Oahu, HI Master Thread

[efflpetzel]

if one flies with united from ny to hnl and on same ticket continues to maui.
will luggage be checked through to ogg? or you have to recheck?
does it make a difference if connection is hawaiin airlines or island air?

with HA it'll work only if the flights are on one PNR.  United will interline with island air even if not IIRC

[merylhoff]

Planning a trip for August. Would you recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village? What kind of room did you have? Thank you

[PBaruch]

The Royal Hawaiian in HNL has a resort fee and a separate 40 a day parking fee.  Is there a cheaper parking facility near the hotel? If not, what would be recommended as an alternative to the Royal Hawaiian?

TIA

[merylhoff]

Were they able to freeze your meals at the Hilton Hawaiian Village? When I called they told me they couldn't. Any other info on the resort would be helpful. Thanks

[KidOOO]

Any kosher resturants still open these days?

[PBaruch]

Any kosher resturants still open these days?

You can order food for delivery only from Oahu Kosher:

https://www.oahukosher.com/

For Shabbos you can purchase meals and eat with Chabad. 

I am not aware of any other options on Oahu.

[shaulyaakov]

Any kosher resturants still open these days?

Maybe Lapperts ice cream (Chalav Stam)?

[tmendy226]

I was just Oahu for quite some time and had a blast BH!

First of all, thank you @Dan for the posts on each island which were (at least somewhat) helpful!

I do think that if you do proper research there are lots of thing to do and see on Oahu which you won't find on other islands.

One of the highlights was the Haiku Stairs AKA "stairway to heaven", it is illegal so we had to wake up in middle of the night to go there, avoid the cups looking for hikers and even hide in the wood from the guard looking for us with flashlights! but it just added to the thrill and was really amazing! I might be the first one here to have done it and highly recommend it!

[TimT]

One of the highlights was the Haiku Stairs AKA "stairway to heaven", it is illegal so we had to wake up in middle of the night to go there, avoid the cups looking for hikers and even hide in the wood from the guard looking for us with flashlights! but it just added to the thrill and was really amazing! I might be the first one here to have done it and highly recommend it!

Did you bump into anyone else there at that hour ?  Hoping to see a TR soon

[tmendy226]

Did you bump into anyone else there at that hour ?  Hoping to see a TR soon

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)

[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.