It Is Nuts In Honolulu

[novaman]

I’m on the second leg of my 2+ week trip. I spent the first week in SoCal and am now in Honolulu and it is crazy here- absolutely packed with people.
We’ve been here for two days and are already exhausted from having to deal with masses of people. Everywhere you go there are long lines.

Hanauma Bay is restricting access so to get in you have to go online at 7 am to try and get one of the coveted tickets to get in 2 days later. These tickets are all gone within the first 2 minutes.

The parking for Diamond Head was completely full when we went at 8:30 am. We were lucky to find parking in an outside lot and walked in, but the trail was absolutely packed with people. You were supposed to wear masks in all tunnels and lookout areas but compliance was probably at 30-40%. And social distancing? Forget about it. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder.

Eating here has been crazy. We waited 40 minutes to eat at the Marugame Udon- the line was down the block. And getting dessert at the Island Vintage shaved ice shack in Waikiki took 1 hour!! This mornings breakfast at the Hula Grill on the beach was a 1.25 hour wait. Even a cup of coffee will require waiting in a line of 30+ people.

My wife and I are hopeful that we will find our Zen moment and get some relaxation this trip but so far it as been anything but relaxing.

 

[W2R]

Unbelievable! I haven't been home to Hawaii in 40 years, and have wonderful memories of laid back, happy times there back in the 1950's-1960's. Surfing with my friends, stringing leis for one another, singing and playing the ukulele down on the beach at sunset.

Sure sounds like things have become busier and more stressful these days. Either that or I am remembering "through rose colored glasses" after all these years. I can't even imagine having to make a reservation to get into Hanauma Bay. We used to go diving or snorkeling there on impulse sometimes back in the day. And an hour's wait for shave ice? Wow.

I suspect that some of this is due to people wanting to get away on vacation after being more or less stuck at home during 2020 and 2021. Maybe it will improve next year, or at least I hope so. New Orleans has had a flood of tourists lately, too, although the crowds are not as bad as what you are describing.

 

[steelyman]

Sounds like the same sort of people that camped out to buy iPhones.

 

[athena53]

And getting dessert at the Island Vintage shaved ice shack in Waikiki took 1 hour!!

Was it worth it? When I was there in November 2019 I saw shaved ice advertised and never tried it.

I spent an overnight in Honolulu and then took UnCruise out of Kona for 7 days- totally different experience.

 

[latexman]

I would hop over to Maui.

Wowie Maui!

 

[ivinsfan]

I would hop over to Maui.

Wowie Maui!

Right and I'm sure Maui isn't crowded at all....

 

[RobbieB]

Lotta pent up demand in there.

 

[audreyh1]

OMG! Sounds like a nightmare.

I suppose things are as bad on the north shore?

 

[Gumby]

I have not been back to Hawaii since we left in 1970. Reports like this convince me that has been a good decision.

 

[Ready]

In another month kids will be back in school and Hawaii will slow down. Even before COVID we never visited the islands over the summer break. Too many families with kids trying to cram a vacation in before school starts.

 

[audreyh1]

I love visiting Hawaii, but I might have to wait a couple more years to return.

P.S. I don’t go to Honolulu.

I do avoid the times when schools are out.

 

[Montecfo]

Was it worth it? When I was there in November 2019 I saw shaved ice advertised and never tried it.

I spent an overnight in Honolulu and then took UnCruise out of Kona for 7 days- totally different experience.

Shave ice is great. It's a snow cone basically.

 

[Montecfo]

I love visiting Hawaii, but I might have to wait a couple more years to return.

P.S. I don’t go to Honolulu.

I do avoid the times when families are vacationing.

Yes during these times you have to choose less obvious targets, especially during summer. That's why we skipped the Virgin Islands this time.

 

[kgtest]

In another month kids will be back in school and Hawaii will slow down. Even before COVID we never visited the islands over the summer break. Too many families with kids trying to cram a vacation in before school starts.

This week and next are the most busy all year, all the sports are kinda in limbo mainland, so a MASS exodus of West coasters flock to the islands...its happened since the 50s...even the beach boys and presley did it.

I learned something after living through the final 2 weeks of August on maui...

Japanese schools have three semesters, separated by vacations. At most schools, summer vacation covers the 40-odd days from July 20 to August 31;

YMMV. You are literally fighting Japan break and US break.

 

[kgtest]

Oh, and I rememeber lines out the door to my favaorite local Ice Cream shop...but the owner could see me in the back of the line and he always sorta just made up my ice cream amd waved me in front of the...wait for it... "Tourists". Kamaʻāina Brudah!

 

[steady saver]

Was it worth it? When I was there in November 2019 I saw shaved ice advertised and never tried it.

I spent an overnight in Honolulu and then took UnCruise out of Kona for 7 days- totally different experience.

I have fond memories of a food truck called The Hula Dog on Waikiki Beach outside of the Ilikai and Hilton Hawaiian Village. Best shaved ice and lunch bowls ever!

My parents got a good deal renting a condo at the Ilikai for a couple of years and DH and kids and I were lucky enough to get to use it for long stretches a few times when they were little. Such happy memories. I know a lot of people are down on Honolulu but it's a special place to us. The Big Island was fine and DH and I went to Kauai ourselves later on and enjoyed it very much, but Waikiki is just a special - maybe also because my parents went there almost every year for 30 years or so until my dad couldn't make the trip anymore. I'm sorry it's so crazy there right now. We always had the benefit of going at off times (and not in the midst of a schizophrenic pandemic)...

