We finally made it to Hawaii after rescheduling our initial trip from mid-March 2020, when it seemed like the world had shut down. Here are a few things to keep in mind that are a little different.
Getting To Hawaii
Entry into Hawaii requires either an original covid vaccination card or a negative covid PCR test within 72 hours of when your last flight leaves (this is the flight that will land in Hawaii). Hawaii has done a wonderful job outlining all travel details HERE, you will also need the QR code the State of Hawaii provides in that link once all the trip information is submitted. My husband and I are both vaccinated, so that was easy! We made sure to tuck our vaccination cards into our passports. Yes, we took our passports because even though Hawaii is part of the United States, we were required to show our passports before boarding our final flight. The next step was making sure our kiddos could get into Hawaii. We scheduled an appointment at Walgreens online HERE. The website releases new times for the next 2 days in the morning. I made sure to book the appointment first thing Monday morning to get the time slots I wanted for Wednesday afternoon (we flew out Saturday).
At The Airport
One thing that was not mentioned in all of the prep work for getting into Hawaii was the pre-screening at the airport. When we landed at DFW, a very sweet traveler let us know that we needed to go to a different gate for pre-screening. The pre-screening ensured that when we landed in Hawaii, we could get straight to the good stuff! Otherwise, we would have unknowingly landed in Honolulu and then had to wait in a long line for screening. Employees were set up at a closed boarding gate in the airport (in DFW it was B28, if I remember correctly), each person needed to provide their passport, vaccination card or negative test paperwork, as well as, the QR code from the State of Hawaii travel site.
Where To Stay On O’ahu
As we explored the island, we recognized different areas were more suitable to what you hoped to find on your trip to the island. In Honolulu, it was very urban — upscale food, clubs, bars, lots of activities, crowded beach. We stayed in Ko Olina near Kapolei, which was quieter, spacious lagoon for each of the lodgings along the beach. In North Shore, the vibe was more coastal and the beaches were definitely geared more towards the more experienced swimmer/surfer.
Getting Around The Island
First and biggest tip is to take your vaccination card everywhere with you! Vaccination or negative covid test is required to order from the bar, sit at restaurants, go to a fitness center, enter a museum. Seriously, you don’t want to forget these in the hotel room!!!
Dole Plantation
Get here early, as close to when they first open as you can for several reasons. Most everything is outside in the hot sun without a beach to cool off. Make sure you wear your sunscreen! Second, this was a very popular destination and the lines get long. Bonus extra tip — you can buy tickets for all the attractions at any ticket kiosk. We bought tickets at the maze kiosk and hopped right in the front of the line for the train. Also, go on the train first, this line gets very long and stays long, in the hot sun. The indoor gift shop is so much more than a gift shop. As you wander towards the back of the building, there are local artisans with handmade wares. On the back side of the building is where you can buy sandwiches and a few other simple food items, but most importantly, it’s where you get the frozen whipped pineapple. Absolutely divine! Make sure you eat it all before you get on the train or else you will have to throw it away.
North Shore
If you want shopping and good quick food options (not chains), North Shore is the place to go. On the south side towards the round-about is a food truck parking lot. Local artist shops are just north of the food trucks. We browsed stunning art galleries, snacked on scrumptious gelato, and found locally made items (the Tini Manini shop that screen printed their shirts right upstairs!). We grabbed ceviche and tacos at Jorge’s and the waitress pointed us towards Haleiwa and the Surf N Sea, as well as, a locally owned shop across the street, Rainbow Bridge, that has been there for over 3 decades. Make sure to follow any random signs that advertise pottery for sale, it led us to some beautiful wares and the potter told us about an old sugar cane mill turned coffee roasting and chocolatery — Old Sugar Mill Waialua Coffee. The sugar mill was tucked into a little spot with a surf shop and soap factory, but the mill gift shop was the jackpot for souvenir trinket shopping. Pictured is Sunset Beach — fun waves and awesome place to watch surfers!
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