Pursuit of Pualani

So today I leave onboard the Golden Princess.  We are sailing to Hawaii from Los Angeles and then back.  It is a great cruise (this is my fourth time doing it) but you really have to like sea days, as only 4 of the 14 days are in port.  So what am I doing on my day in Honolulu (Dec. 14)?  It is insane, but I am going to Honolulu airport where I will fly to Maui, back to Honolulu, back to Maui and then back to Honolulu, all in one day.

All this insanity is in pursuit of Hawaiian Airlines Pualani status. 

If you fly 20,000 miles onboard Hawaiian airlines in one year, you get Pualani status -- the benefits including bonus miles, reduced fare costs, free bag check, free drinks, priority boarding, etc.  I  actually did fly four times from the mainland this year, but one of those trips was using a reward ticket, so I didn't get credit.  As a result, I have currently obtained 18,300 miles in travel this year.  In order to get the remaining miles, I booked two round trip tickets. 

I know it sounds crazy, but I will be flying four times to Hawaii next year, and the bag fees alone cost more than the amount I spent on these interisland tickets.  It is a total waste of a day in Honolulu, but fortunately, I was just there in October and will be there again in February.  Plus our ship doesn't leave the port until 11pm so since my flights end by 5pm, I will get to at least have dinner there.

Most of the connections are pretty good (with about an hour in between) but only one is bad, from Kahului back to Oahu I only have about 30 minutes.  Luckily no luggage, so I just have to make it to the gate and that airport only has three Hawaiian interisland gates so I should be okay. 

I'm sure it will be an awful, tiring day, but well worth it when I relax onboard in my priority seat with my free mai tai and free bags this February.  Wish me luck! :)