Honolulu and the Halekulani via United and American First Class
Jul 30, 2015, 10:06 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SAN
Posts: 56
It's sad, but after the rest of this post, it seems the only reasons to visit the Halekulani might be this cake (which is delicious) and Lewers Lounge (we love Maggie Herron).
Jul 31, 2015, 1:24 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,552
Thanks for sharing, SFO777 - a real mix of nostalgia and envy! Having spent a week in Wailea and a few days in Kona, we had the last two nights of our honeymoon at Halekulani five years ago next month. Great to see some shots of the place again. I'd totally frogtten about the 70s bathrooms! Really enjoyed Room without a key and Orchid when we were there. Never made it to Alan Wong's but did enjoy a first trip to Nobu across the road from the hotel.
Looks like you guys are having a wonderful trip.
Looks like you guys are having a wonderful trip.
Jul 31, 2015, 3:07 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 141
Not to hijack SFO777's post (Ok, I guess I just did) This picture has white spots out the window. Those are not due to the camera, not on the window, but in or above the water below. Can someone please tell me what that is? I noticed this on my recent flight into Honolulu but haven't been able to find out what the heck it is.
Jul 31, 2015, 8:20 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
Not to hijack SFO777's post (Ok, I guess I just did) This picture has white spots out the window. Those are not due to the camera, not on the window, but in or above the water below. Can someone please tell me what that is? I noticed this on my recent flight into Honolulu but haven't been able to find out what the heck it is.
Now back to your regularly scheduled, award worthy, trip report!
Now back to your regularly scheduled, award worthy, trip report!
Jul 31, 2015, 8:55 am
#24
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Great start SFO777. I promise I'm not stalking you, I just found this at the top right when I clicked on Trip Reports! 
I think UA's crews and food have been a lot better recently compared to right after the merger. Still room for improvement, but I have found no reason to leave. Hope you have a great stay.
I think UA's crews and food have been a lot better recently compared to right after the merger. Still room for improvement, but I have found no reason to leave. Hope you have a great stay.
The cabin on those 772s doesn't look awful, but definitely lacks privacy.Halkelani or whatever is supposed to be the #1 hotel in Honolulu. So it was very interesting seeing the pictures.
In 1982 I stayed at the Pink Palace next door and it was fantastic. Flew on Pan Am F award. In those days it was so easy to get an F award. It included a limo from my apartment to the heliport and a free helicopter ride to JFK on New York Airways.
The flights were discontinued. One passenger got decapitated boarding by a propeller. Awful.
Originally they took off from the top of the Pan Am building. One propeller fell on Madison Avenue also killing a pedestrian.
Sorry to be so morbid. But your trip to Honolulu in an old fashioned F configuration brought back memories.
The so called F or C on UA looks like F in the 1970s on PAA and TWA.
As to United economy must be awful.
I better be careful how I am dressed if I ever sit next to you and make sure I am wearing the same color socks on each foot.
But I doubt it as I sit in 3rd class. My last F flight was on Pan Am in 82.
Thanks for an interesting fun report.
In 1982 I stayed at the Pink Palace next door and it was fantastic. Flew on Pan Am F award. In those days it was so easy to get an F award. It included a limo from my apartment to the heliport and a free helicopter ride to JFK on New York Airways.
The flights were discontinued. One passenger got decapitated boarding by a propeller. Awful.
Originally they took off from the top of the Pan Am building. One propeller fell on Madison Avenue also killing a pedestrian.
Sorry to be so morbid. But your trip to Honolulu in an old fashioned F configuration brought back memories.
The so called F or C on UA looks like F in the 1970s on PAA and TWA.
As to United economy must be awful.
I better be careful how I am dressed if I ever sit next to you and make sure I am wearing the same color socks on each foot.
But I doubt it as I sit in 3rd class. My last F flight was on Pan Am in 82.
Thanks for an interesting fun report.
I actually flew the same United flight 5 days earlier when I did the annual grandkid shuttle to the islands. Used 22,500 miles each and paid $97 to upgrade us to E+. The plane's 2-5-2 seating made it challenging but it worked as the two kids had a side pair with lots of leg room for them and I had an inside aisle across from them. Lucked out with an empty seat beside me. Certainly not Mrs. SFO's cup of tea, but it wasn't that horrible especially for a couple in the two seats side of E+.
On my last trip to Honolulu we did Alan Wongs and were disappointed by the experience. Red curry paste has no business being on a piece of fillet steak - and I should have known this before ordering it.
Roy's - across the street from Halekulani blew us away with how good the food is - get a table outside though.
Roy's - across the street from Halekulani blew us away with how good the food is - get a table outside though.
Not to hijack SFO777's post (Ok, I guess I just did) This picture has white spots out the window. Those are not due to the camera, not on the window, but in or above the water below. Can someone please tell me what that is? I noticed this on my recent flight into Honolulu but haven't been able to find out what the heck it is. Now back to your regularly scheduled, award worthy, trip report!
