Tips for TSA PreCheck Enrollment

I recently took my 12 year old daughter for TSA PreCheck enrollment.  TSA PreCheck is a government program that provides a separate security screening lane for TSA-approved passengers and if you travel you know how convenient it can be.  Children 12 and under can use the PreCheck line when traveling with an eligible parent or guardian, but once they hit 13 they will need their own known traveler number.  

The enrollment process wasn’t as easy as I hoped so I thought I would share some tips.  To begin, you need to submit an online application and then schedule an in-person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting at an enrollment center.  The center on Oahu is located at 810 Richards Street in downtown Honolulu.  

My first tip would be when you are making the appointment, aim for the earliest time slot.  Our initial appointment was at 11:15am and when we arrived, they were running a couple of hours behind and we couldn’t wait.  The small office can process two people at a time.  I rescheduled for a 9:00 am appointment and for that one we waited about 30 minutes.   

Second tip: have your child’s social security number handy.  We were told we just needed to bring my daughter’s passport, but while we were processing I also had to enter her social security number which I didn’t bring nor did I have memorized.  Luckily, I was able to access it on my phone.

My last tip is regarding parking.  The closest parking is the U.S. Post Office metered lot at $1.50 per hour.  If you are lucky enough to score a spot make sure to bring coins.  The meters also take credit cards, but the person next to us couldn’t get it to work.  Parking is limited to one hour so make sure you have enough coins in case your appointment runs late.  The first time we couldn’t find street parking so we ended up parking at Alii Place on Alakea.     

The application fee is $85 and good for 5 years.

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The Barrier Method Travel Face Mask

Disclosure:  Product was received complimentary for review purposes.  All opinions are entirely my own. 

I just got back from a weekend trip to Portland and I feel great!  Thanks in part to the innovative travel mask by The Barrier Method!  I am a self-proclaimed germaphobe and I get anxious when I start to hear people sneezing and coughing near me on the airplane.  I take precautions like wiping down the seats, tray tables, and arm rests, but there's not much you can do about others around you.  I once wore a medical mask, but I have to admit I was a little embarrassed being the only one.

But being a busy mom who needs her energy, I can't afford to get sick.  Lucky for me and travelers everywhere, a new small business The Barrier Method has created a fashionable and comfortable travel mask!  Danielle Travis, from Maui, is the founder of a line of patent-pending masks that snap into scarves or bandanas made of soft, antimicrobial fabric in a range of colors and patterns.  The company recently raised enough funds through a Kickstarter campaign to fund the essential oils testing, research, and product manufacturing to incorporate antimicrobial essential oils into the liners of the masks.

I received a complimentary infinity scarf for review purposes and I got it just in time to use on my trip.  I put it on as soon as I was seated on the plane and I liked how the mask straps were adjustable.  The fabric is very soft and I had no problems breathing and I found it very comfortable to sleep in.  At one point, I got a little hot so I simply unsnapped the mask from the scarf and just wore the mask by itself.  I can assure you I will be using The Barrier Method on all my travels to reduce the chance of getting sick! 

For more information on The Barrier Method, you can find them here and on their social media channels.   

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'Ohana by Hawaiian Airlines for Interisland Travel

Disclosure: One roundtrip interisland flight was complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are entirely my own. 

Photo Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.

My family and I love to visit the neighbor islands and our favorite is Lāna'i.  We admire the beauty of the island and enjoy reconnecting as a family while we are there.  This trip, I would be celebrating my 40th birthday and I was especially excited to see the newly renovated Four Seasons Resort Lāna'i.

To get there, I immediately thought of ‘Ohana by Hawaiian because of their service.  They provide the same safe, reliable, on-time service with friendly and authentic Hawaiian hospitality that customers have come to know from Hawaiian Airlines.  

Hawaiian Airlines is one of the nation's longest-serving carriers and is now in its 87th year of consecutive service.  Not only has Hawaiian Airlines held the record for on-time performance from 2004 to 2015, Travel + Leisure has ranked Hawaiian the Best U.S. Airlines every year from 2011!  You can expect the same outstanding service with ‘Ohana by Hawaiian.

