Hawaiian Airlines
I took the 10:00 flight on Hawaiian airlines direct from JFK to HNL. Boarding began a little late, but that didn’t cause a delay. This was my first time flying on a wide-body aircraft and I couldn’t believe how big it was when I got on. I was seat 19C in the middle four-seat row of the aircraft with one other person on the opposite end in 19F. This gave me plenty of room to spread out on an eleven hour flight. The plane itself seemed to be in great condition and the seats gave plenty of legroom for an economy ticket. There were also TVs on the back of every seat, which turned out to be very deceiving.
Once the flight took off, I turned on my TV to browse what was offered. To my dismay, I discovered that in the economy seats you had to pay $7 per movie and $7 for the TV package. I was on an eleven hour flight with no TV. It was a bummer and it was too expensive to pay for. So I put the map on, which was free, and slept and read my book. There were multiple beverage services and a hot meal. We got pasta in a marinara sauce with cheese and eggplant. It was pretty good, but it was early in the flight, which caused me to be hungry towards the end. To be fair, they did offer complementary egg salad sandwiches, but I didn’t want one because I don’t like egg salad. The flight attendants were nice and accommodating. We landed smoothly and on time in Honolulu.
The Bus
TheBus is the public transportation system in Oahu. It picks you up on the departures level right outside of the HNL International Terminal. The cost of a day pass to use the bus is $5.50 and for a one-way trip it’s $2.75. The prices for TheBus are so cheap for a service that allows you to get anywhere you want on the island. The trip from the airport to Waikiki Beach is about an hour. I used TheBus on my other days there as well to travel around the island. I was able to take it right to Hanauma Bay and to the North Shore. The ride to the North Shore was about two hours from Waikiki Beach because all of the stops, but it was so scenic that the amount of time didn’t seem like an issue. I would 100% recommend TheBus if you’re on a budget. Bus routes were very accessible on the internet as well as my iPhone maps. Google maps also helped me follow along which was nice when I was not confident that I was going in the right direction.
Polynesian Hostel Beach Club
It was very easy booking my stay here. I found it on the Hostel World app. I then booked directly by calling the hostel to avoid the extra convenience fees that the Hostel World app charged. It was $45 a night to stay in a four person female only room. When I booked over the phone they took my credit card number, but said they wouldn’t charge me until I got there. The hostel was easy to find and a one minute walk from the Bus stop. You walk through the gate and check-in is right there. It seemed to be open 24 hours. I checked in around 18:00, I was charged for my three night stay, and they gave me my key card and a set of sheets. I was on the third floor and there are only stairs, so packing light was a good decision. The rooms have the bare minimum. There were two bunk beds and a bathroom with a shower and a toilet. There were also lockers to store any private items, but locks were not provided.
I went to the ABC market on the corner (there are hundreds) and I was able to buy two locks for $20 total. The turnover in the hostel was pretty quick. All three nights that I was there, there were new girls. It was a good hostel for the purposes of a locker, shower, and bed. All I did there was shower and sleep. Also important to mention that the room did not have an A/C unit. At night it was ok, but it was still humid and I was there in January. I don’t know what it’s like in the hotter months, but I can imagine it can get pretty uncomfortable. My only big complaint was the nauseating coconut smell throughout the hostel, but I have a very sensitive nose, so I don’t think that should deter anyone from staying there.
Ramen Nakamura
Located off of the tourist strip of Kalakaua Ave., in downtown Honolulu, is an amazing local Ramen spot, Ramen Nakamura. I walked from my hostel, which is at one end of the strip, looking for some good Hawaiian food to eat. Starting the walk I felt underwhelmed because most of what I saw were restaurants that were chains and stores that I could go to anywhere on the mainland U.S.. I’m sure it would be exciting for someone who is visiting the U.S. for the first time, but I grew up and was raised here so I wanted something local to the state or the city.
I walked about a mile down the street and saw a small Ramen shop with a line out of the door. I love Ramen and a line is usually a good sign, so I ventured across the street and tried my luck. I only had to wait in line for about 5 minutes. The restaurant was a horse-shoe shaped countertop surrounded by chairs. The waitresses serve about 25 customers at a time in the middle of the horseshoe. While you wait on line a waitress or hostess will ask you how many in your party and when that many seats open up, that’s where you sit. So when a seat opened up, there I went. I was handed a glass of ice water and a menu.
