As the summer travel season winds down this Labor Day weekend, many Hawaii visitors prepare for their journey home, as Beat of Hawaii editors did yesterday. While Hawaii is epic for stunning landscapes and the Aloha spirit, the travel experience can often be as unpredictable and, at times, rocky as island adventures and Hawaii roads. From unexpected airport surprises to navigating flights, limited amenities, and delays, here’s what caught us off guard. Handling the unforeseen and making your trip back home as smooth as possible has become an art.
Airport adventures you don’t expect!
Airports in Hawaii and those en route can offer a variety of surprises both during peak travel seasons and at other times. On returning to Honolulu from Papeete, we encountered convoluted navigation and duct-taped carpets for arriving international passengers at HNL. While some days you can breeze through airport security, as we did, other times you may face unexpectedly long lines, whether at the airline’s bag check, TSA, or popular spots like Starbucks, even when security lines are short.
When we left Kauai two weeks ago, we encountered a nearly one-hour wait for the bag check line at Hawaiian Airlines. Just one person screened IDs and luggage at drop-off. TSA was no cakewalk either, and the combined time for both was more than one and a half hours. Even arriving with time to spare was nerve-wracking.
Insights from our travel experience:
Check multiple data sources: Use tools like the MyTSA app for security wait times, but also check the airport’s official website or social media channels for updates on facilities and services.
Arrive early: On Kauai, for example, this becomes even more critical with only one highway and unexpected delays caused by roadwork, tree trimming, and accidents. The adage of arriving far earlier than we think might be needed reduces stress about potentially missed flights. With unpredictable airport conditions, arriving early offers some buffer to handle unexpected delays or changes like surfing a wave.
Pack and double-check essentials: Note to self! Bring all snacks, hand sanitizer, and refillable water bottles. Being prepared with these can help you navigate shortages, limited airport amenities, or in-flight amenities. Hawaiian Airlines only had one food option on the Papeete route, a small meat sandwich, so we were glad to have a vegetarian option we had brought on board.
We also never expected an international airport like Papeete, from which we departed for Hawaii, to have such limited food and supplies after security. That said, there were many choices of everything before security. Kona Airport is another example of limited facilities and no air conditioning like Papeete.
Managing your comfort on long travel days.
Long flights to and from Hawaii, sometimes overnight, can still be uncomfortable, even with premium seating options like extra legroom or business class. Extended travel days can leave you feeling exhausted, especially after navigating multiple flights or layovers, with potential delays at any point along the way.
Tips for Staying Comfortable:
Bring comfort items: Packing the things that provide comfort might include a neck pillow, eye mask, seat cushion, compression socks for longer flights, a blanket, and noise-canceling headphones. Whatever rocks your boat, these make a significant difference on Hawaii flights. Because we packed at the last minute before the outbound flight (note to self – never do that!), we both forgot some of these and wished we had them with us for more comfort, especially the seat cushion for more padding.
We were pleasantly surprised to find pillows and blankets on last night’s flight from Papeete to Honolulu, but that is not always the case.
Staying hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps combat the dry cabin air. Today, the TSA took editor Rob’s refillable bottle due to “passenger error” of not having it fully empty. The choice was to give it up or go back through screening again. That made for an easy decision.
Moving around: Just walking to the back of the plane for water or coffee offered a nice respite from the endless sitting across the Pacific. On the layover in Honolulu, there was a great opportunity to stretch and walk around. That helped reduce stiffness and fatigue after sitting for long periods.
Expect the unexpected with Hawaii travel plans.
Whether it is Hawaii’s rapidly changeable weather, which often impacts travel plans, from sudden rain showers to changes in wind patterns that affect flights or, in our case, ferry services in the South Pacific en route to Hawaii, it’s important to remain flexible and ready for any changes.
Tips for travel flexibility:
Keep a loose itinerary: Plan for potential weather-related changes with backup activities, such as indoor attractions or local dining spots. On Friday, editors went deep ocean snorkeling off Moorea. The water and weather conditions were ideal. Had we waited until Saturday, the forceful seasonal wind would have made those outings impossible.
