My best friend has been out there since June, she went to help her dad out (she's from there) for 6 weeks and it's been extended multiple times because of health issues. When she told me she definitely wouldn't be leaving before mid-April, I thought this might be the perfect time to visit. She's always complained that I've never visited her in HI (we've been friends over 30 years, and usually when I had money for travel I'd go to Europe instead of west). A big plus is that her birthday is in the middle of the trip!
We booked a one bedroom suite hotel in Waikiki, and we're going to stay there 5 nights, then one night with her, then we're all going to go to the Big Island for two nights before coming back for one night and then heading home. It's a crazy long flight but I cannot wait. Two months though!!!
The only annoying thing is I had everything ready online and then I kept getting an error - I think it was actually my credit card worried about fraud but I wasn't getting the texts. I had to call American Airlines instead and by booking over the phone I lost a discount from Capital One and 2% cash back from Rakuten. That worked out to like $250!!! 🤬 But it was still a good deal so I'm not too crazy mad about it, just annoyed.
If anyone has been, please share recommendations! So far I think we're going to do an all day tour of the island that includes snorkeling with turtles and a visit to the Dole Plantation and a coffee plantation, and we'll probably visit Pearl Harbor. Otherwise mainly the beach and hanging with my friend.
