take cab or alamo car rental shuttle less than 1 mile and get great sushi at Mitch's - plenty of time to really enjoy the $95 omikase or if you are not a glutton, you can do great with $100 for 2 people unless you want the lobster. Maybe you can purchase some sake in the terminal (its BYOB) and they will chill it for you. Far far better than running around to some touristy place for an hour or surfing the internet in a lounge. You will have happy dreams on the red eye...

Layover in Honolulu - ca. five plus hours
 

We will have a 5 and 1/2 hour layover in Honolulu. Do you think we have time to take a taxi to have breakfast in Waikiki, have them pack a dinner for us for the plane and then get back to the airport? Any suggestions on where to go?

Yes, if you are talking about a weekend. A weekday might get you rush hour problems. It's 9 miles from the airport to the Hyatt, mainly freeway. Google maps says 15 minutes. Of course, I always recommend people, without status, allow 90-120 minutes for airports.

I am assuming this isn't an International to Domestic transfer

It depends on the time and day. Waikiki is only about a 20-minute drive from the airport, but between 6 and 9 am and between 4:30 and 7 pm, you risk traffic, which could make your drive as long as an hour and a half each way.

Chinatown (near downtown Honolulu) or Dillingham is closer, but you still have the traffic issue. Hawaii has some of the best Chinese food in the country, if you like that. In the other direction, there are some decent places to eat in the Aiea/Waimalu/Pearl City area, but you still have the potential traffic issues.

When you are considering someplace good, what are your criteria? Oahu has some great hole-in-the-wall restaurants with great food, but are you looking for something fancier?

I've had a few 6-7 layovers in HNL - arriving from NRT and continuing on to SEA. Even with long immigration waits, it's allowed me to take the public bus towards Honolulu, or even Waikiki, have brunch/early lunch, do a littl ebit of browsing, and get back to HNL with plenty of time to lounge around before the flight to SEA.

As far a food to go, plate lunches are the way to go. ^

^^ (Although I had a fun time with Dim Sum on Sunday :cool:)

I've also done this more than once on a trip from Japan to US mainland. Since I can't get a decent "American style" breakfast in Japan, I like to go to the Royal Hawaiian (the pink hotel) and eat breakfast in the coffee shop right on the beach. Nothing more invigorating than a good omelette with the beach and ocean just a few feet away. I rent a car and park in a garage associated with the hotel, and get the ticket validated. A taxi would be more expensive, but maybe more convenient if you're not sure where to go. After breakfast, I usually walk around Waikiki a bit, maybe buy a t-shirt or something, then back to the airport.

HNL overnight and a stay later, plus what to see?
 

Will be flying into HNL at about 930pm on the 31st of March and then out on the 1st around 8pm.
Then flying back into HNL on the 8th of April around 1pm, then out on the 11th around 650am.

For the first trip (under 24hrs) should I grab a hotel by the airport (looking at the sticky, looks like best western) or should I grab something in the city? What would be the cab fare in/out?
Renting a car is a option, but since im under 25, has to be from hertz (I get the underage waived) and others look a bit expensive (Advantage is about $45 + underage fee unless I priceline something)

Most likely I will hotwire/priceline the hotel rate, so it would be affordable.

And in the 2nd time, whats a good hotel to stay in?
Sheraton? Any other brands?
What about what to see? I scuba dive, but dont know if Ill have time.
If I was to grab a car for a day or 2 the 2nd time, would it be wise to grab it for a day and drive around?


Thanks

A cab to Waikiki can run you $30-40 with tip depending on traffic. Staying by the airport -- wouldn't be my choice even for a short stay.

Not sure what your budget is, but sounds as if you are trying to economize. Great Waikiki hotel deals on line now. Many, many choices at some very inexpensive rates. The cheapest I have seen in years. From fancy to modest. and you will find any "brand" you want. You will have no problem finding something in your budget.

Your second longer lay over -- if you can - rent the car and drive around the island one day. Lots to see, do and explore. Look at some other Oahu threads here and you will get lots of ideas. Or if you are just totally into the sun, sand and surf -- just do that right there on Waikiki. A multitude of things to do within walking distance. Have a blast!:D

Is there a good cheaper option than a cab to get in/out the city like a shuttle?
I'd rather save $40 on the cab fare and use a shuttle and have the funds for a better hotel.
I'm trying to be practical (In this economy, I think everyone is) but not too cheap ;)

if you don't mind public transit, take The Bus for $2.25:
http://www.thebus.org/

you can use google maps for the route, looks like you can take the 42

http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&f...e=dep&dirflg=r

i have a layover in honolulu on june 15th from 9:50AM - 1:45AM (roughly 4 hours). from what i've read on this thread, 4HRS is nowhere enough time to do anything substantial.. but then again, this is my first time to hawaii. is there ANYthing i could do in the area that will at least get me out of the airport? any beaches? they dont have to be very touristy or nice. just anything with sand and water (haha haven't seen a beach in awhile)

also, i've been doing some research and i found a post saying i could (on a 4hr layover) "run over to Ward Center for food then you could walk across the street to Ala Moana beach park and relax there".
is that reasonable in my timeframe?

Waikiki is about 12 miles from HNL. Ala Moana is about 7.5. Yes, lots of shopping in the AM area. Huge mall and other shopping, eats, etc. And then the park, beach, marina is there. Traffic is a variable. 4 hours isn't a lot of time by my standards to deplane, hop a cab, and then leave time to do the reverse, get through security again, etc. and to your departure gate. But, one could do it I suppose.

At 9:50 a.m. in the morning, I think 4 hours is enough, but it'll be tight. Likely little to no traffic on a mid-week day (weekends might have traffic with everyone out on the freeway running errands). You'll probably want to pick up a cheap rental car. That'll be enough time for you to grab a bite to eat at Ward and then walk/drive across the street to Ala Moana Beach Park to touch the sand and water.