Hawaii - 6 hr overnight layover in HNL?

10:30-5:30 what to do except sleep?

How hung over do you want to be?

And isn't that 7 hours?

10:30-5:30 what to do except sleep?
What exactly are you looking for?

Bars shut down at 2 (by law); clubs shut down at 4 (by law). Cab it to Waikiki, find yourself a club, cab it back.

While there's a few restaurants that open 24 hours and Waikiki has maybe a few people walking around at 4 a.m., Honolulu is not quite a lively city at 1-4 a.m. in the morning.

The preceding OPS have it right.

Although HNL is a major city, it's not like NY or some other cities that party all night long.

I don't drink, so I'm not a party animal and don't haunt bars past dinner hours.

But Waikiki is going to be your best bet to pass some time.

Like what was already mentioned, grab a cab to Waikiki. Find a nightclub, or just walk around. In Waikiki you should be fine at any hour.

If in a pinch to get back to HNL in the wee hours and maybe can't quite hail a cab, you can always go to any of the hotels and hitch a cab there, just spiff the bellman a fiver and go.

Have fun.

Yes, 7 hours, just discounting it for deplaning, etc. I can either get an airport hotel, snooze in terminal, or I was thinking going somewhere for late night dinner (Side Street Inn?) then making my way back in the middle of the night.

Sounds like I could take the bus into town, but would have to cab back. A cab is ~$35 each way?

Thanks for the input, guys.

Side Street Inn would be cool for a late night dinner. Open till 2AM, I believe. I guess I'd try to find somewhere else to go otherwise it would be a pricey dinner all-in

HNL terminal is basically open air depending on where you are at, cool at night. If you doing are only carryon and/or backpack only (or, can check-thru or store your luggage,) the BUS is the cheapest way to get to Waikiki & #19 or 20 should still be running - ride is about 1 hour & you will pass by downtown/Chinatown on your left & the cruise terminal on your right. Google the bus system website for exact details, OW fare is only $2.50

Otherwise, Roberts Hawaii provide licensed airport shuttle to Waikiki area hotels for $12 OW and highly rated at TripAdvisor - not sure if they start running back to HNL in the early morning hours, call them to confirm & reserve - no more than 5 stops en enroute is their pledge - so it's slower than a taxi but much cheaper.

There's a 24 hour local family-owned cafe, reasonable price near HI Hawaiian Village next to IHOP (google for it) and at least one of the McDonalds is 24/7 with free WiFi - i.e. on the street corner opposite the beach near the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, breakfast served with spam, smoke portuguese sausage, egg omelete, rice, saimin or ramen noodles, and, poi or taro pie.

Souvenir shoppings can be done at the ever-present ABC Stores (much like 7-11's) that are 24/7 & seemingly located on every other street corners from any area hotels, where you can practically find & buy anything a tourist forgot to take along.

International Market Place at 2330 Kalakaua Ave used to be open very late with tourist but it will be closed by the time you get there, but you might still find a street performer or two around there. We often find jet-lagged Asian tourist hanging out all night & walking around due to the time-zone difference (true for us from the East Coast too with a 5 hour difference) so it's not unusual to be wide awake & eating "breakfast" at 1 AM.

I arrive at 10:30 PM and depart again at 5:30 the next morning. I think I've determined my plan is to bus it to Waikiki, have a couple cocktails at Arnold's Beach Bar and Grill, and then when it closes, get some food at Mac 24/7 in the Hilton, then cab it back. Seems I should be satiated in all things except sleep for my flight to MAJ. Better hope my upgrade clears =)

Chris

I arrive at 10:30 PM and depart again at 5:30 the next morning. I think I've determined my plan is to bus it to Waikiki, have a couple cocktails at Arnold's Beach Bar and Grill, and then when it closes, get some food at Mac 24/7 in the Hilton, then cab it back. Seems I should be satiated in all things except sleep for my flight to MAJ. Better hope my upgrade clears =)

Chris

A very good plan, sir. Let us know how you did. I'll be in HNL during that time, but alas, I'm not the night owl I used to be. So I'll be in the land of "Nod" when you are moonlighting.

ENJOY! ^:td: (I wish we had a "Shaka" sign! :p That's as close as I could come. Mods, we need a "Shaka" for the Hawaiian posts. :D

so that "family owned" diner is called wailana..which is 24hrs...

yeah arnolds is cool..but kinda small..if u need other recommendations on drinking spots let me know..it wouldn't be my choice but its not bad..cheaper i guess for waikiki bar standards..

mac24/7 is alright..the place looks nicer then the food entails...if you want to go crazy order the pancakes....

depends on what day of the week your going to be in town and whats going on..of course monday nights might be slow around 2-4am..but on the weekend always lots going on....lots of places are open til 4am..and then restart serving at 6am..

so that "family owned" diner is called wailana..which is 24hrs...

yeah arnolds is cool..but kinda small..if u need other recommendations on drinking spots let me know..it wouldn't be my choice but its not bad..cheaper i guess for waikiki bar standards..

mac24/7 is alright..the place looks nicer then the food entails...if you want to go crazy order the pancakes....

depends on what day of the week your going to be in town and whats going on..of course monday nights might be slow around 2-4am..but on the weekend always lots going on....lots of places are open til 4am..and then restart serving at 6am..

I'll be there on a Sunday night/Monday morning, so if you have pointers, I'd happily appreciate them. I figure I'll already be half soused on Mai Tais assuming my upgrade clears on SFO-HNL, so I just want a low key place to grab a beer, maybe chit chat with someone interesting (read: cute girl 24-30), but not be standing in line/unable to hear myself think. If you can think of another decent 24 hour food place/cheaper bar combo that I can bus it to, lemme know.

Chris

ENJOY! ^:td: (I wish we had a "Shaka" sign! :p That's as close as I could come. Mods, we need a "Shaka" for the Hawaiian posts. :D
\ooo/


If you can picture it...

\ooo/


If you can picture it...

THAT WORKS FOR ME! \ooo/

Get a little more creative: bus it to Kailua (57). Hit the beach, be back in time for your flight with a cab.

That's the Windward side. I happen to have a pad on that side, but I'd personally stay in Waikiki as a tourist with a short layover. There is much more to do, they also have a beach (no kidding :)), and it's closer to the airport - easier to grab a cab and get there quickly. Although H3 will get you to the Windward fairly quick at that hour. The Windward side (Kailua) to me is more for a family relaxation "rent a house or condo" type area, with a decent beach. And a nightly layover? Dark on the Beach? Not worth that trip IMO.

My guess is the Op has already made the trip anyway. Let's see if he posts anything about his activity.