Monitor updates: Use weather apps and local news to stay current about conditions from surf to weather and more, as well as potential disruptions that may require flexibility.
Consider travel insurance options: Insurance that covers unexpected cancellations, whether for a tour, flight, or other delay, can offer peace of mind and financial protection.
Adapting to limited facilities and resources.
Smaller and less-equipped airports in Hawaii and other places may lack the amenities you’re used to or might expect to find. Being prepared and self-sufficient is key, whether it’s limited food options or other issues.
Preparation:
Research ahead: Of course, we try to know in advance what facilities are available at the airports we’re traveling through. This can help you plan accordingly, but as we just discovered, it isn’t foolproof.
Pack a hygiene kit: Include hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and other products you like and might need. This ensures you’re prepared even if airport facilities fall short, as they did for us.
Bring your snacks: We know this, but it is yet another reminder to self. On Saturday night, we carried more snacks to avoid the stress of finding minimal food options. With 11 hours of transit time from Papeete airport arrival to returning to Kauai, that became even more important.
Turn unpredictable Hawaii travel moments into memorable experiences.
Traveling is as much about embracing the unexpected events as it is about the planned ones. While surprises seem inevitable in today’s travel paradigm, which can sometimes be frustrating, they can also lead to unique experiences and stories worth sharing.
Changing perspectives:
Embrace the adventure: Unexpected changes can lead to discoveries, such as a hidden gem restaurant or an interesting conversation with a fellow traveler.
Stay upbeat: Keeping a flexible and open-minded attitude can turn a potential setback into a highlight of your trip.
Please share your story: Use downtime to reflect on your experiences and consider sharing them with friends, family, or other travelers online. We’d love to hear about your Hawaii travel adventures and misadventures below.
Traveling to and from Hawaii or anywhere these days is an adventure, with planned and unplanned experiences. By preparing for the unexpected and maintaining a flexible attitude when they arise, we can navigate travel surprises and make the journey almost as memorable as a Hawaii destination. Safe travels and we hope to welcome you back to Hawaii again soon!
What were some of your most memorable, quirky travel experiences?
Interestingly, after returning from my latest trip to the islands, I was feeling like I had lost weight, thought that all the hiking had been beneficial. So I weighed myself, turned out it was just that my wallet was empty.
To Ane T who asked about Tahiti. We’ve been 5 times since 1999 and they have never used an insecticide on us or the plane, but we always travel Air France. We have stayed at Intercontinental on Papeete; beautiful hotel, 5 mins from the airport but pricy. Stayed twice on Moorea in airbnb’s that were great. Very friendly, polite people. Food, in both restaurants and grocery stores is on the pricey side because most everything is shipped in. Not much night life but the most relaxing place we have ever been. Would live there if we could
Aloha, thanks for the articles about Tahiti. We are thinking about it.
Can you please talk bout where you stayed and how that was? it would be great to have some first hand info about that. Also, I was told by one person that they spray the passengers and the plane in Tahiti with insecticide. Was this true for you?
Thanks
Ane T
Maui
Hi Ane.
Yes, we’ll be covering it all. Thanks for for asking.
Aloha.
We didn’t get sprayed last February. We stayed at the Intercontinental near PPT both before and after our cruise. Great place with wonderful pools and stunning views of Moorea. Cruising French Polynesia is a great way to see the islands. Would love to stay on Bora Bora or Moorea someday.
Love it, the airport surprises make the journey more memorable. One time, we got serenaded by a ukulele player while we waited for delayed departure from Kona.
On my last trip, TSA confiscated my carefully packed snacks – yogurt in particular. Lesson learned: never assume what is allowed!
yoghurt is liquid and that has been banned long ago
I remember flying into Maui last year and being shocked at how laid-back the airport was compared to the chaos at LAX. But then, bam! A surprise rainstorm and we were stuck on the tarmac for an hour. Hawaii never fails to keep you on your toes!
