Getting There and Around
By Jonathan Runge

Nearly every major American airline flies to Honolulu. United, TWA, Delta, Northwest, American, Continental, and Hawaiian Airlines all have scheduled flights from the mainland, most with connections in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Such competition occasionally produces excellent fares; at press time, a fare war had pushed a round-trip from Los Angeles to $198. The usual discounted round-trip coach fare runs about $398 from Los Angeles, $648 from Chicago, and $850 from New York. You can also fly nonstop to Maui on United or Hawaiian from San Francisco or Los Angeles, and on Delta from Los Angeles.

From Honolulu you can fly to Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii on Aloha Airlines (808-484-1111), Mahalo Air (808-833-5555), Hawaiian Airlines (808-838-1555), or Air Molokai (to Molokai only; 808-567-6881). Round-trip fares run about $70 - $85, regardless of your destination. If you're going to Puna, on Hawaii, fly to Hilo Airport; for Kohala, fly to Keahole Airport, just north of Kailua-Kona. You can fly to Hana on Maui; if you're going to Upcountry, fly to Kahului Airport. It's best to book interisland flights when you make your overseas reservation, as you can often get significant discounts. The Hawaiian Airlines Airpass is good for unlimited travel between the islands; rates range from $169 for five days to $269 for two weeks. Molokai can also be reached via the Maui Princess (800-833-5800 or 808-553-5736), a ferry that runs from Lahaina, Maui, twice a day. One-way fare is $25 for the hour-and-a-half trip.

Like in Florida, there are lots of rental cars; unlike in Florida, they are not cheap. With the exception of promotional deals, weekly rates are around $200. All the majors -- Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Dollar, Payless, and Sears -- are here, as well as a slew of local companies such as Aloha Funway (808-942-9696), where rates are usually lower. Again, book your rental car when you book your flights, and you'll probably save money.