Hawaii is a US state comprising hundreds of islands, with each island having a dedicated airport. There are five major airports in Hawaii, located on its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. These airports are Oahu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG), the Big Island's Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA), Kauai's Lihue Airport (LIH), and the Big Island's Hilo International Airport (ITO).

Characteristics of Major Airports in Hawaii

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu)

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also known as Honolulu International Airport, is the largest airport in Hawaii. It is located in Honolulu on the island of O'ahu and covers 4,220 acres, which is more than 1% of O'ahu's land. The airport is named after Hawaii's late Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who was the second-longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate before his death in 2012.

The airport is a hub for inter-island, domestic, and international flights, with four main runways for landings and take-offs, including the 12,000-foot Reef Runway, the first major runway in the world built entirely offshore. The airport serves as a jumping-off point for travellers looking to explore other islands in Hawaii, with flights to Kahului Airport, Kapalua Airport, Hana Airport, and more.

As the main hub of Hawaiian Airlines and a base for Aloha Air Cargo, the airport offers nonstop flights to many destinations in North America, Asia, and Oceania. It is also included in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017-2021, categorised as a large-hub primary commercial service facility.

The airport has a range of amenities, including food and beverage vendors, ground transportation options, and a Wiki Wiki Shuttle, which provides free shuttle services between the ticket lobbies of all three terminals. However, some reviews mention challenges with wayfinding, limited dining and shopping options, and long walks between different areas of the airport.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is a significant gateway to the state of Hawaii, accommodating more than 10 million annual passengers at its peak.

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (Big Island)

There are five major airports in Hawaii, two of which are on the Big Island: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO). Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is the largest airport on the Big Island and the primary airport on the Island of Hawaii. It is located on the western side of the island, just north of the town of Kailua-Kona. The airport's runways are built on a lava field, which makes for an impressive view as you land.

The airport has a rustic, open-air, tropical vibe, with passengers disembarking via stairs to the tarmac rather than a jet bridge. It has three terminals, with gates 1 through 5 in Terminal 1, gates 6 through 10 in Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 hosting smaller commuter flights. Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport covers 4,204 acres of land and is located 47 feet above mean sea level. The airport has one asphalt runway, which, at 11,000 feet, is the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu.

The airport is named after astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. A small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, opened at the airport in 1991 and featured displays such as a sample of lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items belonging to Onizuka. The centre closed in March 2016 to make way for the airport's expansion, and the airport was renamed after Onizuka in January 2017.

The airport opened on July 1, 1970, with a single 6,500-foot runway. Construction crews used three million pounds of dynamite to flatten the lava tube-riddled lava flow within 13 months. In its first year, 515,378 passengers passed through the airport. The airport has had several names over the years, initially being called Ke-āhole Airport after its geographical location, then Keāhole-Kona International Airport, and Kona International Airport at Keāhole, before being renamed Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole in 2017.

In 1994, the runway was extended to 11,000 feet, enabling much larger aircraft to use the airport and facilitating nonstop flights to Tokyo and cities in the US beyond the West Coast hubs. The airport has also undergone a modernization project to combine its two terminals into one central terminal area, which was completed in 2017.

Kahului Airport (Maui)

There are five major airports in Hawaii, one of which is Kahului Airport (OGG) on the island of Maui. It is the second busiest airport in the state, receiving both international and inter-island flights. The airport has a laid-back, easy-breezy, open-air design, and its staff are warm and friendly. It is located just three miles east of Kahului, the famous start of the Road to Hana, and its central location makes it a great starting point for visitors to the island. The airport offers extensive rental car options, restaurants, and gift shops.

Kahului Airport has offered full airport operations since 1952, and its FAA/IATA airport code, OGG, pays homage to aviation pioneer Bertram J. "Jimmy" Hogg, a Kauai native who worked for Hawaiian Airlines. The airport covers 1,391 acres at an elevation of 54 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways, with most commercial flights using Runway 2, which is equipped with a Category I Instrument Landing System. Runway 5 is primarily used for lighter commuter aircraft and general aviation.

