Honolulu Highlights: A Quick 36-Hour Adventure and the Epic End of the Round The World Trip

Intro

This is it! After 15 entries, this is the last post for my Round The World Trip 2025-2026. It was definitely one of the biggest ones so far, full of so many memories of all the places and activities I did, but I do not want to get ahead of me here. I will summarize or conclude this trip at the end of this post.

For now, it was still Day 19, since my flight from Tokyo departed at 7:00 PM on January 4, 2026, and arrived at 6:45 AM on the same day with the magic of the Time Zones. So now, I had an extra day to explore Honolulu and beyond, before my quick return to New York City.

I had been to Hawaii a few times before, and one of the times for multiple days, exploring even the north side of Oahu, but this time I was here just for a night, on a quick stop on the way back to NYC. Come with me to see what this island has to offer for someone who is only going be 36 hours here.

Day 19: Ala Moana Center

I landed at the beautiful Honolulu airport, and came directly to the hotel where I left my suitcase before checking in, and took an Uber to Ala Moana Center, one of the biggest mall of the island, and where I was able to get my Starbucks lol.

There are a lot of stores and restaurants, and I would recommend to come here for a quick afternoon of shopping and eating near to Waikiki.

Honolulu’s Skyline rail transit system

From the mall I was able to take the bus (W Line) to Ahua Lagoon Drive Station, where I would take the Honolulu’s Skyline rail transit system for the first time. You know I am an aficionado of Public Transportation, and I needed to check this metro system.

Skyline is Honolulu’s automated, driverless light metro system, serving as the first large-scale rail transit of its kind in the United States. It connects the western residential areas of Oʻahu with the island’s urban and commercial centers.

System Overview

• Technology: The system features fully automated, driverless four-car trains powered by a 750V DC third rail. It is the first metro in the U.S. to utilize platform screen doors, which align with train doors to enhance passenger safety and climate control.
• Infrastructure: The line is almost entirely elevated, providing views of the south shore, with a brief at-grade section near the Leeward Community College.
• Integration: It is fully integrated with TheBus (Honolulu’s bus system) through the HOLO card, which allows for seamless transfers and a shared fare structure.

The Honolulu rail system, known as Skyline, features 19 stations along an 18.9-mile-long corridor on the south shore of Oʻahu. The first 13 stations, from East Kapolei to Kalihi Transit Center, are operational and have been transferred to the City’s Department of Transportation Services for passenger service. The next City Center stations are under construction. The final two stations – Kakaʻako and Ala Moana – will be completed in a separate project phase.

Got off in Kualaka‘i, and took an Uber to my next destination: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is a Disney-operated beachfront resort located in the Ko Olina resort area of Kapolei, on the island of Oʻahu. Unlike most Disney destinations, it does not feature a theme park; instead, it focuses on celebrating Hawaiian culture, history, and traditions through the lens of Disney storytelling.

Resort Experience

The resort is designed around the “Waikolohe Valley,” a massive central water area that leads directly to a calm, protected lagoon. The architecture and decor heavily feature local wood carvings, murals, and one of the largest collections of contemporary Hawaiian art in the world.

• Water Activities: The valley includes the Waikolohe Stream (a lazy river), two water slides, several infinity-edge pools, and the Menehune Bridge, an interactive water play area for children. There is also a private snorkeling lagoon called Rainbow Reef.
• Cultural Programs: Guests can participate in activities such as lei-making, ukulele lessons, and “Moʻolelo” fireside storytelling, where a local storyteller shares Hawaiian legends alongside Disney characters.
• Character Encounters: Disney characters appear throughout the property in vacation-themed attire. A popular way to see them is at the “Makahiki” character breakfast.
• Laniwai Spa: This full-service spa features the Kula Wai outdoor hydrotherapy garden, which is the only one of its kind on Oʻahu, offering various mineral baths and rain showers.

Accommodations & Dining

The resort offers a mix of standard hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, which include kitchenettes or full kitchens, making it a flexible choice for different group sizes.

• Dining Options: Dining ranges from the upscale AMAʻAMA, which offers open-air views of the Pacific, to more casual spots like Ulu Cafe for grab-and-go meals.
• The Luau: The resort hosts “KA WAʻA,” a luau that focuses on the voyaging history of the area, featuring traditional song, dance, and a buffet dinner.

The resort is not overly Disney-fied but you can definitely find some characters and theming, like for example this Stitch figure around the outdoors of the hotel.

It started raining heavily, so I took cover in the Off the Hook restaurant, and got myself a pina colada because why not. It was pretty sweet and expensive, but great as a reminder that my trip was almost finished.

