Exploring Oahu's Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

Hawaii is home to five international airports and six regional airports, with each major Hawaiian island featuring an airport. The island of Oahu is served by Honolulu International Airport (HNL), also known as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which is Hawaii's largest and busiest airport. It is the primary hub for inter-island and international flights, accommodating over 10 million passengers annually. The airport is conveniently located less than 10 miles from downtown Honolulu and the famous Waikiki Beach. With its four runways, including the 12,000-foot Reef Runway, it is an ideal gateway for travellers to Oahu and a perfect jumping-off point for island-hopping adventures.

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

The airport is named after Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye, who represented Hawaii in the United States Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012. It was previously known as John Rodgers Airport, after World War I naval officer John Rodgers, and opened on March 21, 1927. The airport was the first full airport in Hawaii, with aircraft previously limited to small landing strips, fields, and seaplane docks.

Honolulu International Airport serves as a primary hub for both inter-island and international flights. It is the main hub of Hawaiian Airlines and also a base for Aloha Air Cargo. The airport offers nonstop flights to many places in North America, Asia, and Oceania, with non-stop departures to cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Sydney, and Vancouver.

The airport has four major runways, which it operates in conjunction with the adjacent Hickam Air Force Base. In addition, there are two designated offshore waterways for use by seaplanes. The principal runway, also known as the Reef Runway, was the world's first major runway constructed entirely offshore and is designated as an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle.

Honolulu International Airport has 60 gates across three terminals. Terminal 1 (formerly the Interisland Terminal) has 25 gates and opened in 1993, while Terminal 2 (formerly the Overseas Terminal) has 29 gates and opened in 1962. Terminal 3 opened in 2018 and is a single-story facility located between the Delta and United Cargo facilities.

While the airport provides essential services such as baggage claim, arrivals, and departures, reviews highlight challenges with wayfinding, limited dining and shopping options, and a lack of seating. The airport is accessible via Interstate H-1, Nimitz Highway, and public transportation options including bus and light metro services.

John Rodgers Airport

The history of John Rodgers Airport dates back to 1925 when the Hawaiian Legislature appropriated funds for the acquisition and improvement of an airport on Oahu. The airport was established on a site of 119.3 acres of land and 766 acres of underwater area, acquired from the S. M. Damon estate.

During World War II, the airport was taken over by the armed forces and extensive improvements were made. It served as a base for various military units, including the Naval Air Transport Service and the Naval Utility Flight Unit. After the war, in 1946, the airport was returned to the Territory and civilian flying resumed.

Today, the airport, now known as Kalaeloa Airport, is owned and operated by the Oahu District of the State Airports System. It serves as a general aviation reliever airport for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and provides a launch site for Coast Guard Search and Rescue operations, among other functions. The airport has four buildings that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places due to their distinctive architecture.

Kalaeloa Airport

The airport is located near the Honolulu communities of 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, and Campbell Industrial Park in West Oahu. Most flights to Kalaeloa Airport originate from commuter airports on the other Hawaiian islands. While it primarily serves unscheduled air taxis, general aviation, and military aircraft, Kalaeloa Airport also offers scheduled airline services. Mokulele Airlines was the first airline to provide scheduled flights to Kahului Airport on Maui, beginning on July 1, 2014.

Dillingham Airfield

The Hawaii Department of Transportation operates and maintains the airfield and utility systems, with the Army having first priority for air-land operations and helicopter night-vision training. The airfield is part of a centralized state structure governing all airports and seaports in Hawaii, with the official authority being the Governor of Hawaii.

The television series Lost filmed several scenes at Dillingham Airfield due to its remote location near the North Shore.

Hickam Field/Air Force Base

Hickam Field was activated in 1938 and occupied the adjacent land between Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. It was the principal army airfield in Hawaii and the only one large enough to accommodate the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. The base played a significant role in World War II, becoming a major centre for training pilots and assembling aircraft. It was also the hub of the Pacific aerial network, supporting aircraft ferrying troops and supplies.

Hickam Air Force Base consists of 2,850 acres of land and facilities valued at over $444 million. It shares runways with the adjacent Honolulu International Airport/Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

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