Recent news broke about Hawaiian Airlines passengers being stranded for over 16 hours thanks to a damaged fan blade. While the Las Vegas to Honolulu flight was stuck in queue in Sin City, it prompts visitors to ponder what to do during an extended layover at HNL too. As the premier direct shuttle service to and from the airport, we are stepping in to provide you with some tips to getting through a long wait at HNL, whether you prefer to stay in the airport or venture off into Honolulu.
5 Things to do During an Overextended Layover at Honolulu International Airport
1. Eat, Drink, Be Merry
If you’re stuck then you may as well indulge until your heart (and belly!) is content. There are 22 combined (and counting) restaurants and pubs in HNL, which is a lot considering how relatively small the island airport is compared to international counterparts on the mainland. There is no shortage places, all of which are listed here. And if you have time to leave the airport, how does a towering serving of nearby shave ice sound?
2. Get Online and Get Some Work Done
Past visitors will be happy to know that as of June 2018, WiFi is now free and available throughout the entire airport, something that was long overdue. That means you can take full advantage of your layover to get caught up on work. Alternatively, you can spend it uploading your island adventures to Instagram and Facebook. Just remember to give a shout to @honolulu_airport_transfer when you do!
3. Go Shopping
You may need to buy a new carryon for this one because there are some pretty decent shopping options within HNL, running from Burberry to Salvatore Ferragamo and more. However, an overextended layover presents you with the opportunity to leave the airport to explore some of the islands top shopping destinations, many of which are within reasonable proximity to HNL (when using the right DIRECT shuttle service). The top four places to shop (which include direct shuttle rates) near the airport include Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (when the dates align), and Waikele Premium Outlets.
4. Hit the Beach
You may not expect to hear “beach” as an option for airport layovers, but when you’re on the island it’s a very viable alternative. An extended layover gives you the opportunity to dip your toes in the sand and North Pacific sea one more time before you head on to your next destination. Top nearby (when using a direct shuttle) beaches include Ala Moana Beach Park, Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Beach, and Ewa Beach. View more on what do to at each, along with how to get to these destinations. In addition, if you have the time to ride a few waves on your layover, you will want to check out these surf spots in close proximity.
5. Do Some Sightseeing
There’s not a lot to see within the airport, as far as typical sightseeing goes, but with a few hours to kill and a direct shuttle you can certainly head on out to enjoy other attractions near Daniel K. Inouye International. You’ve got the USS Arizona Memorial (number one visitor destination in Hawaii) within 15-25 minutes and the Bishop Museum within 10-15 minutes in addition to the aforementioned shopping hot spots and famous beaches.
Long story short, you have options during a long layover at Honolulu International Airport, but when it comes to how to get there (and back) you only need one – contact Honolulu Airport Transfer today.