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Honolulu is widely recognised as a major hub for international flights, making it a common layover destination for travellers whose final destination is elsewhere. In our case, we had a layover of 15 hours, and we'll share our experiences in detail, along with alternative options to help you make the most of your time on the island. So, without further ado, let's dive right in!
Tips before you explore Honolulu
Now if you are like us and have larger suitcases/bags and don’t feel like carrying them all the way then we would strongly recommend storing them at the airport. It is $20USD per large bag and $15USD for smaller ones and can be stored for up to 24 hours.
If you have the money we would recommend renting a car for the day to be able to get to places quicker to allow yourself more time at the places we recommend and more! In this blog though it's more aimed at backpackers so we will be listing the places we visited through catching the local transport :)
Get yourself an eSIM to help you navigate the island and their local transport! We would highly recommend you purchase an eSim using the app 'Airalo'. The app allows you to avoid the hassle of picking up a SIM Card when you arrive. It's a great option for a layover, you get to save time so you can start your adventure straight away!
1st Stop - Pearl Harbour
If you haven't been to Honolulu before and don't foresee another visit, then you should definitely consider visiting one of the most historic places in Pearl Harbour. Getting to Pearl Harbour from the airport is quite convenient; simply take Bus 20 for $2 USD, and it will get you there in approximately 20 minutes. It's important to note that you're not allowed to bring any belongings with you, except for items that can fit in your pocket (like your phone and wallet) or in a clear bag. This means that if you have a non-see-through bag, you'll need to store it. Thankfully, there's a storage facility outside the entrance where you can store your belongings for $7 USD (excluding tax) per bag; larger bags are $10 each.
The entrance into Pearl Harbour is completely free, and once inside, you can explore the open area and read about many of the historic pieces on display. There are also a few walkthrough museums that provide detailed explanations about certain aspects of the war. Before exploring any of that though, we would highly recommend putting your name down to be on standby for the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. You can reserve tickets in advance for the boat ride online, but it can be challenging as spots are often taken weeks in advance. If you'd like to try, you can click here to purchase tickets on the official website. (Please note that there is a $1 fee when reserving tickets online, but the overall experience is completely free!) As for the standby option, when you first enter Pearl Harbour, you will see these iPad-like machines. Simply enter your information, and you will then receive a text confirming that you are in the standby line. Once you are at the front of the line, you will receive a text instructing you to start making your way to the actual line for the USS Arizona Memorial Boat. Exploring and reading about this historical site in person was truly an amazing experience, and we highly recommend that you do the same.
In addition to exploring the area, you can also watch a 20-minute film that runs every half an hour in the theater. The film discusses the story of Pearl Harbour and how the Japanese managed to attack the island undetected.
All of the activities mentioned are free and will take you roughly 2 hours to complete depending on your standby time for the ASS Arizona Memorial. There are other experience you can do there that are paid which we can not comment on as we opted not do them. However we encourage you do your own research on them and see if they interest you by reading it on the official pearl harbour website.
2nd Stop - Dole Pineapple Plantation
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to travel by bus from Pearl Harbour to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. The journey to the plantation is quite long, but trust us, it is definitely worth it. The plantation is renowned for its delicious homegrown pineapples and for once being the largest producer of pineapples in the world. Upon arrival, you must try their famous Dole Soft Serve ice cream topped with fresh pineapple pieces. More specifically you will want to order the 'Dole Soft Serve Cup W/ Topping', priced at $8.50 USD. While it may be a bit expensive, we assure you that it is well worth the cost, especially after enduring the 1.5-hour journey.
Apart from the fruit itself, the Dole Plantation offers fun activities like the Pineapple Express Train Tour, which takes you around the plantation to see where the pineapples grow, and the Pineapple Garden Maze. The prices for these activities are $13.75 USD and $9.25 USD per adult, respectively. We opted to just do the Maze as it used to be the largest hedge maze in the world back in 2008 and that was all the convincing we needed. However, it's not an activity we would personally recommend because it's not like a traditional maze where you enter at one end and need to find you way to the exit. Instead, you're given a ticket where you need to draw 8 images in the 8 blank spaces. To find the images you will need to locate them around the maze which is quite easy as it's their whereabouts is also hinted on the ticket. They claim it takes the average player 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete, but we finished it in under 25 minutes, so it's a maze with little challenge in our opinion and would probably be more enjoyable for a family.
Be sure to then check out their store which offers a wide variety of Dole Plantation gifts, and you can even purchase a fresh pineapple to take home.
3rd Stop - Downtown Honolulu
If you have the time, it's definitely worth checking out the downtown area of Honolulu and the Waikiki area! There are some notable places to see, such as the Aloha Tower, Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue, and of course, have a swim at the beautiful Waikiki Beach!
There are some great restaurants in the area if you have time to grab some dinner. We unfortunately didn't have time, but we can mention the ones we were interested in and heard great things about. For a tasty and affordable option, you might want to consider visiting a Japanese restaurant called 'Masubi Cafe' which seems like a great choice. If you're looking for a more high-end venue with fantastic beach views, 'Duke's Waikiki' seems to be the place to go!
Other options of what to see & do in Honolulu Hawaii
If our itinerary didn't suit your fancy (no offence taken), then you might want to consider tour companies as a popular and convenient alternative. Some of these companies even offer pick-up and drop-off services from the airport. Initially, we considered this option but ultimately decided against it. However, we're more than happy to share the ones that caught our eye and piqued our interest.
GetYourGuide - CIrcle Island Tour, pickup from the Waikiki area - Price $215.60 AUD
Viator - Oahu Circle Island: Snorkel with Turtles & Explore in Small Group - Price from $212 AUD, can do pick up/drop off from airport.
Hawaii Tours - 5-Hour Sightseeing Tour From Waikiki Hotels To Honolulu Airport - Price total = $598 USD total, split between the amount in your group, minimum 4 people for booking.
Summary
So that is how we spent out time on a long layover in Honolulu. If our recommendations has given you ideas on how you can spend your time on this beautiful island state. Then we would really appreciate it if you left a like on this post and share it with your friends!
Until next time
Goodbye
Bree & Aiden
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