‘Ohana, which is the Hawaiian word for family, was created with the purpose of connecting all island communities through flight.  ‘Ohana by Hawaiiain is operated by Empire Airlines and offers non-stop service between Honolulu and the islands of Moloka‘i and Lāna'i.  They also fly between Maui and Kona, Moloka'i, and Hilo as well as between Lāna'i and Moloka'i.  

The livery of the three 48-seat ATR-42 aircraft was designed by Hilo-based artist Sig Zane and his son Kūha'o.  The duo used Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland route map as inspiration for the design, weaving three kapa patterns: piko (navel), representing ancestry and progeny; manu (bird), representing both a bird in flight and the prow of a canoe, the traditional form of migration; and kalo (taro), representing family.  The aircraft are named after a significant wind on each of the islands that 'Ohana by Hawaiian serves: Holo Kaomi of Paomaʻi, Lāna'i; Kaiāulu of Wai'anae, O'ahu; and Hikipua of Hālawa, Moloka'i.  

Here are the kids next to the special livery and Zane's signature.

Another reason I chose 'Ohana by Hawaiian is value.  Although airfare for a family of four can add up, Hawaiian Airlines keeps prices affordable by regularly offering neighbor island fare sales which include ʻOhana by Hawaiian Flights.  My family also takes advantage of Hawaiian’s frequent flyer program so we can earn and redeem miles for award travel on all ‘Ohana by Hawaiian flights.  To maximize benefits, consider applying for a Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard.  I use mine to receive miles from friends and family, making it faster to accumulate award travel and I also receive my first checked bag free of charge when I use my card to purchase tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines.

The flight to Lāna'i from Honolulu is brief, but my son and I always look forward to that sweet and refreshing cup of POG.  But another perk of flying ‘Ohana by Hawaiian is the exclusive use of an onboard ukulele.  The intent is to share aloha and encourage passengers to play music which provides for a fun and unique experience.  Since both of my kids take ukulele lessons, strumming songs on the ukulele was the highlight of the flight and made our trip to Lāna'i even more memorable and special.

Once again, my family had an excellent experience flying on 'Ohana by Hawaiian.  With outstanding service, on-time reliability, and kid friendly amenities, 'Ohana by Hawaiian is my family's favorite for neighbor island travel.

After a perfect landing at the Lana'i Airport.

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Hawaiian Airlines Service and In-Flight Meals

Our family recently traveled to San Diego on Hawaiian Airlines (HA), flying on a 767 to SAN, and on an A330 for the return to HNL.

This was our first time riding a 767 during our last four trips on HA.  When we boarded the 767, my middle son asked "where's my TV?" since he's so used to flying on the A330s, which has interactive in-flight entertainment systems on each seat (since the last time we flew in October, the entertainment menu has since changed and it is now much more user-friendly). Despite the older aircraft, the flight on the 767 was fairly comfortable, as was the flight on the A330.

On our return flight, there were many inconsistencies in service both at the airport and in flight, but there was one exceptional flight attendant named Shawnee.

She was super friendly and very customer-service oriented. There were many times onboard during which we witnessed her exemplary service.

As for the food, each way we were given a Pau Hana Snack Mix as a snack.

To San Diego, we ate a dish of Chicken Fusilli Pasta, Carrots, Peas, Pineapple & Chef Chai's Yellow Curry, along with a chocolate cake and salad.

The curry pasta was surprisingly good!  Even my husband thought it was really tasty. The cake was okay - it tasted like a typical chocolate cake.

On the return flight, we were served a Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce & Red Bell Peppers,  lemon cake, and salad.

I thought the pasta was okay - nothing extraordinary, but the lemon cake was really good.

As far as on-time departures and arrivals, both flights departed a few minutes late, and our flight to SAN arrived on time.  Our flight to HNL arrived about 30 minutes early, but for people who gate-checked items like we did, we had to wait about 30 minutes for our items (the agent advised that since the flight arrived early there weren't enough employees to deliver the gate-checked items to us on a timely basis due to an already busy arrival schedule).

Despite the long wait for our gate-checked item on our return and the inconsistencies in service, we love Hawaiian Airlines and we look forward to traveling on HA again soon!

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