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Aloha Airlines Flights from Hilo (ITO) to Honolulu (HNL)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Aloha Airlines, which operates 8 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from Hilo (ITO) to Honolulu (HNL), departing between 7:35am and 8:25pm, and one additional non-stop flight regularly scheduled to depart at 6:30am and arrive at 7:17am, everyday except Sunday. Usually a Boeing 737-200 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Hilo, HI to Honolulu, HI is 47 minutes.
During your Honolulu vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona, while moored here in Pearl Harbor, was bombed in a Japanese air raid. The 608-foot battleship sank in 9 minutes without firing a shot, taking 1,177 sailors and Marines to their deaths -- and catapulting the United States into World War II.Nobody who visits the memorial will ever forget it. The deck of the ship lies 6 feet below the surface of the sea. Oil still oozes slowly up from the Arizona's engine room to stain the harbor's calm, blue water; some say the ship still weeps for its lost crew. The memorial is a stark white 184-foot rectangle that spans the sunken hull of the ship; it was designed by Alfred Pries, a German architect interned on Sand Island during the war. It contains the ship's bell, recovered from the wreckage, and a shrine room with the names of the dead carved in stone.Today, free U.S. Navy launches take visitors to the Arizona. Try to arrive early at the visitor center (no later than 1:30pm), operated jointly by the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy, to avoid the huge crowds; waits of 1 to 3 hours are common, and they don't take reservations. While you're waiting for the shuttle to take you out to the ship -- you'll be issued a number and time of departure, which you must pick up yourself -- you can explore the interesting museum's personal mementos, photographs, and historic documents. A moving 20-minute film precedes your trip to the ship. Allow a total of at least 4 hours for your visit.Parents, note that baby strollers, baby carriages, and baby backpacks are not allowed in the theater, on the boat, or on the USS Arizona Memorial. All babies must be carried.One last note: Most unfortunately, the USS Arizona Memorial is a high-theft area -- leave your valuables at the hotel.
Honolulu Zoo
Nobody comes to Hawaii to see an Indian elephant, or African lions and zebras. Right? Wrong. This 43-acre municipal zoo in Waikiki attracts visitors in droves. If you've got kids, allot at least half a day or more. The highlight is the new African Savannah, a 10-acre wild preserve exhibit with more than 40 uncapped African critters roaming around in the open. The zoo also has a rare Hawaiian nene goose, a Hawaiian pig, and mouflon sheep. (Only the goose, an evolved version of the Canadian honker, is considered to be truly Hawaiian; the others are imported from Polynesia, India, and elsewhere.)For a real treat, take the Zoo by Moonlight tour, which offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into the lives of the zoo's nocturnal residents. Tours are offered 2 days before, during, and 2 days after the full moon, from 7 to 9pm; the cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children.
Kualoa Ranch and Activity Club
This once-working ranch now has five different adventure packages covering two dozen activities on its 4,000 acres. Activities include horseback riding, mountain-bike riding, shooting a rifle or a .22-caliber handgun, hiking, dune cycling, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, freshwater fishing, and more. We highly recommend the beach activities. You'll be shuttled to Molii fishpond's outermost bank, which is decked out like a country club: hammocks on the beach, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, Ping-Pong tables, and beach pavilions. From here, you can take a 45-foot catamaran to Kaneohe Bay for snorkeling.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Honolulu area, including:
Ohana Royal Islander
This is about as close as you can get to the beach and still pay budget prices: The sand is just across the street and through the beach access walkway. The elegant lobby of this boutique hotel gives it the look of a luxury hotel. The rooms are small -- don't try to squeeze in a third person -- but decorated in the same tasteful fashion that characterizes all Ohana Hotels. Ask for room 901; it's high enough up for a view of the ocean and the park and, as a corner unit, roomier. You can request coffeemakers from housekeeping, or just bop down to the lobby in the morning, where complimentary coffee awaits. Since the Royal Islander is such a small hotel, it shares some services with the beachfront Outrigger Reef across the street, such as a swimming pool and spillover parking. Dozens of restaurants are within a 5-minute walk.
Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel
This luxury boutique hotel is right across the street from Waikiki Beach. There's a feeling of elegance and charm throughout this intimate place: You step off busy Kalakaua Avenue into a marble-filled lobby with classical music wafting in the background, sprays of flowers everywhere, and a soothing Italian fountain. The staff is attentive to every detail (including twice-daily maid service). The only caveat: The bedrooms are very, very tiny, but tastefully decorated with artwork and antiques (including hand-painted Oriental screens and 18th-c. furnishings). There's no on-site restaurant, but there is a complimentary continental breakfast daily in the lobby. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, a three-course tea service (with different teas, sandwiches, desserts, and more), served on antique china, is presented in the lobby and courtyard.
Waikiki Parc
Terrifically located just 100 yards from the beach, this hotel is for people who want a taste of the Halekulani's elegance, grace, and style but at a more reasonable price. It's tucked just behind the Halekulani and is owned and operated by the same company. The compact, beautifully appointed rooms all have lanais with ocean, mountain, or city views; ceramic-tile floors with plush carpeting; and conversation areas with a writing desk and rattan couch and chair. A nice extra: the adjustable floor-to-ceiling shutters for those who want to sleep in.The Parc features the same level of service that has made the Halekulani famous, and offers two excellent restaurants. On a recent visit, we asked room service for a few items that were not on the menu -- not only did they happily comply, but the manager also checked back later to make sure we got what we wanted.
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