JA610

Pearl Harbor for sure. The North Shore is a quick drive and if there is High Surf that is a bonus. If you are shoppers The Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium is a must due it is open on Wed/Sat & Sundays are there is a get in free coupon in This Week Oahu or Spotlight Oahu.

brendamc

there's a lot to be said about hiring a car & driver - might be cheaper in the long run - no accidents or stolen luggage to pay for!

JA610

I agree Car Services on Oahu are a very good way to travel and very cheap.
Great Idea.
Check Travel Hawaii on e-bay and you can find all of the local travel handouts like Oahu Gold, Spotlight and This Week Ohau. They all list car and limo services with their pricing and discount coupons.

nishimark

I'll be arriving from Japan at about 9:30AM and leave for Seattle at about 1:15PM, both flights on NWA. If I arrive on time or early, I'm thinking about grabbing a taxi to go to Waikiki for a bite to eat on the beach. A couple of questions:

After doing customs, can I load my baggage back on a conveyor belt? Or, do I have to recheck it in at the NWA ticket counter?

To catch a taxi, do I just go out to the street once I exit customs?

Thanks!

slippahs

You'll have to claim your baggage at customs, then re-check it at the NWA counter. You're allowed to check luggage four hours prior to departure, so no problems there.

Once you exist customs, there's a taxi stand across the street. With 4 hours, you might cut it a bit close. Just remember that given the many departures out of HNL from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (international and domestic), the security lines might be a bit longer than normal. In any case, here's a few threads regarding layovers that might be of some help:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284580
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284517
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284512
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284494
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284479
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284477 (Seeing Arizona Memorial)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284464 (a very packed schedule in a few days on O'ahu)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284442
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284416 (1 day layover)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284400

Might I also suggest that for a good bite (albeit not on the beach), you should try Sam Choy's Bkfest, Lunch and Crab on Nimitz near Iwilei. You won't have to deal with the traffic of Waikiki.

cblaisd

I heartily agree on both counts!

nishimark

That's what I was afraid of. I've done this before, but it's been a few years and I couldn't remember the layout. Sometimes these flights get in early. If I can get through customs in a decent amount of time and re-check the bags, then I'll make a quick decision of which way to go. I live in Japan and would enjoy a meal on the beach. It's been a while since I've been to Waikiki.

Thanks also for the links. I did a search, but couldn't find my exact answer.

HomelessScientist

Hmm, I did a connection like this on American about a year ago (it was KIX-HNL-SFO). They tagged my bag through to SFO, so I was able to just hand it back at the baggage recheck area after customs. I recall that the woman there asked me "what island are you going to" and seemed a little surprised when the answer was "California."

slippahs

Hmm, then I may be wrong. It's been a couple of years since I arrived from an Int'l destination here at HNL.

YVR Cockroach

At least in January last year, you recheck your bags right after clearing customs. No problem if your flight is more than 4 hours (I've had 2 7 hr layovers to SEA).


FWIW, I have been increasingly disappointed with the quality of breakfast at Sam Choy's BLC.

sabrina

I just returned from a trip to Hawaii today. I arrived in HNL from PEK via NRT, and even though my bags had been checked all the way through to my Aloha Airlines interisland flight to OGG, I had to claim my bags and clear customs before rechecking them myself.

-Sabrina

HomelessScientist

Right, but did you have to haul them out onto the sidewalk and back to the checkin counter, or just give them back at the recheck area?

nishimark

I was the OP on this thread. I just went through HNL a couple of days ago on NWA, KIX to HNL, HNL to SEA. After clearing customs, I was able to walk about 20 feet and put my bag onto a conveyer belt to take it to my next flight, after having it sniffed by the security guys, who were more concerned about joking with the pretty girl who was also there. Even then, I didn't get out of customs until 10:15 and my flight to Seattle left at 1:15. I was tempted to grab a cab to Waikiki for breakfast on the beach, but figured that it would be an hour and a half there at best, with me looking at my watch the whole time. I settled for Burger King and Starbucks, and did some work on my computer. Less than satisfying! But, I bought a nice aloha shirt before re-boarding.

KashierKing

Was up wit dat....Yo Bruddahs, you can talk story on dis one, can?


I would go upstairs and check in with bags etc....
Then go to Sam Choys on Nimitz, Ono Grinds and cool place. Try the Cream Ale from the micro brew!

mglyons

I'm doing a MR this weekend to HNL. I only have 6 hours on the ground. Would have loved to stay a few days but couldn't make it work.

Any suggestions about how to fill those 6 hours? I've reserved a rental car. Since I've never been to HNL, not sure how much time it takes to get around. My initial thoughts were - Pearl Harbor memorial, then the beach.