Round Trip Hawaii Preparation and Arrival

We have long dreamt of traveling to Hawaii, and now this dream is about to come true. After careful planning, we decide to take time for 4 selected islands. Hawaii consists of many islands, and not all can be visited. We start with Oahu. 

I have never been so excited before a trip. I suspect it has to do with all the factors involved in planning the journey. Ahead of us are several flights and also multiple hotel changes. Unfortunately, camping on the islands is severely limited and not really suitable for 4 people. So we will be staying in vacation rentals.  

To save money on baggage fees, we are traveling with 2 suitcases. A logistical challenge that has given me a lot of headaches. But in the end, we managed to pack everything, and thanks to inflatable neck pillows, we managed to fit all the clothing. 

We are leaving on Thursday to Frankfurt. The train is currently not reliable enough, so we are stress-free arriving the evening before. Due to high temperatures of over 35°C, chaos is everywhere. Our booked train has been rescheduled multiple times and is now delayed by 30 minutes at the Frankfurt station. Now the real ordeal begins. The S-trains only run irregularly, and the ICE trains to the airport are so delayed or canceled that finding a train becomes difficult. We wait nearly 1.5 hours at the station or on a train. After another change of trains, the selected one doesn’t run, and we finally manage a 10-minute ride. Fortunately, checking in our 2 suitcases goes smoothly. After dinner, we continue our short journey to the hotel. After 6 hours, we arrive at our destination. It should have been a 3-hour trip. Good thing we have our flight the next day. The night is uncomfortable; the room is too warm, and the air conditioning isn’t working properly. So, we are awake early but can enjoy a nice breakfast. Then we slowly head to the airport. Everything goes quickly and smoothly. Boarding is called on time, and the first guests board the plane. Then we are told everyone must disembark, and we receive the information that the plane is defective and cannot fly. Unfortunately, Lufthansa cannot find a new plane for us. We are rebooked, and sadly, the flight is only scheduled for the next day. Our overnight stay is in Offenbach. 

Annoying but unavoidable. So we take the S-Bahn to Offenbach. It is now 39°C. After a short ride, the train stops. There is a fire brigade operation in the tunnel, and nothing is moving. We wait initially, but after 45 minutes, we decide to switch to the tram. It is so hot and stuffy there. With public transport, we cannot reach our destination properly, so we take a taxi. Around 6:30 PM, we arrive at the hotel. We have dinner. Fortunately, there is a well-functioning air conditioning system. Only the electricity in the room is a bit erratic. 

The night is better than the previous one. We can sleep well. In the morning, both rooms have completely lost power. It feels somehow cursed. 

Since I cannot complete the check-in for our flight, the Lufthansa chat advises me to approach the airport again. We quickly leave the hotel after breakfast and take the S-Bahn to the airport. 

At the airport, we can quickly resolve the issues and spend the remaining time in a pleasant climate. Our new flight goes via Los Angeles. We are driven by bus to the tarmac and have to wait a bit, and then we finally take off. The fear that something might happen again lurks in the back of our minds. The flight is quiet but long, lasting 11 hours. The seats are cramped and uncomfortable over time. We sit at the very back. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, it takes a long time to get off the plane. Fortunately, we are greeted immediately and receive express tickets for immigration. I have never entered the USA so quickly. The lines are long, but we can go through quickly. Then we collect our luggage to check it back in a few hundred meters later. Now we switch terminals and walk about 10 minutes outside along the building. We quickly pass through security and are at our gate 15 minutes before boarding. Without the express tickets, switching within 2 hours would be impossible. Unfortunately, luck is not on our side, and the plane needs a tire change. We start with a delay of 1 hour. We are tired and sleep for most of the flight. The row of seats in front of us is empty, allowing us to spread out better. David has already fallen asleep at the gate. We have been awake for 20 hours now.

Unfortunately, it is very cold on the plane. 

After a delay of 45 minutes, we finally arrive at our destination, Honolulu. Since we have already entered the USA in Los Angeles, we quickly receive our luggage. The airport is empty and unremarkable. The famous flower leis upon arrival have not been around for decades. Luckily, our car rental is still open, and we receive our Chevrolet. 

René quickly familiarizes himself with the car, and then we are on our way. It is now 11 PM local time, and the streets are clear. Our apartment is located in Waikīkī, a district of Honolulu. To ensure we have food for the first few days, we use a 24-hour supermarket. We are familiar with American prices and also the cheap products. Through a discount system, we can save money. Finally, we reach our accommodation at 1 AM. We are on the 30th floor of the Waikiki Banyan Towers. We quickly set up, have a snack, and then collapse into bed, exhausted.