30-minute ideas for these light traffic days

Half Hour Power

March 24, 2014

Site Staff,

This morning, you saw the light … at the end of the tunnel. It was full of free-flowing cars. The University of Hawaii's spring break has given you a break from gridlock. Now you have extra time to empty that overflowing email and get ahead on that monthly report. Well, as soon as you finish this round of Candy Crush.

Wait a minute. Why not spend that spare half-hour on an adventure that's outside of your smartphone?

Knead for Speed – A day at the spa is out of the question, but you can take advantage of a budget- and schedule-friendly 15-minute or 25-minute massage. 911 Massage, 15 minutes, $20. Half-Session Massage, 25 minutes, $40. Heaven on Earth Salon and Day Spa, 1050 Alakea St. 599-5501, heavenonearthhawaii.com.

Quick Trip – Get away from it all on a 30-minute seaplane tour over Aloha Tower, Waikiki, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Kaneohe Bay and even the Arizona Memorial.$179, Island Seaplane Service, 85 Lagoon Dr. 836-6273, info@islandseaplane.com, islandseaplane.com.

Culture Flash – Get a jump on art with the Honolulu Museum of Art's spotlight tours. A docent gives you a full 30-minute look at one specific piece in the Museum's collection. This week's theme is "Picturing Motherhood." Free with Museum admission. Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St. 532-8700, honolulumuseum.org.

Hard & Fast – Thirty minutes is definitely enough time to break a sweat at one of these drop-in classes:

24 Hour Fitness – Each location has its own list of half-hour sessions. On Bishop Street, you can try out the BODYPUMP barbell class or BODYCOMBAT martial arts-inspired cardio workout. Try it out with a free pass. Free with membership, rates vary. Classes vary by location. See the Bishop Street location schedule on 24hourfit.schedulesource.com.

YMCA Gut Cut Class – A hardcore ab-focused course attacks all parts of your torso. Free with membership, $51/month for adults. Class times vary by location. ymcahonolulu.org/schedules.

YWCA Express Classes – Get your day started with the Wake Up Express at 6 a.m. with 15 minutes of low-impact cardio and 15 minutes of lightweight strength training, and Total Body Express at 6:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the historic YWCA Laniakea building. $40/month with YWCA's $50 annual membership fee. See the class schedule on ywca.org.