Aloha Honolulu – another stop in the Hawaiian Islands

Once again, we packed our suitcase (well, we actually hadn’t unpacked it properly yet... still, everything had to be put away again) and the journey continues. A quick trip to Hilo to the airport, returned the car, and waited for our flight at 12:25 PM with Hawaiian Air to Honolulu.

The airport in Hilo also has more outdoor space than built-up area. We like that; it makes everything so much cozier. You can already tell at the baggage drop-off and in the security area, where people are friendly, not rushed, and everything can take its time. Even in the waiting area, everything is different from what one might expect at European airports. There are no rows of chairs, but comfortable armchairs and couches where you can just sink into.

And off we went. Small plane, but fully booked. From Hilo, you reach the main airport to the world outside of Hawai’i and connect to all flights from Honolulu.

A short flight, as the destination was just three islands away. We flew over Maui, Lanai, and Moloka’i, heading for O’ahu, the island with the capital of the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to look down on the islands below us, as we were sitting on the wrong side of the plane. After just under an hour, we touched down on the runway and arrived at the second destination of our little world trip.

The next step was to pick up our rental car and drive to Waikiki. We checked into our hotel, Aston Waikiki Sunset. Here, we have a suite on the top floor, the 37th floor. Ocean view guaranteed.

Yes, we were amazed when we got to the suite. From the living room and the adjoining bedroom, there are floor-to-ceiling windows with a fantastic view of the Pacific.

But before we could enjoy it for long, we had to pay attention to our booked time slot for the visit to Diamond Head, the landmark of Honolulu and Waikiki. Nowadays, everything requires time scheduling. Spontaneous activities are generally doomed to fail because everything is ticketed, and those who arrive late are punished by life...

The climb up the approximately 230-meter-high mountain, which is actually the rim of a crater, requires good physical condition. It’s always uphill, with long stretches that can only be conquered by many steps. This is interrupted by a passage through a tunnel that has been drilled into the mountain or crater rim. There are small observation platforms for catching your breath along the way.

But once at the top, the “strenuous effort” was rewarded. A beautiful view over all of Waikiki, Waikiki Beach, the mountains, and the city sprawling deep into the mountains. It reminded us of the view from Sugarloaf in Rio over Copacabana.

As we made our way back to the hotel, we were looking forward to the impending sunset over the sea. However, the joy was not quite rewarded, as the sun disappeared behind a high-rise building standing to the side of us before the actual sunset into the sea. Nevertheless, it was still a beautiful light, and next time we will go directly to the beach to experience the sunset in its full splendor.