The Hawaiian Islands consist of 4 main islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island. The name Hawai’i means “the home of the gods” in Hawaiian. The tropical climate of the Hawaiian Islands has two seasons: the rainy season (October to April) and the dry season (May to September). The water temperature hovers around a pleasant 25°C. Just like the more southern Easter Island, the Hawaiian Islands hold the title of being the most distant islands from the nearest mainland on Earth. Our expedition is planned in three parts, visiting two islands in the following order: Oahu (5 nights) – Big Island (8 nights) – Oahu (5 nights). Oahu is the most famous and most visited island. One only needs to mention the renowned Waikiki Beach, the modern capital city of Honolulu with skyscrapers, or the historically significant Pearl Harbor. Adding to all of this, the beautiful Hanauma Bay and the stunning Kailua Beach with white sand and azure waters. A true paradise on Earth.
Contents
Day 1 – 30-hour journey to the other side of the globe
Day 2 – Getting to know Honolulu
Day 3 – Pearl Harbor
Day 4 – Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach
Day 5 – Kailua Beach and Diamond Head
TIP: Before entering the USA, you must obtain electronic visas, a biometric passport, and an international driver’s license for driving.
30-hour journey to the other side of the globe
At around 4 o’clock in the morning, we arrived at the airport in Budapest by car. We dropped off our luggage and the next time we should see it will be in Los Angeles. The flight from Budapest to Paris went smoothly and on time. Our biggest concern was the transfer at Charles De Gaulle airport to move from terminal 2D to 2E. It was fairly well signposted, but we had to go through security check for carry-on luggage again in 2E, which delayed us quite a bit. The next leg of the journey was by tram. The whole transfer took a little over half an hour, and we breathed a sigh of relief when we saw a long queue at the gate. The transatlantic flight followed, with an endless journey ahead. We had complete meals twice and drinks practically unlimited.
TIP: The wine bottles may be only 0.375ml, but you can get drunk very quickly from them 🙂
Everyone had their own small LCD screen where we passed the time watching movies, series, listening to music, or checking flight information. Additionally, we had a blanket, a small pillow for the neck,…
TIP: It’s worth taking the blanket; you don’t have to ruin a towel on the beaches, and sand comes off it easier 🙂
We didn’t sit together at all on the plane, so we visited each other from time to time; sitting in one position for a long time was tough. The flight went smoothly, no turbulence. After 10 hours, we finally arrived in Los Angeles and eagerly awaited to see if our luggage would appear. Air France reportedly loses luggage quite often. So, we had the most essential items in our backpacks. The luggage arrived intact, so we didn’t need to shop for new things. It took us a while at Los Angeles airport to find the departure terminal. We had to go outside the building and navigate through the parking lots. The flight to Honolulu was operated by Delta Airlines. We had a red blanket, a pillow, and some light refreshments. We landed in Honolulu just before 8 o’clock their time. It was still the same day, even though 24 hours had passed in reality.
TIP: The time difference in Honolulu is 12 hours.
We moved from the airport by shuttle bus because a regular bus wouldn’t accommodate all our luggage. The driver waited until a few people gathered, planned the route, and dropped each of us directly in front of the hotel. We even had a kind of professional guide; I don’t know if they get paid for it, but he told us stories and bits of history throughout the journey. We’re here at 431 Nohonani Street, at our hotel White Sands. We booked our accommodation on Hostelworld as Waikiki Backpackers Penthouse, but they must have a few rooms rented in this hotel. In the adjacent building, there was a common room where we went for breakfast, but more about that the next day. Exhausted, we fell asleep like babies; it was an endless day 🙂
Getting to Know Honolulu
We are managing the jet lag relatively well. We are heading to the common kitchen and are looking forward to what they will serve us. Breakfast was included in the price. On the table, there was toast bread, eggs, butter, and jam. We are making scrambled eggs and toast with butter. At first, it was quite edible, but after five days, it was more than enough. Moreover, we were accused of eating a lot of eggs on the first day 😀 Who would have known that it was rationed and everyone only gets two. So we loaded up on the first breakfast while we could. There were people staying from different corners of the world, mostly young. The worst part was washing the dishes afterward, so we took turns with Tomáš, and Danielita made scrambled eggs. The sky is cloudy, so we hoped it would improve. We head to Waikiki Beach. It was just two streets away from our hotel. Even though it’s cloudy, it’s pleasantly warm, and we go straight in our swimsuits. We walk through Dukes Lane, where there were plenty of souvenir shops, and then further down the main road. We turn towards the beach at Honolulu Police among the surfboards. A dazzling yellow sand, a narrow strip of beach, a panorama of skyscrapers and volcanoes, yes, that’s the world-famous Waikiki Beach. Waikiki Beach is connected to Kuhio Beach, and that’s where our first steps were headed. They are two boxes separated from the ocean by rocks. Ideal for a swim or for families with children. Surfers were having fun on the waves, and there were so many of them that you couldn’t count them all with your fingers. We frolicked in the water, then it was time for acrobatics and writing in the sand. Around lunchtime, we head back through the park and stop by the Duke Kahanamoku Statue.
It started to drizzle a little, so we took out our raincoats. Next on the agenda is a visit to the Honolulu Zoo.. It is a relatively small zoo but very nicely done with well-utilized space. You can see birds, reptiles, mammals as well as very nice flora and trees here. We are heading back home past Waikiki. Today we also wanted to visit Diamond Head, but due to the rainy weather, we gave up on that. Moreover, a passing police officer told us that we wouldn’t make it in time, as it’s only open until five.
TIP: People are very talkative and happy to give advice.
