Best Airports To Land In Hawaii For A Smooth Arrival

Planning a trip to Hawaii can be a tricky affair, especially when it comes to figuring out which airport to fly to. The Hawaiian island chain in the Pacific is primarily reached by plane, and with multiple airports spread across its various islands, choosing the right one can be a challenge. The airport you choose will depend on which island you plan to visit, and your choice could have a significant impact on your trip, affecting everything from travel time to the attractions you can visit.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

The airport has four major runways, including the world's first major runway constructed entirely offshore, known as the Reef Runway. In addition, there are two designated offshore waterways for seaplanes. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport has 60 gates across three terminals, with 54 jet-way gates and 6 hard stands. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected post-security, but passengers travelling between them must pass through a USDA agricultural inspection station for carry-on luggage. The airport offers nonstop flights to North America, Asia, and Oceania, as well as inter-island flights to neighbouring islands, which are generally around 30 minutes or less.

The Wiki Wiki Shuttle is a free shuttle bus service that operates between the ticket lobbies of all three terminals and between the concourses of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 post-security. A consolidated rental car facility houses all rental car companies in one location, providing 4,500 parking spaces across five levels. The airport has also implemented Mobile Passport Control (MPC) and achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Level 3 status.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport provides a range of dining options, including Makai Plantation. However, some travellers have noted challenges with seating availability and lounge access. The airport also lacks day lockers, air conditioning in terminal gates, and SIM card purchasing options.

Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG)

Maui is an island in Hawaii that is served by Kahului Airport, with the airport code OGG. It is the primary airport on the island and receives both overseas and interisland flights. Kahului Airport is located in East Maui, in the town of Kahului, and is the island's major airport.

OGG is a convenient option for those travelling to Maui as it receives direct flights from the US mainland. If you are flying from outside North America, you will likely need to connect through Oahu's Honolulu Airport (HNL) before reaching Kahului. The only circumstance where an alternative Maui airport may be preferable is if you are planning to base yourself in secluded Hana (HNM) for your trip.

Kahului Airport is part of a centralised state structure that governs all of Hawaii's airports and seaports. The airport terminal has ticketing, USDA agricultural inspection, and baggage claim areas on the ground level. The Maui Bus operates two routes that stop at the airport: Route 35 Haiku Islander and Route 40 Upcountry Islander.

Kahului Airport has an interesting history, with its origins linked to World War II. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy acquired land near Kahului and began construction of an air station in 1942. After the war ended in 1945, negotiations took place to convert the Naval Air Station into a civil airport, and by December 1947, the base was under civilian control.

Kauai's Lihue Airport (LIH)

Lihue Airport is part of the State of Hawaii Airport System and is owned and operated by the State of Hawaii's Department of Transportation, Airports Division. The airport provides passenger and aircraft facilities for domestic, overseas, and interisland carriers, commuter/air taxi, air cargo, heliport (tour operators), and general aviation. For the 12-month period ending on August 5, 2022, the airport recorded 109,650 aircraft operations, averaging 300 per day. On a typical day, certain airlines use specific gates to arrive and depart from the airport. American Airlines primarily uses Gate 3 and occasionally Gate 4, while Hawaiian Airlines operates a Premier Lounge open to first-class travellers.

As the major airport of Kauai, Lihue Airport (LIH) is the central gateway to the island for visitors, particularly tourists. It is recommended that first-time visitors opt for the major airport of their chosen island, as these airports have more flights and airlines, providing greater flexibility in scheduling. While there are a limited number of direct flights from the US mainland to Lihue Airport, most visitors connect through Oahu's Honolulu Airport (HNL). The Kauaʻi Bus route 100/200 connects Lihue Airport to downtown Lihue for easy access to and from the airport.

Lihue Airport has served as a filming location for several motion pictures, including Blue Hawaii, Honeymoon in Vegas, Six Days Seven Nights, Soul Surfer, and The Descendants.

Lanai Airport (LNY)

Lanai Airport (IATA: LNY, ICAO: PHNY, FAA LID: LNY), also written as Lānaʻi Airport, is a small airport located on the island of Lanai, around three miles southwest of Lanai City. It is the only airport serving the island and has been in operation since 1930.

The airport covers 505 acres of land and sits at an elevation of 1,308 feet above sea level. It features a single runway, primarily serving interisland flights, commuter services, and air taxis, with some unscheduled charter and general aviation operations. The runway is made of asphalt and measures 5,001 by 150 feet.

In terms of passenger traffic, for the 12-month period ending July 31, 2016, the airport recorded 6,326 aircraft operations, averaging 17 flights per day. Of these, 65% were air taxis, 25% were scheduled commercial flights, 9% were general aviation, and 1% were military flights.

To reach Lanai Airport, passengers typically connect through Oahu's Honolulu Airport (HNL) or Maui's OGG Airport. The airport is served by a single commercial airline, Mokulele Airlines, which operates the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft.

During the pandemic, the Hawaii Department of Transportation waived landing fees for scheduled commercial passenger service to Lanai Airport for a one-year period starting March 1, 2021, to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic on flight operations.

Molokai Airport (MKK)

When travelling to Hawaii, you'll likely fly into Oahu's Honolulu airport (HNL) first. From there, you can easily connect to any other island in Hawaii.

If you're heading to the island of Molokai, you'll be using the Molokai Airport (MKK), also known as Hoolehua Airport. This airport is located six nautical miles (7 mi, 11 km) northwest of Kaunakakai, on the island of Molokai in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. It is the principal airport of the island, serving residents and visitors to Molokai.

Molokai Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport. It occupies 288 acres (117 ha) at an elevation of 454 ft (138 m) above sea level on the central plateau of Molokai. The airport has two asphalt runways that accommodate commuter/air taxi and general aviation activities, as well as some military flights. The largest plane to regularly fly to Molokai Airport was a Boeing 737-200 jet, which seats 127 passengers.

The sole airline servicing Molokai Airport is Mokulele Airlines, which operates the Cessna Grand Caravan 208EX aircraft. To fly to Molokai, you must connect at Oahu's Honolulu Airport (HNL) or Maui's OGG airport.

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