image: courtesy of @honolulucitylights
Do you have a layover for an inter-island flight this December and have a few hours to kill at Honolulu International Airport? Or are you coming off of an early AM flight and need to bide some time before checking into your Waikiki Beach hotel? While we have listed great shopping, sports bars, tiki bars, coffee shops, and even shave ice near HNL, if landing during the Holiday season we encourage you to check out another destination – Honolulu Hale.
Honolulu Hale is the official seat of government of the city and county, site of the chambers of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council. That’s the boring definition. During the Holidays however, Honolulu Hale becomes the North Pole of the North Pacific. Every year the City and County of Honolulu in partnership with the “Friends of Honolulu City Lights” puts on a magical month long Christmas lights and decorations display. After being sidelined during 2020, the event is back and anticipated to be bigger, brighter, and better than ever before.
How are you to get there from HNL with limited time to spare? Let’s review.
Best Way to Get from Honolulu International Airport to Honolulu City Lights
Take a Direct, Private, Flat-Rate Shuttle
There is no designated shared shuttle service to Honolulu Hale and the City Lights event being offered from the airport. This leaves you with a few other options. You can’t take TheBus with luggage, nor will you have time on a layover if you could, considering how many stops it makes. An Uber or Lyft for all of your passengers and luggage will only work if you take an XL, which increases the cost so much that you won’t have anything left over for stocking stuffers. The same (cost) is true for traditional taxis, not that you’d want to hop into a rundown jalopy to visit one of the most beautiful Christmas displays in the world. Come to think of it, no one even uses old-school taxis in Honolulu anymore. And we don’t know if you’ve heard about what is happening with car rental prices and availability from HNL this year, but you do not want to waste valuable time and money having to find an airport car rental.
So what’s left? Thankfully, the best possible option. Honolulu Airport Transfer is happy to introduce our direct and private airport shuttle service to Honolulu Hale. Through the month of December (and beyond) we can pick you and your party up from HNL baggage claim and take you direct to the Honolulu City Lights display. We can drop you off, which means that you only pay a very affordable flat-rate of just $28 for your party (up to four) and all luggage. If on a layover we can come back (at a designated time) and take you back to HNL for the same low rate (additional $28). Alternatively, we can treat the expedition as we would for a custom island tour package. In this case, we pick you and your party up from HNL, and you tell us (in advance) how long you want to stay and enjoy Honolulu Hale. When done, we will return at the designated time and then whisk you off to your hotel for check-in. And yes, we will safely keep your luggage for you so that you can enjoy the event without having to carry a thing. The rate for the custom experience is just $60/hr for up to four passengers. This is great way to arrive on the island and check a “must do” activity off of your list during the Holiday season on Oahu. If you have any questions, just call us to ask!
All you need to do is give us 24-hours notice. Once booked, we’ll pick you and your party up from the airport and take you directly to Honolulu City Lights. Call us at 1.800.929.1219 or complete the form found here.