{"id":7729,"date":"2023-01-18T22:59:34","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T14:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=7729"},"modified":"2023-09-13T12:46:33","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T04:46:33","slug":"20230118flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 of 2023 Trip to Hawaii, Diamond Head, and Flight to Maui"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Third (and fourth) day of my January 2023 trip to Hawaii. My friend and I spent the morning visiting Diamond Head Crater, before hopping onto an afternoon flight to the island of Maui. (For the fourth day, I had a crash course on paddleboard surfing, before a mechanic issue with the rental car ruined the remainder of the day.)<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5159.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5159.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki from Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Waikiki from Diamond Head<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n    var secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n   \t fixedWidth:90,height:144,gap:9,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:63,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:70,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:40,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-5', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-major-5', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider5.sync( secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-6', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-major-6', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider6.sync( secondarySlider6 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-7', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-major-7', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider7.sync( secondarySlider7 ).mount();\n    var secondarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-8', {\n   \t fixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n   \t focus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n   \t cover:true,isNavigation:true,\n   \t breakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n    } ).mount();\n    var primarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-major-8', {\n   \t type:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n    } );\n    primarySlider8.sync( secondarySlider8 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Our final few hours on the island of Oahu. Originally, I planned to spend the morning relaxing either in the hotel hot tub or on the Waikiki Beach across the street (after my early morning video meeting with people on the east coast, during which I watched morning sun lighting up Waikiki Beach from darkness). But since we were turned back from Diamond Head Crater two days ago without reservation, I had to cut my time in the hot tub short, and left the hotel for Diamond Head at 10am.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Diamond_Head\">Diamond Head<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone on the coast of Oahu. Visible from much of Honolulu, it&#8217;s the defining backdrop of the city&#8217;s skyline.<br \/>\nIn the early 20th century Diamond Head was used as a military base, nowadays much of the infrastructure near its summit, in the form of bunkers and stairs, were remnants of the military era. Its summit offered spectacular views overlooking the skyscrapers of downtown Honolulu.<\/p>\n<p>The summit of Diamond Head was reached via a 3.1km out-and-back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/hawaii\/oahu\/diamond-head-leahi-summit-trail\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trail(AllTrails link)<\/a> with 160m elevation gain. A majority of the trail had no shade, and it felt pretty hot under tropical sun even in January.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5143C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5143C11.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs to the Summit of Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><\/br>Stairs to the Summit of Diamond Head<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the bottom of the crater not long after we started the hike.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5145.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5145.jpg\" width=\"95%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The trail to the summit of Diamond Head wraps around this valley. In the background, Ko&#8217;olau Range was like the fin of a dinosaur, rising above the hills before it.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5146.jpg\" alt=\"Helicopters in Flight\" \/><\/a><\/br>Helicopters in Flight<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Likely from one of the many military bases in the island.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5152.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Koko Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Koko Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The tunnel that provided access to Diamond Head in the lower-left of this photo.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_111441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_111441.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5156.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5156.jpg\" alt=\"Diamond Head Lighthouse along Coast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Diamond Head Lighthouse along Coast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lovely waves from the ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_111821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_111821.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Bunker Interior\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bunker Interior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5143C11.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs to the Summit of Diamond Head\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5145.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5146.jpg\" alt=\"Helicopters in Flight\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5152.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Koko Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_111441.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5156.jpg\" alt=\"Diamond Head Lighthouse along Coast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_111821.jpg\" alt=\"Bunker Interior\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5143C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5143C11.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs to the Summit of Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Stairs to the Summit of Diamond Head<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken from the bottom of the crater not long after we started the hike.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5145.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5145.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The trail to the summit of Diamond Head wraps around this valley. In the background, Ko&#8217;olau Range was like the fin of a dinosaur, rising above the hills before it.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5146.jpg\" alt=\"Helicopters in Flight\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Helicopters in Flight<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Likely from one of the many military bases in the island.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5152.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Koko Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Koko Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The tunnel that provided access to Diamond Head in the lower-left of this photo.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_111441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_111441.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5156.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5156.jpg\" alt=\"Diamond Head Lighthouse along Coast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Diamond Head Lighthouse along Coast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lovely waves from the ocean.