The main items on the menu were Ramen, Gyoza, and Fried Rice. I didn’t have a huge appetite that night, but it all looked so good. I went with the spicy ramen, let the waitress know and five minutes later I was presented with a huge steaming bowl of spicy Ramen. It was so delicious. The broth was savory, the veggies were crisp, and the noodles were nice and chewy. It was so filling and such a large portion, that I was only able to eat half the bowl. The waitresses try to turn and burn, due to the limited seating, so you get your check while you’re still eating. I didn’t feel rushed because it’s a very “you come to fill up and go” atmosphere. It was cash only. Due to the influx of Japanese tourists in Hawaii, Japanese yen was also an accepted form of payment. I found that to be interesting to see in a U.S. state. I paid $12, which is pricey for a bowl of soup and a glass of water, but I feel it was worth it. I would recommend to anyone that is staying on Waikiki Beach.
Eggs ‘n Things
Eggs ‘n Things seems to be a chain in the Waikiki Beach area. I walked to the Eggs ‘n Things on Saratoga Ave. and on my way there I actually passed an Eggs ‘n Things eggspress (huge fan of the play on words), but I wasn’t sure if that was a downgrade in any way, so I continued on to my originally planned destination. The set-up of Eggs ‘n Things is almost like a treehouse. You walk into the shop, which is on ground level and tell a cashier how many people are in your party. They give you one of those waiting buzzers and tell you to go outside and up the stairs when they buzz you for a table. Downstairs is a store with Eggs ‘n Things merchandise. I looked around the store and it only took a minute to get buzzed, but I was traveling alone so it’s very possible that’s what cut my wait time down by so much. I went upstairs and was seated at the counter which faced a screen that looked out onto a parking lot. It wasn’t a great view but it was nice to be in the fresh air.
My server came to me immediately and my service remained very fast throughout the entire meal. The menu had a large variety, so there was no trouble with options. The prices are what you would expect from a Waikiki Beach breakfast chain. It was about $15 for a drink and a meal. The portions are very large though so again unless you have a really big appetite that morning, I recommend getting one main dish and maybe a side or two to split. That would be especially useful if you are staying somewhere without a fridge or if this is the beginning of your day and you won’t have access to a fridge for a while.
I ended up ordering a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and a side of portuguese sausage. The food came out within ten minutes of me ordering and it was nice and hot. The pancakes came in a neat stack of three. They were amazing. They were just about as fluffy as you could make them and the chocolate chips were a melted-gooey consistency. If you’re a chocolate lover, you would love these. The portuguese sausage was also really good. It was very savory and came in small, oval slices similar to a thick ham, but it tasted very similar to a hot dog. I think it complimented the sweetness of the chocolate in the pancakes perfectly. Unfortunately I was unable to finish it all because it was such a large amount of food. This is one of the downsides of traveling alone. The server left my check near me before I was finished, so all I had to do was go up to the register and pay. I was very happy with my overall experience - food, service, and atmosphere. I recommend it to anyone who wants a nice, hearty breakfast.
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay was the first stop on my trip where I felt like I was starting to see why Hawaii gets its reputation for being so beautiful. I took TheBus from Waikiki Beach and it was very simple getting there. I can’t remember which bus I took, but I found the route on my maps app on my iphone. TheBus picked up from a downtown location and the last stop was Hanauma Bay, so there were no transfers. There were more tourists than locals on this bus, so I was confident that I was getting to the right place. The stop is unmistakable, you drive right down into the parking lot before the entrance to the bay. Getting off thebus is an excellent photo-op. There is a great view of the bay down below with the cliffs surrounding it on the side. The cliffs are a vibrant green and the water is a mix of light and dark blue. Seeing this, as compared to the tourist hub that is Waikiki Beach, I suddenly understood why people love Hawaii so much.
