The route to America’s west coast is a long but happy one for Australians headed for colourful attractions around greater Los Angeles. Instead of landing straight into the bustle of California, travellers can choose a smoother path via Hawai‘i. With a quick and friendly entry process, you can transfer to your hotel and be sipping a mai tai overlooking Waikiki Beach — before an easy domestic leg delivers you right to Anaheim.
Hawaiian stopovers are under-utilised by Australians, but judging by the experience of a group of agents travelling with Hawaiian Airlines to California’s theme park capital Anaheim, the numbers stack up.
Departing on HA452 from Sydney at 9.40pm, our body clocks induce a good rest before landing in Honolulu 10 hours later, at 11.40am. Given our Airbus A330-200 is just two-thirds full, the airport processes around 200 passengers effortlessly.
We’ve got two days of tropical bliss – it’s mid-September with days in the high 20s – before a five-hour hop to the low-key Long Beach Airport, only half an hour from Anaheim.
Angela Sonners, from Envoyage in Hobart, finds this an ideal time to be here, as it’s Hawai‘i’s quiet period after schools have gone back. “It coincides with Australian school holidays,” Sonners says, “making it great value for families.”
Stay awhile
Depending on the season, Hawai‘i is 20-21 hours behind Australia’s east coast, so jetlag is a minor concern, and we’re immediately ready for Honolulu, including impressive accommodation options from Hawaiian operator Aqua-Aston.
We’re at Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites, which sits in a sweet spot between Waikiki’s renowned beach and elegant boutiques, and America’s largest open-air mall Ala Moana.
Aqua-Aston is the marriage of established condominium group Aston with Aqua hotels in 2017, and the four-star Ilikai is one of 12 Aqua-Aston properties on O’ahu, Hawai‘i’s main visitor island. With entry-level rooms at a generous 47 square metres plus sofa beds extending the capacity to four, its balconies are ideal for watching surfers off Fort DeRussy Beach, while the 30th floor Empire Steak House is the place for sunset cocktails and catching the weekly Friday fireworks.
Nearby, the three-star Aqua Palms Waikiki is a family-friendly hotel with an unbeatable price point, thanks to the convenience of sofa beds in all rooms. The keen eye of Mary-Anne Guest, from Adelaide’s Phil Hoffmann Travel, spots the guest laundries. “Aussies travel for a long time so they love a laundry service,” Guest says.
Roomier options start with 3.5-star Aston Waikiki Sunset’s one- and two-bedroom suites just two blocks from the beach. Two-bedroom units include distinctive Diamond Head in their panorama, for which Brooke Robertson, from Gold Coast’s Ignite Travel, has one word: “Stunning.”
Waikiki wow
For absolute beachfront at Waikiki, Aqua-Aston has two offerings. The 40-storey 4.5-star Aston Waikiki Beach Tower is exclusively two-bedroom/two-bathroom suites, with wide balconies and luxury appointments, including gourmet kitchens. It also has classes in everything from lei and bracelet-making to hula and ukelele lessons.
Next door is ESPACIO, the Jewel of Waikiki. Boasting just one three-bedroom (or two-bedroom and a den) suite on each of its nine floors, it has all the five-star touches, from rooftop pool and continental breakfast to transfer services.
The takeaway for the Australian agents is Aqua-Aston’s variety. “There are so many options for families,” says Kellie Easterbrook from Pursers Travel Group, Gold Coast. “There’s something across every budget. I’ve already referred the Beach Tower to a friend. It’s amazing.” Nicholas Dann from Newcastle-based Hunter Travel Group is a Hawai‘i regular who likes it as a US entry point. “Avoiding LAX is phenomenal. And Hawai‘i is a dream destination. You can do a lot or do nothing.”
After a Hawai‘i interlude that includes the Cirque du Soleil spectacular Auana, great food, wine and music at Maui Brewing Co and take-home treats from Manoa Chocolate and Honolulu Cookie Company, it’s time for Hawaiian Airlines’ relaxed service to Long Beach.
In no time we’ve checked into star-powered Anaheim, a perfect base for not only Disneyland but experiences all over Los Angeles. LAX is never part of the equation, and so it’s “aloha” to a lower stress level all round.
How to get there
Hawaiian Airlines flies Sydney-Honolulu five times a week, HA452 departing at 9.40pm and arriving at 11.40am. (This increases to daily between 18 December 2025 and 31 January 2026.)
HA70 to Long Beach departs at 11.08am, arriving around 7.30pm. On the return trip, HA69 departs at 7.25am, arriving in Honolulu at 10.15am with plenty of time to connect with HA451, which arrives in Sydney at 7.45pm.
Hawaiian’s A330-200 has 18 Premium lie-flat leather seats, 68 Extra Comfort seats with generous leg-room and 192 main cabin seats. Its wife is free, fast and very stable.
Writer Jeremy Bourke travelled as a guest of Aqua-Aston, Hawaiian Airlines & Visit Anaheim.
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