London to Hawaii via Los Angeles

Thursday, March 24, 2011
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Day 1

24th March 2011

After travelling for a day; flying for 18 hours with United Airlines and a 3-hour stop-over at Los Angeles, we finally arrived in Oahu, but on the same day as we set off . The flight to LA was fine but the transfer there was a bit of a nightmare. We knew what the drill was and expected to have to queue for a bit. All went well until after we have been through custom and re-checked in our cases. Then all the signs for connecting flights disappear. We managed to find out that the flight to Honolulu was from Gate 76, but there was no sign telling us how to get to Gate 76. It turned out that we had to leave the building and walk to the next Terminal and go through security again. The queue, sorry, line there was a mile long. They seemed to have been short of staffed – in the US, short of staff? – and could only open one security check point. Then came a group of people travelling first class who expected to walk through security without waiting. I suppose one would if one could afford to go 1st class. However, people already queuing were NOT happy. Any tolerance for the inconvenience flew out the window and there was much shouting. The poor chap at security just shook his head and said that the airline should have managed the line better. Luckily one had foreseen the problem and bought a priority pass. Well worth the extra $40 each. We didn't not stick around to find out whether the 1st class passengers jumped the queue.

The hotel we are staying is called Ilikai. Opened in 1964, it is one of the first modern hotel to open on Waikiki and so the building is showing it’s age . Doubtless in a few years, it will be regarded as classic Waikiki architecture. The room is very spacious and clean. We are on the 25th floor with a partial ocean view. The view is partial, not the ocean. By the time we finally arrived It was getting late, so after a quick dinner at a cafe which stays open 24 hours a day, off we went to bed.

Day 2

25th March 2011

After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast of pancakes and omelette (not together) we went exploring Waikiki. How different it all looked in day light ! We didn’t notice all the palm trees last night, nor the pretty flowers. We sauntered along Kalakaua Avenue visiting some of the nice shopping opportunities – some rather posh and others rather tacky, a cross between Bond Street and Blackpool. We also saw the world famous Waikiki beach. The beach itself is not very wide, nor the sand especially white and fine. But it is a very beautiful urban beach and the setting was quite special. We saw a few surfers, but no big waves for them to show off their skills. What is prominent is the large crater Diamond Head - glad to see the guidebook calls it an extinct volcano. We might go exploring up there later.

Comments

Carol Grimshaw
2011-03-26

Hey Guys
Sounds like you are having fun - very jealous. Big hugs xx

Etsuko
2011-03-26

¿Habéis visto muchos turistas japoneses que están huyendo de la catástrofe?

alan-hamish
2011-03-27

Sí, Etsuko, hay muchas turistas japoneses aquí.

Yvonne
2011-03-27

What's the temperature like?

alan-hamish
2011-03-27

About 27 C in the middle of the day with a sea breeze. Some "liquid sunshine" every so often. But it never rains for very long.

Sara
2011-03-28

Disappointed to zoom in and find that the surfer dude was neither Hamish nor Alan. Expect to see suitable surfer photos of both of you before the end of the trip. Enjoy. xxx Sara

2025-02-07

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