Here’s a funny one. “Secret Rendezvous” for 2 days. Slinky,sexy tight long dress with slit up the front. Get off plane in 40 mph gusts on tarmac with my “perfect hair” and dress blowing all around me. Don’t find him in airport. Then he grabs my arm from behind, in such a hurry so no one recognises him, grabs the wrong suitcase and we have to go back the next day in my “outfit” looking for it. With all the stress, he ends up with a migraine for the whole “rendezvous”. Talk about embarrassing and disappointing.Thankfully I was young then. But yes, never forgot that trip. Hahaha!!!
Maui has lost the Aloha spirit. Our great Mayor said he would use the Nuclar Option to force owners to rent. The goodwill is gone.. This year I visited Tahiti, Cook Islands and Azores for a new place to stay for 6 months. As a resident I can not imagine the disruption of loosing our only source of income—-Tourists!I If the Mayors plan goes into effect we will have no crowd problems at the airport and we cannot afford the tickets. Then the airlines cut back on flights and raise the price. Time to vote No
Lots of contradictions in your statements when you say “our” Mayor in the same breath than “this year I visited Tahiti, Cook Islands and Azores for a new place to stay for 6 months” then talking about loosing the “only” source of income being tourists as a “resident”. None of it makes any sense. Tourists are not the “only” source of income and you are not a resident if you rent your property for 6 months. The Mayor is trying to protect those who live in Maui full time, especially those who lost their home. I don’t agree 100% with the way he is going about it, but I do know that native Hawaiians don’t have the luxury to look for another 6 months rental in Tahiti.
My spouse and I were traveling from Phoenix to Kona via HA in 2016. Layover in Honolulu. We were at our gate, waiting for our connecting flight. At the gate next to us, there was a 717 parked, and there were some plane parts scattered around the plane on the tarmac, along with one of those 5-gal buckets. I said something about being glad that wasn’t our plane.
Our flight ended up being delayed, and, lo and behold, they changed our gate – to the one with the partially disassembled plane. Parts were gone as was the bucket. Obviously, the plane was put back together correctly as we landed in Kona with no issues.
PPT has to be the worst airport. Unless you are traveling business / first class there’s no air conditioning anywhere including through security where you can wait a very long time to get through. And it’s painfully hot even late night. Only one small snack bar for food and drinks with very few places to sit. You even have to walk outside and up stairs to get to your plane. French Polynesia is an incredible place to visit but it’s painful to go through that airport at the end of the trip.
Years ago, my family of four was flying from Chicago to Maui, with a short connection in Honolulu. When we were in Honolulu waiting for the last leg of the trip, we became increasingly tired and dismayed because there were several announcements made that our final flight was delayed later and later. Of course every bad news announcement ended in “Mahalo” for our patience.
Luckily, as you suggested, we did pack our sense of humor with us… it eventually made us laugh because they were thanking us over and over for the patience that we did Not have.
We eventually got to Maui and enjoyed a wonderful vacation but to this day we will say “Mahalo” to each other when things are all messed up with seemingly no hope for good news, lol!
Mahalo BOH for this article. It has been somewhat challenging on most of my many trips involving both Papeete and Kauai. These tips are good for travel anywhere at anytime and hopefully the articles title doesn’t lead travelers to add another negative to the list when coming here. We need and welcome visitors to our beautiful islands. Please don’t let the constant negativity deter you from coming.
Great travel reminders!
Mahalo😊
Mahalo Editors, great words of advice all should heed. I’m getting ready for a trip to Japan. It’s always fun, and a bit of a mind trip, leaving from our “quaint” Kauai airport and landing in LAX or Tokyo or name any major world airport. Mahalo and a happy Labor day to all.
Hi kauaidoug.
Thanks. Back at you. Happy travels!
Aloha.
Envious of your Papeete trip. Have been 5 times to Moorea since 1999, and the International airport in Papeete is much improved from what it was originally. Always remember a good supply of snacks as meals are often not the quality or choice of food items you would like to eat. Air France meals on flights to Papeete are decidedly French influenced, but you do get 2 meals and snacks on midnight flights from LAX. Hoping there’s no strike in Waikiki when we come late September.
If you are referring to the strikes by hotel employees, that is happening all over the country (major hotel chains only).