The rain did not stop me from exploring the beautiful resort. As a non-guest you can walk around and get food and drinks, and go into the stores, but you can use the amenities like the pool. The beach is open for anyone to use as they’re not private.

Definitely a lot of people got out of the water after the heavy storm.

But just look at this beautiful resort. One day I will stay here. I was actually thinking in staying for tonight, but since it was a short stay in Hawaii, I chose to just stay in Waikiki for the night.

I got hungry, and it started raining heavily again, so I got myself a tuna plate from Ulu Cafe. I love seafood, so of course it was pretty good.

I also got myself some Dole Whip, which I had missed since I went to the theme parks in December. Which by the way, you can visit the Dole Plantation in Oahu. I have never done it but maybe one day for sure.

An afternoon at Waikiki

Time to get back into Waikiki using the same system, Uber to the train station and then back using the Skyline.

Back in my hotel I was able to get in my room, and get this beautiful view of the skyline of Honolulu and Waikiki.

I was able to see a little bit of the Pacific Ocean, not too disturbed after the rainstorm from earlier. Still beautiful.

An evening as a foodie

Time to continue exploring the amazing dining options and cuisine that this area of Hawaii has to offer, so of course I had to take the bus to Rainbow Drive-In to get the famous Loco Moco.

This local dish is formed as described:

The Protein: Unlike more modern versions that use premium Wagyu or Big Island beef, Rainbow Drive-In sticks to tradition with two seasoned, hand-formed hamburger patties.

The Gravy: The patties are smothered in a special house-made brown gravy. It is famous for its smooth, glossy consistency and deeply savory, “old-school” diner flavor that ties the meat and rice together.

The Foundation & Sides: The meal is built on two generous scoops of white rice, which act as a sponge for the gravy. It is served with their signature macaroni salad—a creamy, simple recipe that provides a cool contrast to the hot gravy and eggs.

The Crown: The dish is topped with two eggs, traditionally served sunny-side up or over-easy so the runny yolks can mix into the gravy and rice.

Later that night, I was planning to go to Marugame Udon in Waikiki, but the line was so long I decided to skip it. It is very recommended though, last time I dined here, and it was pretty delicious.

Instead, I chose just to stick with some dessert, and shaved ice is always a good idea. Not too far from the Udon restaurant, you can find the Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice place which has a very extensive selection of flavors.

I picked mango and pina colada, and it was pretty good for the warm night.

Day 20: Walking around Waikiki

It was Day 20 of 21, and in a few hours I would be taking my series of flights back to NYC. But for now, I would just go explore Waikiki and the beach..

It was a pretty calm morning on this January 5. Although a lot of people were exercising and jogging around.

January is the rainy season, and these couple of days definitely proved that point, but so far the early morning breeze felt good.

The water looked pretty calm though.

And after a nice walk, I went to Brunch Spot Waikiki for my last sit down meal of this trip. For more Round The World trips, and places to discover. I think my next one will also be big but I am thinking it will have a theme. Coming up hopefully in October 2027! The spam was really good tho, I liked this breakfast a lot.

From Honolulu to Los Angeles to New York

It was time to leave Honolulu. I was able to get a reward ticket to Newark International Airport on United, only stopping at Los Angeles. This would be a long return, but I was so ready to get back to the reality of the agitated life in New York City. From the plane, the view of the Honolulu skyline, and the Diamond Head crater was immaculate.

Bye bye Hawaii, see you sometime in the future.

It was time I pay back the time I gained from Tokyo to Honolulu, so today was about to be over. After 5 hours and 30 minutes flying over the Pacific Ocean, we started to go down in Los Angeles, with a beautiful sunset view.

Once in Los Angeles, I quickly found my gate to Newark. There were 6 more hours of flying across the country on this red-eye flight. Sleeping and seeing downloaded content on my phone kept me entertained.

Day 21: Around the World

It was early in the morning of the 21th day of traveling around the world, but I made it back to New York. I was grateful that nothing terrible happened during my trip, and most of things went according to plan, but I was happy to get back to reality. Let me explain and summarize this whole trip below.

ROUND THE WORLD TRIP: THE CONCLUSION

This is a summary of the 21 days I spent on this Round The World Trip:

Leg 1: The European Winter (Days 1–8)

• Day 1: Arrival in Paris. Explored the city’s iconic landmarks and soaked in the classic French atmosphere.
• Day 2: Transit to Berlin. Began exploring the urban landscape and modern history of the German capital.
• Day 3: Berlin Christmas Market hopping, including visits to Schloss Charlottenburg and Gendarmenmarkt.
• Day 4: Travel from Berlin to Prague. Explored the medieval charm of the Old Town Square and enjoyed local treats like trdelník.
• Day 5: Transit to Copenhagen. Explored the festive Tivoli Gardens and the picturesque Nyhavn Harbor.
• Day 6: Cross-border trip to Malmö, Sweden. Explored the traditional Swedish markets and sampled Glögg.
• Day 7: Journey to Zermatt, Switzerland. Transitioned from city markets to the high-altitude beauty of the Alps.
• Day 8: Visited the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Took the highest cable car in Europe to the 3,883-meter summit.

