Especially on Fridays! Everyone gets off at noon...Aloha Friday...they call it.
Not
everyone, unfortunately...I usually leave the office at 5 or 6, even on Aloha Fridays.
I do agree, though -- the "pau hana" (means "after work" in Hawaiian) traffic into and out of Waikiki and Ala Moana (e.g. Ala Moana Boulevard, Nimitz Highway, and Kalakaua Avenue) are to be avoided, especially Friday afternoons.
Even under optimal conditions (i.e. no water main break or road construction), traffic can be horrendous. This is especially important to note when heading from your hotel to the airport.
Took me a half hour to travel 1/2 mile one day from the Wal-Mart to corner of Ala Wai and McCully. Yea I said THE Wal-Mart. Only one on the island.
There are three of them now -- but the one near Ala Moana is the only one on that side of the island. The other two are on the west side (Pearl City and Mililani). Most of the big-box chains (Costco, Target, etc.) have a store in the Honolulu area and multiple stores on the west side.