Narrative:

On approach to hnl we were 'cleared to maintain 3000 ft until established on the localizer nad cleared for ILS runway 8L approach.' the first officer was flying and noted we were going to intercept the GS before the localizer. I asked the approach controller if we could descend on the GS. The controller cleared us to descend on the GS but cross ewabe (OM) at 2300 ft. We were on instruments at the time, and I think the controller thought we would be visual by ewabe (OM). Rainshowers were on the approach course and we remained IFR as we approached ewabe (OM) established on the ILS. I tried to contact tower and get relief from the crossing restr but the frequency was busy. The first officer stayed high on the GS but still crossed ewabe (OM) below 2300 ft (the charted GS crossing altitude at ewabe (OM) is 1994 ft). The approach continued and we did not get below the cloud base/rainshowers until approximately 1200 ft, which I reported to the tower. We saw no traffic on TCASII and no traffic was given to us by approach or tower. As far as we know, there was no traffic conflict. The approach controller had asked the aircraft that preceded us on the approach to report the airport in sight. That, and that fact the WX at the airport was a lot better than what we encountered on the approach, led us to believe we would have the airport in sight prior to ewabe (OM).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB FLC CROSSED OM BELOW ASSIGNED ALT OF 2300 FT AND ABOVE GS ALT OF 1994 FT.

Narrative: ON APCH TO HNL WE WERE 'CLRED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC NAD CLRED FOR ILS RWY 8L APCH.' THE FO WAS FLYING AND NOTED WE WERE GOING TO INTERCEPT THE GS BEFORE THE LOC. I ASKED THE APCH CTLR IF WE COULD DSND ON THE GS. THE CTLR CLRED US TO DSND ON THE GS BUT CROSS EWABE (OM) AT 2300 FT. WE WERE ON INSTS AT THE TIME, AND I THINK THE CTLR THOUGHT WE WOULD BE VISUAL BY EWABE (OM). RAINSHOWERS WERE ON THE APCH COURSE AND WE REMAINED IFR AS WE APCHED EWABE (OM) ESTABLISHED ON THE ILS. I TRIED TO CONTACT TWR AND GET RELIEF FROM THE XING RESTR BUT THE FREQ WAS BUSY. THE FO STAYED HIGH ON THE GS BUT STILL CROSSED EWABE (OM) BELOW 2300 FT (THE CHARTED GS XING ALT AT EWABE (OM) IS 1994 FT). THE APCH CONTINUED AND WE DID NOT GET BELOW THE CLOUD BASE/RAINSHOWERS UNTIL APPROX 1200 FT, WHICH I RPTED TO THE TWR. WE SAW NO TFC ON TCASII AND NO TFC WAS GIVEN TO US BY APCH OR TWR. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT. THE APCH CTLR HAD ASKED THE ACFT THAT PRECEDED US ON THE APCH TO RPT THE ARPT IN SIGHT. THAT, AND THAT FACT THE WX AT THE ARPT WAS A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE ENCOUNTERED ON THE APCH, LED US TO BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE THE ARPT IN SIGHT PRIOR TO EWABE (OM).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.