Best time to drive around/explore

[KBinCO]

We arrive on 2/4 which is a Saturday. We'll probably get to the resort mid afternoon. Plan is to check in, get to the room, and then check out pools (we'll have a 6 and 8 year old) and eat at one of the poolside restaurants.

Our first full day is Sunday. We have a one day car rental. We may add another day but we are only coming for a total of 6 nights and have a lot planned including activities that include transportation.

So, if we rented the car for Sunday, we'd like to drive around, check out some beaches, do some moderate hikes, grab some food, hit up the store for a few groceries. Sunday would be good because then we'd be set for the next 5 days and also perhaps escape the Sunday/weekend crowd at the resort.

Will the rest of the island be busier Sunday? Should we wait til Monday? Is traffic/parking at places going to be easier on Monday, or does it not really matter much? Since it will be our one day with the care, we want to make the most of it.

Eta- the Sunday in question is Super Bowl Sunday, I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[nkereina]

We found traffic to be less busy on the weekends since there's no "rush hour", and I would suspect most people will be holed up for the Super Bowl by late afternoon making the roads even less busy. The other pro to going off the resort on a Sunday is that we found weekend days to be much busier at Aulani with locals and long weekend travelers. So we planned some of our excursions on weekend days as well to avoid this.

Only thing I can't speak to is how many places may not be open because it's a Sunday. I suspect restaurants, grocery stores, and most tourist places would be open, so might not be an issue.

 

[KBinCO]

thanks! I just dont want to show up at parks or public beaches and have no where to park. But we'll figure it out. I am really leaning towards Sunday also because of the resort crowds.

 

[Midoria]

Sunday for sure. Traffic, parking, etc. will be much better for you.

 

[alohamom]

thanks! I just dont want to show up at parks or public beaches and have no where to park. But we'll figure it out. I am really leaning towards Sunday also because of the resort crowds.

Traffic on the highway will be better on Sunday BUT public parking for beaches like Kailua or up in the North Shore will be worse because local folks are out playing in the waves too!

 

[Midoria]

Traffic on the highway will be better on Sunday BUT public parking for beaches like Kailua or up in the North Shore will be worse because local folks are out playing in the waves too!

I wouldn't go to the North Shore during winter because everyone wants to see the big waves and watch the surfers. It's both unusually crowded and less safe. I generally suggest people use this tool to see what the safety level is for beaches on Oahu. As of me posting this, the entire North Shore has the black diamond aka "Extreme Hazard".

http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu/oahu

 

[nkereina]

I just dont want to show up at parks or public beaches and have no where to park.

Traffic on the highway will be better on Sunday BUT public parking for beaches like Kailua or up in the North Shore will be worse because local folks are out playing in the waves too!

This is a good point. But I will say that we went to the North Shore on a Monday and Kailua on a Wednesday, and still had a hard time parking in both places. I think both areas are just busy all the time, but I agree probably made worse by locals on the weekend.

 

[frank808]

To the op your plan sounds good. Sunday will be less crowded driving wise as there is no rush hour.

Most businesses are open on Sunday. If buainess is retail operations it will most likely be open.

Going to the mall or beach on the weekend will be busy as everyone is enjoying there weekend off.

 

[mrswillson]

The weekends are typically the best to be out and about as you'll run into less traffic on the highways. Since there are only three major highways on island, rush hours (7:00-8:00 am and 3:00-6:00pm during the weekdays) will really put a damper on any vacation as you can sometimes be stuck for upwards of an hour to an hour and a half. They don't say Hawaii has the worst traffic in the nation for no reason.

The beaches and hikes will be CONSIDERABLY busier on the weekends however and I would recommend trying to squeeze those in on the weekdays to allow for ample parking, as well as less people to contend with. If you're planning on sightseeing Honolulu, visiting the mall, or making a cross-island trip that would be hindered by traffic, I would try to plan those on Saturday or Sunday.