This is drifting off-topic and there are long threads about the SFO-HNL flights (helpful: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...-cr-1-hnl.html, less content: (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...1-upgrade.html), but the consensus seems to be that:

• Some / all of Continental's SFO-HNL flights have seats that are also used on BusinessFirst-marketed flights (specifically, the flights are operated by 767-400 aircraft).
• Continental's SFO-HNL flights are eligible for free upgrades for elite members and can be upgraded ahead of time with a confirmed upgrade certificate, like a CR-1 or a SWU.
• Most CO phone agents, and their managers, don't know that you can use an upgrade certificate on these flights and don't believe it. All of these people are wrong. You will never be able to convince them that they are wrong. Just hang up and try again.
• The integration desk is more likely to know what's up and is more likely to do the right thing.