We toured around the island of Oahu, enjoying the spectacular sights, activities, and shopping. This was my first visit to Hawaii, and I was able to discover a different way to enjoy Hawaii from what I had seen and heard about before.
FLYING HONU adds to the elation of heading to Hawaii
For the round-trip flight, we boarded the “FLYING HONU,” or the flying sea turtle. It was an ANA Airbus A380, a plane with a design of a sea turtle swimming leisurely in the Hawaiian sea, and it was a double-decker plane. Since online check-in was available 24 hours in advance for both round-trip flights, I was able to smoothly proceed to the boarding gate and enjoy taking pictures.
The three FLYING HONUs, Lani (blue), Kai (emerald green), and La (sunset orange), each represent the sky, ocean, and sunset of Hawaii. The three planes all have different, cute expressions on their faces, which is impressive.
It is still fresh in our memories that during the period when FLYING HONU was unable to operate due to the Corona disaster, it held events and charter flights where passengers could enjoy in-flight meals on board FLYING HONU aircraft parked at Narita Airport, and since that time we have been looking forward to the day when all three aircraft can operate together at their leisure. On this trip, I was able to board the first plane on the way there and the second on the way back.
The cabin has 520 seats, with first and business class and premium economy located on the second floor. At the far end of the Economy Class cabin, three or four couch seats can be used as beds, and the legrests can be raised horizontally to make the seats flat. This eliminates the risk of children falling into the space between the seats while sleeping and allows them to position themselves freely.
Boarding began around 8:30 p.m. and we entered the aircraft. On the first floor, where the economy class cabin is located, the ceiling lights were shining blue. Although I could not see the design of the aircraft clearly because it was nighttime, I was excited by the presentation of the cabin, which looked like a journey into the future.
A little after takeoff, the in-flight meal arrived. This time, on the outbound flight, a special in-flight meal had been reserved in advance. It was a meal that premium economy and economy class passengers could change for a fee (+2,500 yen). For the June-August 2024 season, the Japanese menu included a spicy chicken and green papaya salad as a starter and Japanese demi-glace braised beef as a main course, along with cheese, crackers, and mousse au pêche for dessert. It also came with cheese, crackers, and mousse au pêche for dessert. We enjoyed a little luxury in the sky, excited by the prospect of travel.
When eating in-flight, you may have trouble finding a place to put your personal belongings. The seat pocket, which is great for such occasions, is also easier to use than one might imagine. On the surface of the main compartment, which is large enough to hold a notebook PC or similar item, there is a mesh pocket that can be used to hold small items and keep them out of sight. The mesh pocket is divided into two, one of which is bulging to hold a plastic bottle or a small tumbler. Since I spend most of my time in the cabin using my PC and camera, I am often in a hurry during in-flight service, but this time I was able to organize my luggage and enjoy a leisurely glass of wine with my meal.
The time difference between Japan and Hawaii is 19 hours. Departing around 9:00 p.m. Japan time, the flight would arrive in Hawaii at 9:30 a.m. approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes later. Sleep was essential on the outbound flight, but it was here that I realized how comfortable FLYING HONU is. Even in regular economy class, each seat is spacious, and even when I was allowed to place my luggage under the seat in front of me, I did not feel cramped in the leg room. You can use the power outlet and USB charging port, so charging your phone or camera is a breeze. The seats are equipped with headrests and footrests that provide firm support, and soft pillows and blankets are provided to help you relax and prepare to enjoy Hawaii to the fullest on your night flight. The large monitors on the seats made it easy to stay up late watching movies and real-time video outside the plane, but I held on and went to sleep (instead, I watched three movies on the return flight).
© Source travel watch
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