One of the most breathtaking places on earth, a first trip to Oahu can be a bit daunting and confusing. Let me take a few minutes of your time and point out some of my favorite things and some of the tricks I’ve learned so that you can hit the ground running—it’s expensive to come to Hawaii, expensive to stay here. In these tight economic times you may as well make the best of your vacation investment by being a bit prepared. Let me make some suggestions about visiting Oahu logically and efficiently, to maximize your fun. Part 1 of this article discusses arriving in Hawaii and things to see and do in and around Waikiki; Part 2 discusses things to see and do other than Waikiki.
Part 1: In and Around Waikiki
There’s nothing to see most of the flight in; just a lot of water and they’ll have you pull the shades anyway to enhance the movie. I recommend bringing your laptops and DVDs … the movie is almost always, um, uninteresting to adults (except once when I flew home they showed Shrek) and what they load in the rental tablets isn’t much better. Ask for seats near the electrical outlets, and be sure you have a power adapter (Best Buy/Comp USA; about thirty dollars) that fits airline outlets. I’m serious—nobody’s laptop lasts six and a half hours and that flight is really dull—especially if the plane is carrying more than the three FAA-mandated screaming babies. The only views come about twenty minutes before you land, when you’ll start to get views of Koko Head, Makapu’u Head and the Ko’olau Mountains. Then you fly right over the top of the crater at Diamond Head, turn directly over Pearl Harbor (giving a nice view of the Wai’anae Mountains) and land. All this is best seen from the starboard (right) side of the plane. See if you can arrange this. Otherwise, on port, while landing, you get spectacular views of Moloka’i Island (and possibly Maui and Lana’i, depending on weather), then Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the Ko’olau Mountains just before touch down. Most flights get into Honolulu about lunch time, but don’t be tempted to eat at the airport … wait for Downtown or Waikiki … if you need a snack, there are Starbucks at the airport.
Nobody can prepare you for the planning tragedy that is Honolulu International Airport. You will be confused, just accept this, and follow the herds. Asking for directions can be daunting, too, because even though their family has been in the US for many generations, they still speak with a Chinese/Portuguese/Japanese/Filipino/Whatever accent, or even pidgin, and you might find it a bit impenetrable until you adjust to it.
Chances are you’ll land a wee bit away from the baggage claim (big airport). If baggage claim not on the floor right below you, walk directly outside to the curb and wait for the Wiki Wiki shuttle (you cannot miss it, it’s the only passenger transport-type vehicle that will be on this road). “Wiki” in Hawai’ian means “fast” and this shuttle is government operated—just so you know ahead of time that it’s a lie. They say it twice to emphasize their deceitfulness. The Wiki Wiki will take you to the baggage area. Probably by Tuesday.
The car rental area is just around the corner from baggage … go through the rental rigmarole while your baggage is being unloaded, but don’t go for the rental car just yet. Go get your bags first; now, everybody go stand on the curb while someone gets the rental car … they will have to ride the shuttle to get the car, then navigate back to the curb for family—this bit will seem like other airports and is really quick, but it’s impossible to park and go inside and look for folks still waiting for bags. So, bags first, then car.
Assuming you’re headed to Honolulu or Waikiki from the airport, follow the signs to the H-1 Freeway (it’s the Interstate … I know, I know: Interstate highways in Hawaii?). Note: Do not be deceived by names like “Farrington Highway” or “Nimitz Highway”—these are not highways, they are regular surface streets, jammed with strip malls and stop lights every 3 feet. Although this is Hawai’i, so they are SCENIC strip malls…At the airport, you are west of Honolulu and Waikiki, so you head east on the H-1.
