Lanai Logistics

Hi,

I%26#39;m new to this forum and so far the posts have been VERY helpful, so THANKS!

My husband and I are planning a trip back in April (we were just there in July for the 1st and absolutely LOVED it!!!) and we are flying into HNL on United and planning on flying Island Air to LNY, but I%26#39;m trying to figure out if 30 mins is enough time between flights? Or should we just take the later flight? (Last time we did the ferry from Maui.)

Also, does anyone have any experience with shipping luggage to the hotel? We%26#39;re trying to figure out a way to NOT have to check our baggage twice.

Cheers!

Lanai Logistics

Aloha kn101,

It sounds like Lana%26#39;i has found another fan. 30 minutes between flights is definately NOT enough time. Island Air flies out of the small commuter terminal at the Honolulu airport, and it can take 30 minutes to get from the your gate at the main terminal to the Island Air gate via the Wiki Wiki bus. BTW do not take the Wiki Wiki that goes from the second floor of the secure gate area (this only goes to the regular inter-island terminal). You have to go out to the front of the main terminal and catch that Wiki Wiki bus.

I think Island Air requires a 1 1/2 hour connection time, and I think that would be safest. It also covers you if your flight from the mainland is runing late. I always make sure we have a 2 hour layover since flights from Minneapolis in the winter are prone to be delayed, and flight time can really vary depending on headwinds.

You should be able to check your bags all the way through to Lana%26#39;i, as long as you tell the United people in SF your Island Air flight. Also, Island Air%26#39;s small planes can only accomadate small carryons. But if you have a larger one, you can just gate check it.

You already are familar with Lana%26#39;i, but if you need more info check out my inside page with things to do on the island.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g29219-c2257/Lanai:Ha鈥?/a>

Otherwise have a wonderful trip!

-DrV

Lanai Logistics

We are going to Lanai via HNL for the fourth year in a row in two weeks. As you may know United is in the main terminal and Island Air is in a small separate terminal connected by a walkway to the interisland terminal more than a quarter+ mile walk away. You have to take the Wiki Wiki shuttle between the main and interisland terminals and it is anything but Wiki (quick), it can be a 30 min wait all by itself. I think 30 min is WAY too short for island time, can you be sure United will be exactly on time?. If the next flight is not too long a wait and take it, you%26#39;ll be in a secure area at Island Air with only a small bar so if you%26#39;re hungy/thirsty eat in the inter island terminal food court before you walk to IA. If you take the first flight even if you bags don%26#39;t make it the hotel shuttle at the Lanai airport will deliver to either hotel on their next pass. hope this helps mahalo

Mahalo DrV %26amp; awhalelvr!

Both comments were extremely helpful and I%26#39;ll be booking the later flight.

DrV, yes we are definitely converts to Lanai! Life is just too busy as it is and we appreciate getting away from it all. We have spent time on all of the other islands (mostly in Honolulu and Wailea, which used to be our favorite), but have found them to be too busy. Lanai is just the perfect place, but I have to agree with other posters...we don%26#39;t want the word to get out. ;)

Aloha!

kn101 ~

I agree that 30 minutes is not enough time. Just be sure to mention to United that you want your bags checked all the way through to LNY. We have never had a problem in the past. Same with the return, let the agents know at the LNY airport that your bags should be checked all the way to San Francisco. We will be back for our 4th trip in April too. Maybe we will see you around! :)

Do any of the experts on Lanai know if guests at the Hotel Lanai are allowed to use the FS shuttle? Also, if you are not a FS guest, do you need your own beach chairs and towels?

Yes, you can purchase a shuttle voucher at the airport for approximately $35 per person. This would allow you to use the shuttle to/from LNY airport as well as to/from the hotels. The shuttle stops are: FS Koele, Hotel Lana%26#39;i, and FS Manele.

Oops, forgot about the 2nd part of your question.

Technically, the FS provides towels, chairs %26amp; umbrellas for guests only. However, we were not asked if we were guests when we used these items. If you borrow their snorkel gear, they do ask your name/room. There are also lots of nice picnic tables at Hulopo%26#39;e Beach that are available to the public.

Regarding the beach chairs and towels, I have found that at the pool they always ask your name or room number, but at the beach only sometimes. To be safe I would bring your own towel.

I would check with Island Air about their luggage restrictions at this time. Last July they said 50 pounds per passenger TOTAL weight. It did not matter how many bags per se but the total weight was not to exceed 50 pounds. My husband bought an extra ticket for the golf clubs. At the airport she said that would not have been necessary, he could have sent them on another flight that wasn%26#39;t that full. He wanted his clubs with him so we paid the extra ticket ahead of time. I still don%26#39;t know what they would have done if we were over 50 lbs. each.

We did not have to pick up our luggage and re-check. It went straight through from Kauai to Lanai since we told Hawaiian Air our Island Air flt#.

The main terminal people had us all mixed up when we tried to get to Island Air. Wrong elevator directions, etc. so I am glad we had plenty of time between. We used the little bar in the Is. Air terminal for a drink and a Coke and they let us eat the sandwiches we bought at the little snack stand outside of the bar.

Thanks for the info about the beach and shuttle. My husband said he would not use the FS chairs if we don%26#39;t stay at the FS. He hates when people do that and I have to agree that was a pretty tacky thing for me to ask you folks!

Linaka