Sorry, you are disappointed with the riding.. I feel your pain. I know in my year on the islands (I'm back on the mainland now), I had two options, since I didn't take my car... well 3, if you count bumming rides off of others, or just walking, and forgetting the cycling. Taking TheBus, or just learning the alternative options, since Honolulu is slow to incorporate bikes into everyday travel. There's limited space, and you know how much of a parking lot the surface streets, and H-1 are, almost any time of the day.
4.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29052190 If you haveta travel makai.. some side streets off Ala Moana to the Nimitz,and the crap filled bike lanes, with large screws in them. I prefer to take this route going towards Diamond Head, because it's almost all right turns. Otherwise, towards Ewa, it's lefts across A.Moana.
3.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29052183 This is the tour of the ped bridges... 2 of them, and going mauka, avoiding Ala Moana/ Kahmehameha (96) until you are just about at the so called bike path. The ped bridges cross H-1 and Pali. I'm not sure if bikes are allowed, but I didn't care. It beat the alternative of getting run over.
2.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29052176 Making a right off of Alakea., which turns into Queen Emma (crosses H-1 without off, or on, ramp.. Follows a lot of
#3 after that, including the one ped bridge. over Pali
1:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29052169 Going Hotel St all the way to River. I took this route to go to Chinatown frequently, but it's better going towards Diamond Head. No need to get on any of the main streets. Here, you have to spend a short distance on Beretania, going across one of the canals.
if you wanted some hill fun, you could always go up Makiki Heights, to the stop sign, scream down Tantalus,stay on Puoawaina, meander to the second ped bridge that goes across Pali (Kuakini) (Concordia, Kuakini).
In any case, make the best of what you got. If you have any other questions, just let me know.
However you slice it, going around the island is not a fun task. I chose to do the Pali Loop at least 10 times (only from Honolulu, not inbound). I have some side streets there, as well, so you spend as little time on Pali as possible.