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_111821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_111821.jpg\" alt=\"Bunker Interior\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bunker Interior<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The trail saw heavy traffic, but was well-maintained. Towards its end there were some stairs (p1 below), which was followed by a tunnel (p2), presumably from the military era. After the tunnel the trail formed a small loop, we followed the crowd and turned left towards the summit. From the bunker at the summit, there were more stairs (p3-p5 below), finishing the loop.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_110639.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_110639.jpg\" width=\"90%\" alt=\"Stairs before Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Stairs before Tunnel<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5147C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5147C9.jpg\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Tunnel<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5186.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5186.jpg\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Spiral Stairs from Bunker<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5187.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5187.jpg\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"Looking Up at Spiral Stairs in Bunker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking Up at Spiral Stairs in Bunker<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5150.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5150.jpg\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Stairs from Bunker<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_110639.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs before Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5147C9.jpg\" alt=\"Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5186.jpg\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5187.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Up at Spiral Stairs in Bunker\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5150.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_110639.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_110639.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs before Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Stairs before Tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5147C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5147C9.jpg\" alt=\"Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5186.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5186.jpg\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Spiral Stairs from Bunker<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5187.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5187.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Up at Spiral Stairs in Bunker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking Up at Spiral Stairs in Bunker<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5150.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5150.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs from Bunker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Stairs from Bunker<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>It took us about 45 minutes of decent physical efforts to reach the top. After that, we had a feast of the views, with skyscrapers of Honolulu gorgeously lit by the morning sun.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5158.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki from Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><\/br>Waikiki from Diamond Head<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_113132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_113132.jpg\" width=\"89.02%\" alt=\"Bunker on ridge of Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bunker on ridge of Diamond Head<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_112550.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_112550.jpg\" width=\"89.02%\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5173.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5173.jpg\" alt=\"Oahu Coastline to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Oahu Coastline to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5160.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5160.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki Beach\" \/><\/a><\/br>Waikiki Beach<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5162.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5162.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Ala Moana Beach\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ala Moana Beach<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Honolulu Airport in the distant background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5161.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5161.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Waikiki\" \/><\/a><\/br>Skyscrapers of Waikiki<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5158.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki from Diamond Head\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_113132.jpg\" alt=\"Bunker on ridge of Diamond Head\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_112550.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5173.jpg\" alt=\"Oahu Coastline to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5160.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki Beach\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5162.jpg\" alt=\"Ala Moana Beach\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_5161.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Waikiki\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the Summit of Diamond Head.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5158.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki from Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Waikiki from Diamond Head<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_113132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_113132.jpg\" alt=\"Bunker on ridge of Diamond Head\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bunker on ridge of Diamond Head<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_112550.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_112550.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5173.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5173.jpg\" alt=\"Oahu Coastline to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Oahu Coastline to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5160.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5160.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki Beach\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Waikiki Beach<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5162.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5162.jpg\" alt=\"Ala Moana Beach\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ala Moana Beach<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Honolulu Airport in the distant background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5161.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5161.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Waikiki\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Skyscrapers of Waikiki<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/DSC_5163_DSC_5172-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/DSC_5163_DSC_5172-10.jpg\" alt=\"View from Diamond Head Summit\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Diamond Head Summit<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The summit of Diamond Head was a former military bunker. It took a few steps of duck walk to enter the bunker <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(last photo of the first slideshow)<\/span>, and frankly, there&#8217;s not much to see inside.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, we got back to the parking lot at noon, after which we headed straight to the airport for our flight to Maui at 2:55pm.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Southwest_Flight_WN1048_from_Honolulu_to_Kahului\">Southwest Flight WN1048 from Honolulu to Kahului<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After returning the rental car, we arrived at the airport a good 2 hours before our flight. There&#8217;s not much wait for security, so I figured we should have enough time to check out the Plumeria Lounge, a lounge operated by Hawaiian Airlines that participated in PPS.