Five nights in Hawaii using Velocity Points: a two-island itinerary

Hawaii is an expensive destination in cash terms and an unusually good one in points terms. When you redeem Velocity Points on Hawaiian Airlines you pay genuine government taxes and nothing else — there are no carrier charges of the kind that inflate the cash component on some other airlines.

This itinerary covers five nights split between Maui and Honolulu, flying from Sydney in Hawaiian Airlines Business Class, connecting in domestic First Class, and returning in Economy. It totals 138,000 Velocity Points per person return, plus taxes.

The flights, and the redemption trick that makes it work

The single most useful thing to know: flying Sydney to Maui via Honolulu costs the same number of Velocity Points as Sydney to Honolulu alone. The inter-island leg rides along on the same award and you pay only its tax, a few US dollars.

The return could have been booked as Maui–Honolulu–Sydney for the same points as Honolulu–Sydney alone, using the same trick in reverse. Paying the extra 18,000 points buys time in Honolulu instead of connecting straight through.

Booking the return long-haul leg in Economy is a deliberate trade. Honolulu–Sydney is a daytime flight on which you would largely be awake watching films regardless, and the points saved are substantial. The overnight leg heading east, where a flat bed genuinely changes how the holiday starts, is the one worth spending on.

How to actually book it

Hawaiian Airlines award seats do not appear on the Velocity website. You have to telephone Velocity Frequent Flyer on 13 18 75 and have an agent search and ticket the booking.

That makes it worth searching yourself first. A tool such as ExpertFlyer lets you look up Hawaiian Airlines' "First – Saver & Partner Awards" inventory, which is what Velocity can book. Arriving at the call with specific dates and flight numbers turns a long conversation into a short one.

Sydney is currently the only Australian city Hawaiian Airlines serves. If you are starting elsewhere, add a Virgin Australia connection — Melbourne or Brisbane to Sydney starts from 7,800 Velocity Points one-way.

Getting the points together

Velocity is Australia's second-largest frequent flyer programme and among the easier currencies to accumulate on the ground. Some credit cards deposit Velocity Points directly into your account each month. Others earn a bank's own currency first — American Express Membership Rewards converts at 2:1. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles convert at 1.55:1, worth knowing if you hold a KrisFlyer balance and want Hawaiian Airlines access KrisFlyer itself cannot give you. Flybuys points, earned at Coles, Liquorland, Bunnings and Officeworks among others, convert at 2:1.

Sydney to Honolulu, up the front

Business Class brings priority check-in and lounge access in Sydney — The House is available on a Hawaiian Airlines boarding pass, and holders of eligible premium American Express cards have the Centurion Lounge nearby.

Hawaiian's long-haul Business Class is arranged 2-2-2, unfashionable among aviation enthusiasts but genuinely good for couples, since you are seated together rather than in separate pods. Seats convert to fully flat beds. The Sydney departure is in the evening and arrives in Honolulu in the morning: dinner, sleep, breakfast, land.

Immigration at Honolulu is markedly less painful than at the larger mainland gateways. You collect your checked bag, clear Customs and re-drop it for the onward domestic leg, then use the fast-track security lane a First Class boarding pass opens. US lounge rules are complicated, but this case is not: flying Hawaiian First Class, even domestically, gets you into the Premier Club without a separate membership.

The inter-island hop

The Honolulu–Maui flight is under an hour on a Boeing 717. Domestic US First Class is about space rather than suites — a wide recliner, a drink and a snack — which is sufficient for 49 minutes. One piece of advice is not really optional: book a window seat. The approach over the islands is the best part of the flight.

Maui: two days

Two full days is the bare minimum for Maui, and accommodation there is expensive — considerably more than Honolulu. Looking beyond the large chain properties pays off. Hotel Lahaina is a small boutique property near Lahaina Harbor, within walking distance of the beach, shops and restaurants. Booking through Qantas Hotels earns Qantas Points on a cash stay.

