This is a regular route of mine – one of the few I feel qualified to talk about, among the far better traveled who occupy this board! I’ve tried just about every possible combination of day flights, night flights, night stops etc and have connected through SAN, LAX, SJC, SFO, DEN, ORD, DFW, EWR…and probably others with various airlines.

In my youth I minimised travel time and took the shortest connections, even if there were some unsocial timings involved. Now, older and softer, I avoid night flights completely if I can. Going out in one day is fine, and the earlier you can get to HNL, the better. Probably best not to drive the evening you arrive – you’ll have been awake a long time!

Coming back, I find I get over jet lag more quickly if I make two night stops (it’s usually not the cheapest option, but it depends on your priorities). For example, HNL – SFO on AS with a night stop followed by SFO – JFK on AA and another night stop, then JFK – LHR on one of the morning flights (I find the later AA one the more civilised). Can be done via LAX or SEA without a night flight. Probably PDX too.

When you’re there, I agree with those who say you should try to see other islands, but only because it’s a long way to go and not see….the local active volcano, for example. But Oahu has so much to offer that, with a hire car, you will not be bored. I think when people say ‘see other bits of Hawaii’, what they really mean is ‘don’t just stay Waikiki’.

All of the above is very much personal opinion, of course.