<br \/>\nIt turned out that Hawaiian Airlines had two lounges in Honolulu Airport, I accidentally tried out and was turned away from the more obvious, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uponarriving.com\/plumeria-premier-lounges-hnl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arguably inferior<\/a> Premier Club first. It&#8217;s a bit weird that PPS offered access to the better lounge in the Hawaiian Airlines network.<br \/>\nA (very friendly) receptionist at the Plumeria Lounge manually seated all the guests (otherwise the lounge wouldn&#8217;t be able to accommodate the number of visitors). That also meant there&#8217;s a line to enter the lounge since it took time for the receptionist to designate seats and introduce the rules and amenities.<br \/>\nIt turned out that the Plumeria Lounge was a mediocre domestic US PPS lounge, at best. The number of guests meant the seats and tables were hardly clean, the food offering was underwhelming (p3 below), and there was hardly anything remarkable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_125234.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_125234.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"United Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/a><\/br>United Airlines Check-in Counters<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The background art in blue matched well to the airline\u2019s color.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_125425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_125425.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southwest Airlines Check-in Counters<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For southwest, the background art changed to fiery orange.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_133812C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_133812C9.jpg\" width=\"98%\" alt=\"Food at The Plumeria Lounge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Food at The Plumeria Lounge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This photo showed pretty much all the food offerings in this lounge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141317.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141317.jpg\" alt=\"Japan Airlines B788 (JA836J)\" \/><\/a><\/br>Japan Airlines B788 (JA836J)<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141321C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141321C9.jpg\" alt=\"American Airlines B789\" \/><\/a><\/br>American Airlines B789<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141325.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141325.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Fleet at Terminal E\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southwest Airlines Fleet at Terminal E<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Southwest had a pretty decent presence in Hawaii.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_125234.jpg\" alt=\"United Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_125425.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_133812C9.jpg\" alt=\"Food at The Plumeria Lounge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141317.jpg\" alt=\"Japan Airlines B788 (JA836J)\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141321C9.jpg\" alt=\"American Airlines B789\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141325.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Fleet at Terminal E\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_125234.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_125234.jpg\" alt=\"United Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>United Airlines Check-in Counters<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The background art in blue matched well to the airline\u2019s color.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_125425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_125425.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Check-in Counters\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southwest Airlines Check-in Counters<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For southwest, the background art changed to fiery orange.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_133812C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_133812C9.jpg\" alt=\"Food at The Plumeria Lounge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Food at The Plumeria Lounge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This photo showed pretty much all the food offerings in this lounge.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141317.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141317.jpg\" alt=\"Japan Airlines B788 (JA836J)\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Japan Airlines B788 (JA836J)<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141321C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141321C9.jpg\" alt=\"American Airlines B789\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>American Airlines B789<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141325.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141325.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Fleet at Terminal E\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southwest Airlines Fleet at Terminal E<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Southwest had a pretty decent presence in Hawaii.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, we stayed just under half an hour at the lounge, before heading to our gate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141812.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal E Interior\" \/><\/a><\/br>Terminal E Interior<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141347.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"C.B. Lansing Memorial Garden\" \/><\/a><\/br>C.B. Lansing Memorial Garden<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Honolulu Airport was known for this open-air garden for travelers to unwind.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141836.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/a><\/br>Gate Decorations<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It was only a few days to Chinese New Year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141931C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141931C9.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/a><\/br>Gate Decorations<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Towards the right of the agent stand, more Chinese New Year decorations waiting to be unpacked. Along the wall, Christmas decorations that was just packed up.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_143037C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_143037C9.jpg\" width=\"98%\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines B38M (N8718Q)\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southwest Airlines B38M (N8718Q)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My plane to Kahului. This would be my first time flying 737 Max.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_145531.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_145531.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Seats onboard Southwest Airlines B38M\" \/><\/a><\/br>Seats onboard Southwest Airlines B38M<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Definitely not properly cleaned.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141812.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal E Interior\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141347.jpg\" alt=\"C.B. Lansing Memorial Garden\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141836.jpg\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_141931C9.jpg\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_143037C9.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines B38M (N8718Q)\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_145531.jpg\" alt=\"Seats onboard Southwest Airlines B38M\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141812.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal E Interior\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Terminal E Interior<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141347.jpg\" alt=\"C.B. Lansing Memorial Garden\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>C.B. Lansing Memorial Garden<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Honolulu Airport was known for this open-air garden for travelers to unwind.