Airfare

Ideal situation is to have all flights from point A to your final destination on one itinerary, even with different airlines involved.  If there is a delay or cancellation of a flight, the airlines will re-route you.  It may be inconvenient, but you will not incur additional charges.  One itinerary is not always possible and separate tickets may be much less expensive.

If booking separate tickets, make sure you leave enough connection time between flights – this applies to your inter-island flights too.  There’s worse places than HNL for a long layover, but if you have missed your connection (your fault or your arriving airline’s fault), the departing airline will have little sympathy for you.  They will charge you a change fee plus any difference in fare. If you have booked round trip inter-island airfare, make sure you call the airline if you know you will miss the connection, otherwise they may cancel the entire booking including the return leg.

There are four inter-island airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines 

Go! Airlines

Island Air

Mokulele Airlines

Do not wait until the last minute to book your inter-island flights, especially around a long Holiday weekend or all flights may be sold out.  Usually the earlier you book, the less expensive the flight is and you can get your preferred times. 

Join each airlines Flyer Program. 

Sign up for notifications of schedule changes with each airline.

Use On-Line check-in to print your boarding passes and to pay for checked bags.  You can do this 24 hours before your departure.  Some of the airlines are now charging an additional fee for checked bags if not paid on-line.

Carry-On Bags

Each of the 4 inter-island airlines have a different policy on carry-on bags.  If your carry-on is too big, they will make you check it.

Hawaiian – 25 pound limit – 45 linear inches - 9x14x22

Go! Airlines – size limit - 19" x 15" x 11"

Island Air – 16 pound limit

Mokulele Airlines – 20 pound limit – 45 linear inches - - 9x14x22

Checked Bags

Nearly all airlines now charge for your first checked bag, the charge increases with additional bags. Most airlines have a 50 pound limit on checked bags – also a size limit of around 62 linear inches – Hard sided golf bag carriers seem to be an exception on size limit.  Check each airline’s Carriage of Contract for specific information.

Have your checked bags “Inter-lined” to your final destination.  Most all airlines will do this with a few exceptions.  Call each airline to make sure.  Nothing is worse than needing to retrieve your bags and then re-checking them.  Who wants to drag bags through an airport?!?

Bags can be interlined even if you have separate tickets.  DO NOT USE THE AIRLINE KIOSK.  You will need a copy of each reservation or itinerary.  Ask the counter agent or Sky-Cap at curbside to check your bags through to your final destination.  Double check the bag tags. 

As far as baggage fees and different airlines, you will only pay once each way to the accepting carrier (their fee only, not subsequent fees of the other airlines).  As of now, the airlines have no way of accepting baggage fees for other carriers.

 

Car Rental

Sign up for the Loyalty Programs.  You may be able to enter and store information (like license number) needed for the rental paperwork.  Saves you time at the counter. 

 

Alamo has a Kiosk to by-pass the counter.  Also an on-line check-in you can do 24 hours before pickup.  Pick your car and show the paperwork to the agent at the gate.  Another way to save time, however if your Alamo rental rate includes a coupon (even an e-coupon), you can’t do the on-line check-in.

Don’t assume that as a married couple you can both drive the car. The reservation covers only one driver.  A spouse needs to be added as an additional driver.

Avis and Budget do not charge extra for a spouse or domestic partner driver. Any other additional driver is $11.00 per day or $55.00 per rental per driver.

Alamo - only states there MAY be an additional charge. Paperwork and charge is done at the pick-up counter or with on-line check-in.

Hertz – no charge for spouse or domestic partner driver if you sign up for free Hertz # 1 Club. Any other additional driver is $13.00 per day or $65.00 per rental per driver.

Dollar – they charge $10.00 per day for an extra driver, even a spouse.

Thrifty - only states there MAY be an additional charge.

National - only states there MAY be an additional charge.

Costco, Discount Hawaii Car Rental and Hawaii Drive-O offer the additional driver (spouse) at no extra charge. Double check if your additional driver is NOT a spouse to see if they are covered.

Priceline is for one driver only, not even an option to add an additional driver.  The rental charges are pre-paid up-front when you make the reservation.  Additional drivers must be added at the counter.