Day one. Start on the sand and get oriented on foot; a shave ice is the local refreshment. In the afternoon, head north for the short walk to Makaluapuna Point and the lava formations known as Dragon's Teeth, where signage at the trailhead marks burial grounds that should be respected. Watch the sunset from the beach or the paved walkway above it. Restaurants book out, so reserve ahead for a waterfront table; if you have not, sitting at the bar frequently works.

Day two. Whale watching is the signature Maui excursion; operators run standard and small-group trips, the latter giving better sightlines and fewer people. Zipline tours are the alternative. Book either in advance.

Honolulu: three days

Honolulu is cheaper than Maui across the board — food, drink and accommodation — and has far more choice.

Rather than a small hotel room, an entire apartment through Airbnb can cost about the same and comes with a kitchen, which changes the economics of a longer stay. Cleaning fees are typically a fixed amount per stay, so the per-night cost falls the longer you stay in one place. Booking via the Qantas Airbnb channel earns Qantas Points even though the booking completes on Airbnb.

Day one. Waikiki Beach, a swim, and the US Army Museum of Hawaii nearby, which is free to enter and has exhibits inside and on the roof. In the afternoon, the Ala Moana Center for shopping or edible souvenirs. A quiet evening cooking in the apartment mid-trip means going home rested rather than needing a holiday from the holiday.

Day two. Hike Diamond Head, the volcanic tuff cone that appears in every Honolulu postcard. Buy the entry pass online in advance; it costs a few US dollars. The climb is tiring, but walkers of all abilities get there. Afterwards, Downtown Honolulu rewards exploring on foot, including the Hawaii State Art Museum, also free. On one Friday each month it becomes a jazz venue after dark, with food stalls and a pop-up bar at no charge.

Day three. Pearl Harbor takes the better part of a day done properly; arriving first thing avoids the crowds and the end-of-day surge for rides. A one-hour catamaran sail off Waikiki is an affordable alternative if you have been before. For the last night, an early waterfront dinner secures the best tables and the best light, and leaves time for the free cultural performances at the Royal Hawaiian Center.

Practical notes

• Baggage. Hawaiian's international Economy fares include two 32kg checked bags. Standalone domestic flights can attract baggage fees, so book inter-island sectors as part of the international itinerary, or in First Class.
• Lounges in Economy. A Priority Pass membership, included with many premium credit cards, opens The Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu and the Premier Club in Maui even when flying at the back.
• Frequent flyer number. Link your Velocity number to paid Hawaiian fares to earn points and Status Credits. Velocity status itself confers no benefits on Hawaiian Airlines flights.
• Tipping. As across the US, 18 to 20 per cent for good restaurant service is customary, calculated on the pre-tax total. A points-earning card earns on the full amount including the tip.
• ESTA. Hawaii is the United States. Australian tourists need a valid ESTA before flying, unless another exemption applies.
• Getting around. Uber operates well throughout.

Frequently asked questions

How many Velocity Points does this itinerary take? 138,000 per person return, covering Business Class from Sydney, First Class on both inter-island sectors and Economy on the return long-haul, plus taxes.

Why can't I find Hawaiian Airlines award seats on the Velocity website? They are not displayed online. Call Velocity Frequent Flyer on 13 18 75; searching the Saver and Partner award inventory beforehand makes the call much faster.

Is it really free to add the Maui leg? In points, yes. Sydney to Maui via Honolulu prices the same as Sydney to Honolulu alone; you pay only a few extra US dollars in tax.

Do I pay carrier charges on these redemptions? No. Hawaiian Airlines redemptions through Velocity attract genuine taxes only, which is why the cash component is so low relative to the cabin flown.

Can I fly from a city other than Sydney? Hawaiian Airlines serves Sydney only. Add a Virgin Australia connection from Melbourne or Brisbane, from 7,800 Velocity Points one-way.

Which island should I spend more time on? Honolulu is cheaper and has more to fill three days. Maui is pricier but is where the scenery and boat excursions are; two full days there is the practical minimum.

This information is general in nature. It does not take your personal circumstances into account.