Thank you all for the prompt advice. I did some initial research and United's website doesn't show any availability on Dec 20, 21, or 23 (date booked). Award tickets on the 22nd and 24th are double (70K) and have stupid layovers, e.g. 11.5 hours in NRT and 9.5 hours in HNL what? :P Revenue tickets show tickets available in that date range available with SQ, ANA, and Air Japan routes. But the best ticket schedule wise is $6,500 in Y (which is what this is). Others are about $2K one way.

I am on hold now with the first UA rep and will see if they can do anything through Japan on either of those 3 revenue routings. They are 18-21 hours, compared to 28 through SFO. I've done the SIN/SFO and SIN/LAX flights and they're murder in Y. My 70+ year old parents would not forgive me soon, even if they are going to Hawaii

Edit:
As expected, the CSR was unable to find any partner award availability. As it's nearly 5 am after a 1 hour call I took what I could get, e.g. routing through SFO as they said I could call back a different time and try again. Didn't pay close attention and there's only a 2 hour stop in SFO... ug, bags + immigration for non-US citizens then transfer to domestic (HNL) leg. Not sure that's going to work out well.