Leg 2: The Australian Summer (Days 9–14)

• Day 9: The “Strenuous Journey” begins. Long-haul transit from the cold of Europe toward the Southern Hemisphere.
• Day 10: Short stopover in Singapore. Visited the Jewel at Changi Airport before continuing to Australia.
• Day 11: Arrival in Cairns. Navigated the humid “green season” and explored the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
• Day 12: Flight to Sydney. Arrival just in time for the “New Year’s Eve’s Eve” celebrations.
• Day 13: New Year’s Eve in Sydney. Strategic positioning to watch the world-famous harbor fireworks.
• Day 14: Travel to the Gold Coast. Explored the beaches, surf culture, and vibrant coastal atmosphere.

Leg 3: The Asian Encore (Days 15–18)

• Day 15: Transit from Brisbane to Bali. A quick immersion in Indonesian culture and tropical landscapes.
• Day 16: Transit from Bali back through Singapore and finally landing in Tokyo.
• Day 17: Tokyo DisneySea. Experienced the New Year celebrations and the intricate world-building of the park.
• Day 18: Exploring Fantasy Springs. Deep dive into the new Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan lands, followed by a visit to the Pokémon Café.

Leg 4: The Time Zone Leap & Finale (Days 19–21)

• Day 19: Departed Tokyo at 7:00 PM on Jan 4; arrived in Honolulu at 6:45 AM on the same day. Visited Ala Moana Center, rode the Skyline Metro, and explored Aulani, A Disney Resort.
• Day 20: Final morning in Waikiki. Had a last sit-down brunch at Brunch Spot Waikiki before boarding a flight to LAX.
• Day 21: Arrival back in New York (Newark). The 21-day global loop is officially completed as you returned to the “agitated life” of the city.

Now, these are some remarks from my trip:

The 5 Best of the Trip

1. The Fantasy Springs Debut (Tokyo DisneySea): This was clearly a crown jewel of my journey. Exploring the detailed lands of Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan represents the pinnacle of my theme park interests.
2. New Year’s Eve in Sydney: Securing a spot for one of the most iconic firework displays in the world is a massive “bucket list” achievement for me. The energy of the harbor and the strategic planning involved made this a high-stakes success.
3. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Zermatt): Reaching the highest cable car station in Europe at 3,883 meters provided the most dramatic natural scenery of the trip. The 360-degree views of 38 peaks offered a breathtaking contrast to my urban explorations.
4. The Christmas Market Circuit (Prague & Berlin): My deep dive into European traditions, specifically the medieval atmosphere of Prague’s Old Town Square and the gourmet offerings at Gendarmenmarkt, captured the “magic” of the first leg of my trip.
5. The “Time Travel” Bonus Day (Honolulu): Utilizing the International Date Line to “gain” a day for a 36-hour Hawaiian sprint was a good logistical move. From riding the new Skyline metro to that final Loco Moco at Rainbow Drive-In, it was the perfect “encore” before heading home.

The Worst of the Trip

• The “Strenuous Journey” (Europe to Australia): The transit from the cold European winter to the Southern Hemisphere was the clear low point in terms of physical exhaustion. Managing back-to-back long-haul flights while dealing with extreme temperature shifts and total body-clock disruption made this the most grueling segment of the 21 days.
• The Cairns tour cancellation was also a dissapointment. Not being able to see the Great Barrier Reef was sad, but made me want to come back during a better season.

Final thoughts

Looking back at these past three weeks, I’m still buzzing from the sheer madness of it all. Covering four continents in just 21 days was easily one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever taken on, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade that exhaustion for anything. From the cozy, mulled-wine-filled nights in Berlin and Prague to standing at the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the European leg felt like a total winter dream.

The shift to the Southern Hemisphere was a “strenuous” reality check, but seeing the Sydney skyline explode with fireworks on New Year’s Eve made every grueling flight worth it. Then, finishing things off in Japan with Fantasy Springs and a meal at the Pokémon Café was the perfect “Disney nerd” peak. Even with the heavy rain in Honolulu and missing out on my udon because of the lines, gaining that extra day through the magic of time zones let me end things on a high note with a Loco Moco and a ride on the new Skyline.

I’m back in the “agitated reality” of NYC now, and while I’m definitely ready for a real bed, my head is already spinning with ideas for the next big one. October 2027 can’t come soon enough!