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I’m on the second leg of my 2+ week trip. I spent the first week in SoCal and am now in Honolulu and it is crazy here- absolutely packed with people.
We’ve been here for two days and are already exhausted from having to deal with masses of people. Everywhere you go there are long lines.

Hanauma Bay is restricting access so to get in you have to go online at 7 am to try and get one of the coveted tickets to get in 2 days later. These tickets are all gone within the first 2 minutes.

The parking for Diamond Head was completely full when we went at 8:30 am. We were lucky to find parking in an outside lot and walked in, but the trail was absolutely packed with people. You were supposed to wear masks in all tunnels and lookout areas but compliance was probably at 30-40%. And social distancing? Forget about it. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder.

Eating here has been crazy. We waited 40 minutes to eat at the Marugame Udon- the line was down the block. And getting dessert at the Island Vintage shaved ice shack in Waikiki took 1 hour!! This mornings breakfast at the Hula Grill on the beach was a 1.25 hour wait. Even a cup of coffee will require waiting in a line of 30+ people.

My wife and I are hopeful that we will find our Zen moment and get some relaxation this trip but so far it as been anything but relaxing.

I am so sorry to hear this....how miserable.

We have planned to go to Mexico in mid October (usually a very low season) but I am not in favor of traveling right now. Still doing a bit of hurry up and wait but staying home a little longer won't bug me...especially since we got some travel in a couple of months ago.

 

[Bamaman]

My college buddy went to Hawaii in 1977 to surf. And he never returned to the mainland. We stopped by to see him last time we were out there.

He hasn't worn shoes since then--staying in flip flip flops.

The parents had to move to Hawaii to be around their son (from New Jersey.) He's now a 74 year old surfer boy.

He said the other day that gasoline on Oahu is $4.07 per gallon.

 

[novaman]

In another month kids will be back in school and Hawaii will slow down. Even before COVID we never visited the islands over the summer break. Too many families with kids trying to cram a vacation in before school starts.

We normally time these trips to avoid the summer break crowds. But this time my wife decided to piggy back this Hawaii leg onto the end of our trip to SoCal for our nephew’s wedding. She is regretting her decision.

 

[timbervest]

I would hop over to Maui.

Wowie Maui!

The mayor of Maui is basically begging airlines to restrict flights and telling people not to come to the island. No capacity, no cars, no room at restaurants.

 

[novaman]

Was it worth it? When I was there in November 2019 I saw shaved ice advertised and never tried it.



I spent an overnight in Honolulu and then took UnCruise out of Kona for 7 days- totally different experience.

Nah. The shaved ice was not worth the 1 hour wait

 

[Surewhitey]

I am so sorry to hear this....how miserable.

We have planned to go to Mexico in mid October (usually a very low season) but I am not in favor of traveling right now. Still doing a bit of hurry up and wait but staying home a little longer won't bug me...especially since we got some travel in a couple of months ago.

Yeah, we just canceled our trip to Cozumel. Our expat buddy (15 years now) there said it was still not good there. He said they're really not testing much and he suggested that there was a 50% positivity rate on tests given.

We went back in April to Puerto Morelos, so we can wait for better days. Do miss me some blue waters...

 

[latexman]

The mayor of Maui is basically begging airlines to restrict flights and telling people not to come to the island. No capacity, no cars, no room at restaurants.

Yes, and no. Like everywhere else they lack personnel during the ramp-up from pent-up demand. https://apnews.com/article/travel-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-government-and-politics-7b9a147faff1997bb19d65ecbdba1733

Now, as cooped-up mainlanders return in droves, Maui officials are making an unusual plea to airlines: Please don’t bring so many people to our island.

“We don’t have the authority to say stop, but we are asking the powers to be to help us,” Mayor Michael Victorino said at a recent news conference.

But, all else being equal, Maui has never been as crowded as Honolulu.

I would not go to either place right now, but if I was on Honolulu, and I’m not, I’d go to Maui.

Just my $0.02 advice to the OP.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I went to Maui and Hawaii in Jan/Feb 2017. Whale watching in Maui was amazing. Sunrise from Haleakala fantastic. Saw baby and mama whales breaching together. Snorkeling from the shore as well as on a boat trip on the big island, better still. Best, night snorkeling with the manta rays.

Maui’s beach areas were a bit crowded. Kona much less so. Did not hang at the beach, avoiding sunburn. stayed at timeshares and cooked a late breakfast and about half of our dinners, mostly local fish. Noted when the cruise ship was in Kona and spent a quiet day at the resort, reading on the lanai.

Find a way to get away from crowds. In 2002 we spent a week on Oahu. I drove up the east side of the island until I found a small empty beach. DS and I boogie boarded with some local kids.

 

[f35phixer]

i think its crazy everywhere, This is Manarola in Cinque Terra, we stayed a week in lower right house, right on cliff ;-))) It wasn't that crowded when we were the years ago....

I found this while watching this YouTube link. Fun to just watch while doing other stuff at puter.