Book your car rental as soon as you have your flight(s).  There are way fewer cars available than in years past.  There is no up-front charge to reserve a car unless you use Priceline.  A couple of the rental companies are doing a Pre-Pay rate option, however I have never done this.  Booking the car early gives you time to look for coupons, discount codes, etc.  If you find a better deal, go for it, just make sure to remember to modify or cancel the original reservation.

Additional Costs and Packages 

Fuel: Check out local fuel prices and gas station locations on-line before you travel. This should help you decide whether or not to use the car hire pre-pay or end of hire top up services.

Island Arrival

Most of the car rental lots are quite close by shuttle.  If there are two of you, one should wait for the bags and the other take the shuttle to the rental lot.  Much easier than hauling bags on the shuttle van.  If both of you need to be present at the car rental counter, pick the bags up AFTER you have the car.

What to Pack

Unless you are having dinner at one of the high-class restaurants in Honolulu (or maybe Maui) or doing some extensive hiking, you need very little.  T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, cover up dresses, Capri pants and swim suits.  Flip-flops or sandals and a hat. 

Lightweight sweat jacket.  Keep them in the car. 

Zip lock bags.  Pack any liquid, gel (anything that could leak) in bags.  Brings extra bags.

A soft-sided cooler with a shoulder strap & freezer gel packs.  It squashes down easily in the luggage and can double as a carry-on (minus the gel packs).  Most condos will have some sort of cooler for you to use, but this is so easy to carry.

Reef/water shoes.  Can be used for short hikes, muddy or rocky areas.  NEVER WALK ON THE REEF.  If you can’t bring them with you, Walmart has very inexpensive ones.  Keep in the car at all times.

An umbrella.  Keep it in the car, just in case.

A flashlight.  Your accommodations may have one, but if not, get one and keep in the car.  Many of the island roads are VERY dark at night.

Binoculars.  A compact pair may fit in a camera bag.  Put a zip lock bag in your camera bag too.  It will protect your camera from sand or a downpour.  Same for a cell phone.

Small backpack.  Some accommodations may have one to use.  Many of Hawaii’s beaches or scenic areas will require a short hike/walk or scramble over rocks.  It’s much easier to have you stuff in a backpack than trying to hang on to it.

Nylon fanny pack – It can doubles as a purse.  ID, money, cell phone, key, sunscreen etc.  Wear it, carry it or sling it over your shoulder.  Can be used for snorkeling too.

Never leave valuables on the beach unattended.  If both of you want to swim/snorkel, this works:

Aloksak waterproof bags for the camera, cell phone, money, keys.  The bags go into the fanny pack and in the water with.  Not a fashion statement, but valuables stay with you.  Website: http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/bag...

Aquapac is another choice.  If you just need to keep money and keys dry there are several brands of small cases with a neck strap.  Get them at sporting goods stores.

Low cut socks.  Wear them with your fins.  They will keep your toes and heels from being rubbed.  Much cheaper option than dive booties.

A net beach bag.  Easy to shake out. 

Favorite spices if you plan on cooking.  You don’t need entire bottles, just put some in a zip lock bag and label it.

Travel sewing kit. 

Bus

Hawaii's main bus service is called "The Bus" and has a website at  www.thebus.org, telephone 848-5555. It services Oahu and is based in Honolulu.

"TheBus Map and Guide Book" is a useful guide for those wishing to travel around Oahu without a car. It is 70 page handbook filled with suggestions for sightseeing matched to bus routes and includes custom maps. With this tourist focus, it is not a comprehensive guide and does not include route maps or timetables, but instead gives approximate travel time, service frequency and first and last service times, along with step by step hints on buying tickets, disembarking and attaching a bicycle or wheelchair. (Many buses can fit 2 wheelchairs and 2 bicycles).

TheBus Map and Guide Book is available from ABC stores for USD$4.99. The book available in Oct '09 was published in Feb '09 so is generally up-to-date but a fare rise from $2.00 to $2.25 occurred in the meantime.

TheBus schedules and route maps are available free of charge from the Satellite City Hall located in the Ala Moana Shopping Center, the Waikiki library on Kapahulu Ave, McDonalds Kalakaua Ave and Kuhio Ave and ABC Store Kapahulu Ave.

In brief, fares for all services are $2.25 and include one transfer within 2 hours of embarking. Exact change is required.

Bicycle

 Bicycle route maps of Oahu are available. It is possible to supplement a cycling holiday in Oahu with bus travel, as all buses have the capacity to take 2 bicycles (see above).