Thanks for sharing, SFO777 - a real mix of nostalgia and envy! Having spent a week in Wailea and a few days in Kona, we had the last two nights of our honeymoon at Halekulani five years ago next month. Great to see some shots of the place again. I'd totally frogtten about the 70s bathrooms! Really enjoyed Room without a key and Orchid when we were there. Never made it to Alan Wong's but did enjoy a first trip to Nobu across the road from the hotel. Looks like you guys are having a wonderful trip.
We are flying home this afternoon on AA via DFW. I flew the same flight last week and the food was not very good. From my post in the AA food thread...
HNL-DFW
AA 8
Ancient 767-300
5:40P-6:20A +1
July 23, 2015
"Dinner" and Continental Breakfast
AA catering garbage continues...
Mercifully I was on a discounted HNL-NAS ticket and didn't have to pay the ridiculous $1,500+ one way fare on this relic of a plane. Classy PDB glasses as always. At least there was PDB service.
Choice of mahi mahi and Thai Vegetable Curry. Seriously?? I kid you not. Seatmate ordered that one and it was basically a bowl of colored rice, with a few shreds of unknown veggies and essence of curry. Glad I didn't order that one.
And just in case you wanted more rice with your rice bowl. LOL. Spicy Ginger Salmon Tartar with sushi rice as opposed to jasmine rice in the curry rice bowl. And by all means, serve one fish that has to be flown to Hawaii. Not doubt a lot cheaper than local ahi. Had a very strange taste that even the spicy ginger couldn't kill.
Salad?? The wedge turned out to be a couple of strips of nutritious
iceberg lettuce with beets and blue cheese. Close to tasteless and virtually inedible. 
For my main, I opted for what I thought would be the lesser of the evils, herb crusted mahi mahi. Perhaps it might have been passable if it had not been overcooked by, I'm guessing, hours. Pathetically dry and tasteless. Not nearly enough sauce to save this sucker. The only saving grace on this meal was that catering has not yet eliminated the best part of Hawaii meals... Hawaiian King rolls. No doubt with only $1.9B in Q2 earnings, it's only a matter of time.
Choice of "Gourmet" Cheese Plate, LOL or Traditional Ice Cream sundae no doubt provided by the lowest bidder no name ice cream maker.
At T-60 continental breakfast and the scone was the best meal of this flight.
Thanks very much LindaVH.
Jul 31, 2015, 10:17 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
When I saw this TR in the forum, I figured it would include the dreadful pics you shared in the domestic meals thread on the AA forum! It's such a shame because Hawaii meals used to be good. I will admittedly say that I'm impressed with what you shared from UA, good to know. ^^
Looks like it's best to fill up in HNL before catching the flight and enjoy the booze onboard. Great TR, as always. Thanks for sharing!
Looks like it's best to fill up in HNL before catching the flight and enjoy the booze onboard. Great TR, as always. Thanks for sharing!
Jul 31, 2015, 8:34 pm
#28
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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When I saw this TR in the forum, I figured it would include the dreadful pics you shared in the domestic meals thread on the AA forum! It's such a shame because Hawaii meals used to be good. I will admittedly say that I'm impressed with what you shared from UA, good to know. ^^ Looks like it's best to fill up in HNL before catching the flight and enjoy the booze onboard. Great TR, as always. Thanks for sharing!
Jul 31, 2015, 8:36 pm
#29
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Since my body was still on Mountain time, I was up at 3AM and headed to the Business Center to do some work.
Then back to Orchids this time for breakfast.
After breakfast, we tried to find some pool chaises in the shade. LOL to the supposed "no saving pool chairs for more than a few minutes" policy which was totally ignored. We finally decided on a secluded corner which turned out great as it was under palm trees for most of the morning.
Yummy late morning mai tai just before lunch.
We relaxed for another couple of hours...
Until the sun had finally shifted and we headed upstairs and finally for our late afternoon journey to Mililani. After an evening with our DIL's family, we returned back to the city but with a stop at Honolulu institution Bubbies, which supplies a number of Nobu restaurants (including Nobu 57th Street in New York) with their wonderful mochis.
Then back to Orchids this time for breakfast.
After breakfast, we tried to find some pool chaises in the shade. LOL to the supposed "no saving pool chairs for more than a few minutes" policy which was totally ignored. We finally decided on a secluded corner which turned out great as it was under palm trees for most of the morning.
Yummy late morning mai tai just before lunch.
We relaxed for another couple of hours...
Until the sun had finally shifted and we headed upstairs and finally for our late afternoon journey to Mililani. After an evening with our DIL's family, we returned back to the city but with a stop at Honolulu institution Bubbies, which supplies a number of Nobu restaurants (including Nobu 57th Street in New York) with their wonderful mochis.
Jul 31, 2015, 9:07 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Hope you enjoyed time with the family.
That is a lot of white tile in the bathroom and an exceptionally embarrassing meal on AA.
That is a lot of white tile in the bathroom and an exceptionally embarrassing meal on AA.