In order to enter the bay and join the snorkelers below, you have to go through the main entrance which is about a two minute walk from the parking lot. Taking TheBus I didn’t have to worry about finding a parking spot. I do have a friend I recommended the bay to and he did tell me that due to no parking spots that they weren’t able to go. That being said, I recommend either taking TheBus or going closer to opening when parking spots would be available. Also, the Bay is closed on Tuesdays in order to let the reef breathe a little from its constant flow of people, so avoid going on Tuesday. Once you are parked and the Bay is open, you walk to the ticket counter where there might be a line. I waited about 10 minutes and I got there at noon. My entrance fee as a Non-Hawaiian adult was $7. As a bonus, I believe the money goes towards preservation and upkeep of the park, which seems necessary after seeing how many people visit. Once you get your ticket you make your way down a small path and get on another line to watch a “first-timers” 15-minute informational video on how to properly swim in the bay and interact with the reef while snorkeling. I waited in that line for about 10 minutes and then they shuffled about 50 people into the video room. The video only lasted about 10 minutes and you learn about what fish to look out for and what you may find in the bay. Once the video was over we walked down a steep hill and entered the bay, with the cliffs looming overhead.
It’s a pretty spectacular view. Since I was by myself I was able to conveniently rent a locker for my valuables while also renting the snorkel gear. Together the gear and the locker ended up being around $25, which was fair for the convenience it provided. I’ve never snorkeled before, but this seemed like a good place to learn. There was plenty of space for my towel and backpack. If you are going with a group it’s a nice place to have a picnic with a grass area for people to sit and there was plenty of space. I put my stuff down and headed towards the clear-blue water ready to find some fish. It was a partly-cloudy day in January so the water was pretty cold, but not numbing like it is in New England. It was easy to catch on to snorkeling. I tried to find as many fish as possible, but unfortunately I didn’t see too many. I’m sure that had to do with all of the people there. I would say that was my only complaint, but i guess that's a big one since that's what I was there for. Still, I thought that the overall atmosphere made it a good experience. It was also a great place to bask in the sun which is exactly what I wanted to do for some reprieve from such a cold winter. When I was ready to go I did a small hike back up the hill, got some garlic fries from the snack bar, and found a picnic table close by to eat them. I walked back to the bus stop and only had to wait about ten minutes for it to arrive. The ride back to Waikiki Beach took about an hour, but it was midday when the traffic was high, so I figure that was good timing.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach was so disappointing and forgettable that I almost forgot to write about it. Maybe it’s because I’m used to living 15 min from a beautiful four-mile stretch of state protected beach, but I didn’t think Waikiki was anything to write home about. It was very crowded, similar to Jones Beach in New York on a hot summer day, but there was less sand to sit on, so that made it feel even more congested. I only had one towel, taking up minimal space and even I felt like I was on top of people. The waves were small and didn’t even suffice for body surfing. I only stayed for about an hour and then I left. I’m not sure how it came to be so famous. My best guess is that some people like the convenience of having the beach close to the restaurants and hotels.
Shirokiya Japan Village Walk
I can’t recall how I initially found out about Shirokiya, but I’m glad I did. It was only 20 minutes on TheBus from Waikiki Beach. I didn’t know what to expect, but I guess I didn’t pay attention to the name too much because I was picturing one single restaurant. It’s in the parking garage at the mall, which was interesting, but made it a little bit hard to find. Once you find it, you walk in and see that it’s actually a massive food hall dedicated to Japanese and other Asian cultures.
I was overwhelmed by the choices. I think I did a total of two laps around before deciding what I wanted. There were hot meals, cold meals, desserts, and $1 beer was advertised everywhere. I can’t remember the name of the stall that I stopped at finally, but I do know that I got a curry udon noodle soup and it was so amazing. The curry flavor was strong, but it wasn't overpowering. The soup was steamy, the bowl was large, the noodles were cooked perfectly, big and slightly chewy, and the broth was very simple but flavored perfectly. I was very satisfied with my choice, especially with all of the options I could have chosen from. I would definitely go back because there is so much more that I could have tried and what I did try was amazing. I also really enjoyed the overall atmosphere. It’s a food hall so there are many tables, similar to a cafeteria, and there are string lights on the ceiling creating a dim, bronze lighting. The interior design focuses mostly on Japanese culture, which was a change of pace while in the U.S.. It was certainly unlike anywhere I had been before and I highly recommend it.
Hale’iwa
So far on my journey in Oahu, I had seen some pretty cool places, but I was still on the hunt for why people loved Hawaii so much. How did it get such a good reputation? The places that I had been to, besides Hanauma Bay, were all places that I felt I could have seen in the mainland U.S.. I have a friend who’s from the area and he had recommended heading up to the north shore. Trusting a local always seems to be the best course of action when visiting a new place. This is where I felt I found the Hawaii that I was looking for. At first i was apprehensive to going. I had no rental car and it was going to take two hours and multiple transfers on TheBus. I figured though, I traveled all this way so I might as well take the chance if this is what I was potentially looking for. I used my maps app on my iPhone to navigate theBus and the transfers. It was easy to navigate, but it was two hours. I woke up early in anticipation of this. Luckily the jetlag was on my side, making it natural for me to wake up by 6am.