The Kahului Airport terminal building has ticketing, USDA agricultural inspection, and baggage claim areas on the ground level. There are sixteen jetways for passenger enplaning and deplaning, with six gate hold areas designated A to F. Gates with odd numbers have jetway systems, while even-numbered gates are designated as emergency exits with stairs leading to the ramp below. The main terminal is divided into north and south areas, with the south area housing Gates 1 to 16 and the north area housing Gates 17 to 39.

The airport is undergoing expansion, with plans to add two more aircraft parking positions to the existing thirteen for the main passenger terminal. There is opposition to the project from residents who are concerned about the introduction of invasive species and other issues. However, the expansion aims to prepare Kahului Airport to become a permanent international airport with service routes from Canada and Japan.

Lihue Airport (Kauai)

There are five major airports in Hawaii, and one of them is the Lihue Airport (LIH) on the island of Kauai. It is the only airport on the island, and it is located in the capital city of Lihue, on the island's southeastern coast. The airport is the primary gateway to Kauai for visitors, especially tourists, and it is a key point of entry for both overseas and inter-island flights.

Lihue Airport is a state-owned public-use airport that covers an area of 915 acres (370 hectares) at an elevation of 153 feet (47 m) above sea level. It has two asphalt runways, each measuring 6,500 by 150 feet (1,981 by 46 m), and one helipad measuring 64 by 64 feet (20 by 20 m). The airport is mostly open-air, with an island aesthetic that respects the history and culture of Hawaii. The check-in area is completely outside, and the airport has a small and rural feel, much like the surrounding areas of Kauai.

The airport is served by several airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and WestJet. Inter-island travel is extremely popular, and travellers can fly into Hawaii via Honolulu International Airport before catching another flight to Lihue Airport. However, it may be more time and cost-effective to fly directly to Lihue Airport from the mainland.

Lihue Airport offers various amenities and services, including rental car facilities, restaurants, cafes, and restrooms. The Kauaʻi Bus route 100/200 connects the airport to downtown Lihue, and both Lyft and Uber are authorized for drop-off and pick-up. The airport has also served as a filming location for several motion pictures, including "Blue Hawaii", "Honeymoon in Vegas", and "The Descendants".

Hilo International Airport (Big Island)

Hawaii has five major airports, spread across its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The Big Island, also known as the Island of Hawaii, has two major airports: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (Kona International Airport) and Hilo International Airport.

Hilo International Airport (ITO) is located on the eastern side of the Island of Hawaii, two miles east of the city of Hilo. It is one of two international airports serving the island, the other being Kona International Airport on the western side. The airport covers 1,007 acres of land and is owned and operated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

Hilo International Airport is served by inter-island airlines, with most flights operating between either Honolulu International Airport on Oahu or Kahului Airport on Maui. The airport has two runways. The primary runway (8-26) is 9,800 feet long and is used mainly for air carrier operations. Runway 3/21 is 5,600 feet long and is used for general aviation operations, including the take-off and landing of smaller commuter planes. The airport also has a large terminal and easy access to Hilo and the surrounding areas.

Hilo International Airport was formerly known as General Lyman Field, named after General Albert Kualiʻi Brickwood Lyman, the first U.S. General of Hawaiian ancestry. The airport was renamed in 1989 to reorient its image and conform to the practice of naming airports for their geographical locations. However, the main terminal retained the Lyman name.

The airport has a long history, with the Territory of Hawaii legislature authorising the expenditure of $25,000 for the construction of a landing strip in Hilo in 1927. The airport was dedicated in February 1928, and inter-island service began in November 1929, with thrice-weekly flights between Hilo and Honolulu. Over the years, the airport has undergone various expansion and improvement projects, including the construction of new terminals, taxiways, and aprons.

Hilo International Airport is the smallest of Hawaii's five major airports in terms of passenger arrivals and departures. While other airports in the state have seen significant growth, Hilo International Airport has experienced relatively stagnant passenger counts. This is mainly due to the lack of tourism within the airport's service area compared to other regions in Hawaii.

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