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141836.jpg\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Gate Decorations<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It was only a few days to Chinese New Year.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_141931C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_141931C9.jpg\" alt=\"Gate Decorations\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Gate Decorations<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Towards the right of the agent stand, more Chinese New Year decorations waiting to be unpacked. Along the wall, Christmas decorations that was just packed up.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_143037C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_143037C9.jpg\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines B38M (N8718Q)\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southwest Airlines B38M (N8718Q)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My plane to Kahului. This would be my first time flying 737 Max.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_145531.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_145531.jpg\" alt=\"Seats onboard Southwest Airlines B38M\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Seats onboard Southwest Airlines B38M<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Definitely not properly cleaned.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Since launching Hawaii service in 2019, Southwest Airlines has engaged in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaiinewsnow.com\/2022\/09\/17\/another-inter-island-fare-war-takes-off-between-hawaiian-southwest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">price war<\/a> with Hawaiian Airlines on inter-island flights: throughout much of 2022 and into early 2023, most (if not all) of Hawaii inter-island flights were priced at 39 dollars with Southwest, including the flight I was about to take. I fathomed that before Southwest, Hawaiian Airlines had a proper fleet of Boeing 717&#8217;s to meet the demand of inter-island travel; with Southwest&#8217;s entry, the inter-island market became over-supplied, as Hawaiian&#8217;s 717&#8217;s were of no use on other routes.<br \/>\nAs a result, there were only ~70 passengers for a plane with 175 seats, and I got an entire row to myself.<br \/>\nIn addition, at only 101 miles, this would be the shortest flight that I had taken so far.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest Airlines 1048<br \/>\nHonolulu, HI (HNL) &#8211; Kahului, HI (OGG)<br \/>\nBoeing 737 Max 8 (N8718Q)<br \/>\nSeat 9A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 2:55pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 3:21pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 3:40pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t &#8211; 3:45pm<br \/>\n24 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=146916538&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Since it&#8217;s such a short flight, I used my GoPro to record the flight in its entirety. Here\u2019s the video:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-a3Ohu1lzMA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nTo keep viewers from getting bored of watching clouds, the video was sped up between 4:35 and 9:32, together with a few short holds on the ground. As a result, it\u2019s 14 minutes and 39 seconds.<br \/>\nIf one doesn\u2019t like the ads on YouTube, below is the same video hosted on my server:<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/GX010375_9276.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/WN_2160p30_H265_13Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">2160p30fps, H265 only, 13Mbps\/1.46GB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I sat on the left side of the plane, that meant after takeoff, I was treated with the stunning views of downtown Honolulu, and the few craters on the island of Oahu.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_151545.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_151545.jpg\" alt=\"Taxiway Maintenance\" \/><\/a><\/br>Taxiway Maintenance<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_151722C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_151722C9.jpg\" width=\"98%\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Skyscrapers of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A unique sight during our taxi to the reef runway (8R).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152248.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152248.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Downtown Honolulu<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152252.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Downtown Honolulu<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152304.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152347.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The distant Koko Crater also visible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_151545.jpg\" alt=\"Taxiway Maintenance\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_151722C9.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_152248.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_152252.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_152304.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_152347.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_151545.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_151545.jpg\" alt=\"Taxiway Maintenance\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Taxiway Maintenance<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_151722C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_151722C9.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Skyscrapers of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A unique sight during our taxi to the reef runway (8R).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152248.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152248.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152252.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Honolulu\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Downtown Honolulu<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152304.jpg\" alt=\"Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152347.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Diamond Head Crater\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Diamond Head Crater<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The distant Koko Crater also visible.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>That also meant before landing, there were views of West Maui Mountains and the winding road to Lahaina.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152921.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152921.jpg\" alt=\"Southwestern Tip of Molokai Island\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southwestern Tip of Molokai Island<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154046.jpg\" alt=\"Mauna Kah\u0101l\u0101wai (West Maui Mountains) in Clouds\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mauna Kah\u0101l\u0101wai (West Maui Mountains) in Clouds<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154111.jpg\" width=\"93%\" alt=\"Road to Lahaina\" \/><\/a><\/br>Road to Lahaina<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that winds around the coastline.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154124.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154124.jpg\" width=\"93%\" alt=\"Kealaloloa Ridge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Kealaloloa Ridge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For the final approach into Kahului Airport.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_152921.jpg\" alt=\"Southwestern Tip of Molokai Island\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_154046.jpg\" alt=\"Mauna Kah\u0101l\u0101wai (West Maui Mountains) in Clouds\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_154111.jpg\" alt=\"Road to Lahaina\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_154124.jpg\" alt=\"Kealaloloa Ridge\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos overlooking Maui.