I began my journey and the ride was the most scenic bus ride that I have ever taken. The views of the mountains were so beautiful and I loved the view the countryside. I followed along on Google Maps and eventually got to the first stop in Hale’iwa, which is an outdoor shopping center with local shops and restaurants. I explored what the shopping center had to offer and then I started to walk down the road, which was also lined locally owned shops and restaurants. On this walk I had my first shave ice at North Shore Shave Ice. Of course it was great, you really can’t go wrong with fruit syrup and shaved ice, especially on a warm day. The bees loved it too. Again it was a January day and the weather that day was perfect. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it was a dry 80 degrees. In this perfect weather, I continued walking down the street. I saw some local art in galleries and handmade souvenirs in shops.
I walked the length of the road and came upon Hale’iwa Beach Park. When you first get there it looks to be a pretty normal looking stretch of beach, although with a pretty striking view of a mountain off to the side. I walked through the parking lot because it seemed like there was more beach to be found. I walked through the parking lot, past a playground, and into a wooded area where there were tents set up selling surf lessons. I walked up to the shore and could see that the waves were much bigger than what I was used to seeing in New York and Florida. The beach was beautiful. The mountains were in the distance, the water was clear and blue, people were surfing - it was picture-perfect. I kept walking along the shore to see what else I could find.
As I walked I saw up ahead that there was a bend, but I couldn't see around it. I walked around the corner and found miles and miles of beach with only a couple of people in sight. It was so beautiful. The waves were bigger than what I had just seen on the other side of the beach and they just kept rolling in. I stood there hypnotized for a half hour, just staring at them. It was one of the most beautiful views I had ever seen in my life. I stood there and realized that this was the Hawaii I had heard about.
Once I got hungry, I ventured back into the shopping area of Hale’iwa. Now this probably wouldn't have been my first choice, but I saw a lot of signs for “Plate lunch”, which is something I had never heard of before, so I figured while I was in Hawaii I should check it out. I went to FatBoys and had my first plate lunch. It was interesting and I don’t know if I would eat it again. I got chili, rice, a hot dog and mac salad - quite a variety. It didn’t taste that great mixed together, but it was filling. It may have been my first and last plate lunch. It was an original note to end Hale’iwa on.
Bonzai Pipeline
I think I can safely say that this is one of my favorite places in the world and I maybe spent the total of an hour here. I was actually on TheBus on my way back to Waikiki Beach from Hale’iwa and I looked out of my window, maybe only ten minutes away from Hale’iwa, and I see these enormous twenty foot waves on my left hand side. I got off at the next available stop so that I could see these up close and that was the Bonzai Pipeline.
I walked across a small parking lot. I walked down the shore a bit, with miles and miles of it to choose from, and took a seat on the sand. There wasn’t anyone in either direction for about a quarter of a mile and I sat there and watched the biggest waves I have ever seen in my life with one brave surfer continuing to be swallowed by them and then victoriously riding them out. I know it sounds corny, but it was so beautiful and you feel so connected to it, that it makes you want to cry. I’ve never felt that way about a view before. It was incredible. This is one place I know I will return to and feel that everyone should experience at least once.
United Airlines
I flew United from HNL to SFO. The plane was a Boeing 777, which is the largest plane I’ve ever traveled on. The airline does cram as many seats on it as possible and it’s a tight squeeze, especially if you have long legs like me. There were also no TVs at all in the economy seats. A good tip to know before you board is that if you download the United App on your smartphone prior to boarding the aircraft, there are TV shows and movies that are free to watch. Each seat has a charging station to use while you watch. The flight itself was was a morning flight, so they give you an option to purchase a breakfast meal. They also have a beverage service. There were no frills. We took off from HNL without delay and landed to SFO on time and safe.
American Airlines
I flew American from SFO to JFK. There was free TV and movies and a very good selection, if I might add. The plane was an airbus A321, with seating that had decent space. There was a beverage service and we made it to JFK on time and safe.