One of the things that our family likes to do as we are DC based is to fly to West Coast on a night flight (and Priceline a hotel at LAX or wherever) and then get the first flight to the islands. This can assist in jet lag and often these flights are less full as East Coasters don't have a chance to catch these (awards can be easier as well). The same on the return flights to avoid redeyes by taking a day flight to the West Coast and then the rest of the way the next morning.