona memorial). I would like to make the 12PM tour.

So my questions are:

1)If I take the 12PM tour, I would get back to the airport at 1:30-1:45 PM . Is that enough time before my 3PM flight? (I would have checked in in Kauai earlier on in the day). I also have TSA pre.

2)Will my luggage check through from Kauai to NYC? I dont want to shlep my luggage to pearl harbor. All flights are HA.

3)While I see that the minimum time to spend at pearl harbor is an hour and 15 minutes, I will hopefully get there at around 11:30 (as my flight lands at 10:50) so I can check out one of the other museums. That all said is 2 hours too little time? While there are earlier flights from LIH to HNL, it is a) more expensive (about $100 a person) and b) would mean we would have to wake up really early which we would rather not do. Im ok with skipping the bowfin and the Missouri.

Did you end up doing this? I have a 10:30 arrival and 4:15 departure and was wondering what there is to do in a short time that's nearby.