We are going to bed a bit earlier in the evening, considering the time difference.
Pearl Harbor
Toast and our everyday fried eggs, a breakfast as it should be. We pack up and take bus No. 20 to Pearl Harbor. Riding on an American bus is quite an experience, even though it stopped at every corner. Prepare for a freezing winter, as the wind blows from all directions.
TIP: It’s good to have a sweater with you in case it gets cold on the bus.
Personally, I liked the bell-pulling instead of a button. There is a string along the windows, you just pull it and you immediately hear “STOP requested” 🙂 This bus also goes through the airport, which would make it shorter with the 42, but that was not available for us. After a little over half an hour, we arrive at Pearl Harbor. We had to leave our backpacks and bags in the cloakroom. Then they let us into the area. First, we visited the USS Arizona Memorial, a memorial to the sunken ship. You should come early as it’s timed entry. We managed to get the eleven o’clock slot and passed the time with a tour of the mini-museum and souvenir shop.
TIP: USS Arizona Memorial is free, but there is an admission fee for other attractions.
Before the boat trip, you will first watch an introductory video about the history. Then you will proceed to the actual boat ride to the memorial above the sunken ship. A large white board lists the fallen soldiers from the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The funnels of the sunken ship protrude slightly above the waterline, and around them, we even saw oil stains.
The weather is rainy again, and we hope it will improve while we explore the museums. We continue our tour with a visit to the Pacific Aviation Museum. They provide a bus service at regular intervals to transport you directly to the museum as Ford Island is still a military base and not freely accessible. The first hall displays a few exhibits from World War II, with a historical focus. The second hall is the actual aircraft hangar, showcasing machines that were recently used in military missions. Outside, some Air Force fighter jets were parked.
The bus took us back and we decided to visit the submarine USS Bowfin. We’re saving the warship Missouri for the end of the trip because we’ve already done plenty of walking today. On our way back, we stop at Ala Moana Beach. The water is almost always calm because the beach is protected by an outer reef. It’s an ideal spot for a nice swim after a busy day. We enjoy a lovely dinner at a restaurant and take a stroll through downtown Honolulu in the evening.
Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach
In the morning, we take bus number 22 to Hanauma Bay. It is an amazing bay and a natural reserve where around 400 species of fish live. There is an entrance fee and before entering, you must watch a short video. It’s mainly about how to behave towards the fish and not to step on the corals 🙂 There are also designated areas where you can move around.
TIP: Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays for fish feeding, so don’t miss out unnecessarily.
Hanauma is an ideal place for snorkeling. It was my first experience ever, and at the beginning, I was more sinking than swimming 🙂 Undoubtedly, the coral world is something fascinating, and more experienced ones even saw turtles. The beautiful golden sand just added to the perfect impression. There was no shortage of animals; pigeons kept running around us on the mat, and we even saw a rooster there.
In the afternoon, we move by bus to Sandy Beach. It is mainly a surfers’ beach, and finally, we had the opportunity to have fun in the waves. A short distance from this beach is an outlook and a place in the rocks called Halona Blowhole, where water shoots up like a geyser. Additionally, there is a hidden magical beach called Halona Beach Cove. Even though we fulfilled the program for today, the bus transfers took us quite a lot of time. We can’t wait to have the rented car.
Kailua Beach and Diamond Head
Today we are exploring the eastern coast and the beach Kailua Beach. It is among the most beautiful American beaches according to the ratings of Stephen Leatherman. We take bus number 57 and go to see it with our own eyes. We had to walk a bit from the bus stop. The streets were quiet and everywhere typical American houses with typical mailboxes. We felt like in the countryside. And then it came. A beautiful beach with white sand, azure water, and little islands in the background. We set up our things and are going to rent a kayak from a nearby rental shop.
The kayak was for two people for 4 hours and at a quite reasonable price. Before taking it, we had to watch a safety video, but why not 🙂
TIP: Don’t forget to rent a dry bag so you can bring your phone and documents.
We load our yellow kayak onto the cart and head back to the beach. We put on our life jackets, and the first crew consisting of Juro and Tomáš sets off for Popoia Island State Bird Sanctuary. Each has their paddle, and it must be said it was quite a workout, the island could have been about 800m away. While paddling, we spotted something and started following it. After about five minutes, a large sea turtle emerged from the water. It was an amazing experience; we started quickly diving with it before it swam away. We parked the kayak and went for a little walk on the island. The surface is made up of very sharp rocks, so you’ll appreciate it if you also brought water shoes. From the island, there is a view of two other islands Na Mokulua, which are the closest to Lanikai Beach.
The second crew consisting of Danielita and Tomáš went on a shorter circuit. Weather slowly started to push us, it got cloudy again and looked like rain. We packed our things and headed to the bus stop. While driving in the bus, it started raining quite heavily. A rather awkward situation occurred when we were talking about a nice girl sitting next to us. In the end, it turned out she has ancestors somewhere in the Czech Republic and actually understood us pretty well 🙂 Who would have thought! Later on, Tomáš preferred to keep a low profile for the rest of the journey. We got off at the Diamond Head crater. At first, we thought we wouldn’t make it on time, but the taxi driver took us right to the entrance gate. The last entry is at 4:30 PM as the park closes at 6 PM. The hike is about 1.2 km long with an elevation gain of 170 meters. The path leads along a stone sidewalk, then comes the switchbacks, and finally two tunnels and stairs. The view of Honolulu is amazing.
TIP: The view from the nearby platform is worth breaking the ban for.
The whole circuit took us about an hour with a faster pace. On the way back, a very kind taxi driver took us right to the hotel. He even left us a note with his message that we are all brothers and sisters.