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_152921.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_152921.jpg\" alt=\"Southwestern Tip of Molokai Island\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southwestern Tip of Molokai Island<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154046.jpg\" alt=\"Mauna Kah\u0101l\u0101wai (West Maui Mountains) in Clouds\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mauna Kah\u0101l\u0101wai (West Maui Mountains) in Clouds<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154111.jpg\" alt=\"Road to Lahaina\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Road to Lahaina<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that winds around the coastline.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_154124.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_154124.jpg\" alt=\"Kealaloloa Ridge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Kealaloloa Ridge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For the final approach into Kahului Airport.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>For its limited distance, the highest altitude we reached was 4100m\/FL13, which was lower than the highest mountain of Hawaii, with the cabin maintained at sea level pressure throughout the flight.<\/p>\n<p>A friend of us would be joining this leg of our trip in Maui. His flight from Atlanta landed 10 minutes after us. After greeting his arrival, we grabbed a rental car and headed out of the airport.<\/p>\n<p>A side story of the rental car: After leaving the airport in a Nissan Sentra, our first stop was a Walmart to stock up on supplies. At the Walmart parking lot, I realized I couldn&#8217;t find the keys to the car. (It came with keyless ignition so the key must be <i>inside<\/i> the car.) It took us 5 minutes to locate the key underneath one of the seats. Towards the end of the day, we checked into the hotel 2 minutes after sunset and thus missed it, which I would attribute to this incident.<br \/>\nOr even worse, it&#8217;s the omen of something bad that was to befall this rental car the next day.<\/p>\n<p>But for the moment, we had no clue of that. We continued our day by grabbing dinner in Kahului, and headed to our overnight hotel in Wailea. This time, my friend who was a Marriott elite booked &#8220;AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea&#8221; with his 50k free night certificate <span style=\"font-size: small;\">plus some top-up<\/span> for the night. It&#8217;s certainly one of the fanciest hotels of our Hawaii trip.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180927.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180927.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hotel Room<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180936.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180936.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hotel Room<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180944.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180944.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hotel Room<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_180927.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_180936.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails-s\/20230118_180944.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180927.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180927.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hotel Room<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180936.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180936.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hotel Room<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118_180944.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230118_180944.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel Room\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hotel Room<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Thursday_Jan_19\">Thursday Jan 19<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The next morning, one of my friends insisted on going surfing at one of the beaches, despite my other friend could barely swim <del>after my crash course at Waikiki Beach three days ago<\/del>. To get us onboard, he rented us a stand-up paddleboard, which was wider and supposedly more stable than the surfing board he got himself. To cheer things up, he even gave me a crash course of surfing.<\/p>\n<p>Amazingly, <del>after a few attempts<\/del> it turned out his crash course worked, and I managed to properly paddleboard-surf. Even better, since I was sitting elegantly on the paddleboard, I didn&#8217;t have to bother myself with the acrobat of getting onto the surfboard precisely when the wave hit. As a result, I had a higher success rate of riding the waves than my surfing friend. &#x1F60E; In addition, while paddling I spotted a few sea turtles.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, after great fun paddleboard-surfing, we were hit with a disaster as our rental car refused to start, with information of &#8220;engine malfunction, power reduced&#8221; displayed. After calling the rental car company, they decided to dispatch a tow truck to help us out.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/20230119_151731C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/01\/18\/thumbnails\/20230119_151731C9.jpg\" alt=\"Problem with Rental Car\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Problem with Rental Car<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With a very rapid roadside assistance service <a href=\"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/02\/202208tx\/#Aug_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">last summer<\/a> that saved me from costly airline rebooking, I was pretty optimistic that this would be resolved in a flash. Unfortunately, it wasn&#8217;t. In the end, it took almost three hours for the tow truck to arrive, because, as the driver put it, he was needed all over the island that afternoon (he came from Lahaina and was heading to Hana after us). Despite it looked like an engine failure, the tow truck driver determined this required only a jumpstart, after which the car could limp back to the airport.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, the rental car company informed us that we had the option to leave the keys in the car and head to the airport to grab a new car, despite the agent advising against doing that as we would be responsible for any damage occurred while the car was unattended. What&#8217;s more, the luggage in the car (mostly swim gear) was in such a way that couldn&#8217;t be efficiently packed into the trunk of an Uber (the rental car company was willing to provide complimentary Uber rides). But since it took much longer than anticipated for the tow truck to arrive, one of my friends Ubered back to the hotel to pack up our belongings, while the other one Ubered to get a new pair of glasses (the old ones were gone while surfing) in Kahului, and I stayed back waiting for the elusive tow truck.<\/p>\n<p>After the car was resurrected via jumpstart, I headed back to the hotel to pick up one of my friends and our luggage, then straight to the airport. Amazingly, the lady at the rental car counter seemed pretty used to this &#8220;malfunction indicator&#8221;. &#x1F47B; To sort of make up for us, she offered to exchange for a Jeep Wrangler, which was usually considered a premium SUV in Maui. (At first sight, it&#8217;s hardly an &#8220;upgrade&#8221; since the Jeep came with a strange smell, it ended up being sea water that seeped into the carpet.)<\/p>\n<p>This pretty much covered the entirety of our activities of Jan 19.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Third (and fourth) day of my January 2023 trip to Hawaii. My friend and I spent the morning visiting Diamond Head Crater, before hopping onto an afternoon flight to the island of Maui. (For the fourth day, I&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/18\/20230118flight\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,608,2],"tags":[611,536],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7729"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7729"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7877,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7729\/revisions\/7877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}