Hawaii's Mainland Airports: A Comprehensive Guide

Hawaii has five major airports and several smaller airstrips for inter-island flights or travel to remote locations. The main airport is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (formerly Honolulu International Airport) in Oahu, which offers non-stop flights to North America, Asia, and Oceania. The other four major airports are Kahului Airport in Maui, Hilo International Airport in Hawaii, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Keahole, and Lihue Airport in Kauai.

Airports in Hawaii:

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu)

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also known as Honolulu International Airport, is the main and largest airport in Hawaii. 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. The airport is located in the Honolulu census-designated place, 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Honolulu's central business district. It covers 4,220 acres (1,710 ha), more than 1% of Oahu's land.

The airport has four major runways, which it operates in conjunction with the adjacent Hickam Air Force Base. The principal runway, designated 8R/26L and also known as the Reef Runway, was the world's first major runway constructed entirely offshore. In addition to the four paved runways, the airport has two designated offshore waterways for seaplanes. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport has 60 gates (54 jet-way gates and 6 hard stands) in three terminals. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected post-security, but passengers walking between them must pass through a USDA agricultural inspection station for carry-on luggage.

The airport offers nonstop flights to many places in North America, Asia, and Oceania. It serves as the main hub of Hawaiian Airlines and is also a base for Aloha Air Cargo. In 2012, Hawaiian Airlines established Honolulu International Airport as a connecting hub between the United States mainland and the Asia-Pacific region. The airport is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a large-hub primary commercial service facility.

In recent years, the airport has undergone several improvements and upgrades. In 2018, the Hawaii Department of Transportation started renumbering all gates and baggage claim carousels, and in 2021, a new consolidated rental car facility opened, providing a shared facility for all rental car companies. The airport has also achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Level 3 status and implemented Mobile Passport Control (MPC), allowing eligible travellers to expedite their entry into the United States using a mobile application.

Kahului Airport (Maui)

Kahului Airport is the primary airport on the island of Maui, offering both overseas and interisland flights. The airport is located on Kahului Airport Road and is governed by the centralised state structure that manages all of Hawaii's airports and seaports. The official authority over the airport is the Governor of Hawaii, who appoints the Director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation. The airport is served by the Maui Bus, with two routes stopping at the airport: Route 35 Haiku Islander and Route 40 Upcountry Islander. Both routes start in Kahului, with Route 35 connecting the airport to Paia and Haiku, and Route 40 connecting to Pukalani, Makawao, and Haliimaile.

Kahului Airport has a history dating back to World War II. In response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy acquired approximately 1,341 acres of sugar cane fields near Kahului in 1942 and began constructing an air station. After the war ended in 1945, the Territory of Hawaii negotiated with the Navy to convert the Naval Air Station Kahului into a civil airport. By December 1947, the base was under civilian control, and work began to transform the airfield, including the construction of a passenger terminal and the installation of navigational and runway lighting systems.

The airport has witnessed a few notable incidents over the years. In 1988, Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a Boeing 737-200 inter-island flight, experienced explosive decompression en route from Hilo Airport to Honolulu International Airport. A flight attendant was sucked out of the aircraft and died, and several passengers sustained life-threatening injuries. Despite the challenging circumstances, the pilots successfully landed the plane at Kahului Airport. In another incident in 1989, Aloha IslandAir Flight 1712, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, collided with mountainous terrain near Halawa Valley, Molokai, en route to Molokai Airport. Unfortunately, all 20 passengers and crew on board perished in the accident.

Kahului Airport is Maui's main airport, with two smaller commuter airports on the island: Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui and Hāna Airport (HNM) in East Maui. Many airlines offer non-stop flights directly to Maui, providing convenient travel options for visitors.

Hilo International Airport (Hawaii Island)

Hilo International Airport, also known as General Lyman Field prior to 1989, is located on the eastern shore of the island of Hawaii, about two miles east of Hilo. The airport covers 1,391 acres of land and its primary runway (8-26) is 9,800 feet long, catering mainly to air carrier operations. The crosswind runway, on the other hand, is 5,600 feet long and is primarily used for general aviation operations.

The history of Hilo International Airport dates back to the late 1920s when Inter-Island Airways, the precursor of Hawaiian Airlines, initiated thrice-weekly flights connecting Hilo and Honolulu. The airport underwent significant upgrades in the following decades, with the Works Progress Administration investing over $260,000 in improvements between 1937 and 1942. During World War II, the airport was under the control of the US Army, which expanded and enhanced its infrastructure to support an Air Corp fighter squadron.

In the early 1980s, Hilo International Airport struggled to attract overseas air carriers, while several airlines offered nonstop interisland services to Honolulu. However, in 2006, ATA Airlines reintroduced daily non-stop flights between Hilo and Oakland International Airport, marking the first direct overseas service to Hilo in almost two decades. This proved to be a successful endeavour, leading to the deployment of larger aircraft during peak travel seasons.

Today, Hilo International Airport continues to serve the island of Hawaii, providing essential aviation services and connections to travellers and locals alike.

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (Hawaii Island)

Hawaii is served by several airports, including five major airports: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu (Oahu); Kahului Airport (Maui); Hilo International Airport (Hawaii Island); Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (Hawaii Island); and Lihue Airport (Kauai).

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, also known as Keāhole Airport, is located on the west of Hawaii Island, in the town of Kailua-Kona. The airport is named after astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

The airport consists of three terminals, with gates 1-5 in Terminal 1, gates 6-10 in Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 hosting smaller commuter flights. Kona International is unique among Hawaiian airports in that passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps, rather than jet bridges. Despite this, the airport accommodates large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing models.

In 1991, a small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, opened at the airport, featuring a range of exhibits, including a sample of lunar soil and personal items from Onizuka. In 1994, the runway was extended to 11,000 feet, enabling larger aircraft to use the airport and facilitating nonstop flights to the US West Coast and beyond, as well as to Tokyo.

A modernisation project began in 2017 to combine the airport's two separate terminals into one, central terminal area with a unified security screening process. This project also allowed passengers to access shopping and dining areas in either terminal. As part of this expansion, the Onizuka Space Center was closed in 2016, and the airport was officially renamed after Onizuka in January 2017.

Other Airports in Hawaii

In addition to the five major airports, there are several other airports serving Hawaii, including:

• Hana Airport (HNM)
• Kahului Airport (OGG)
• Kalaeloa Airport (JRF)
• Kalaupapa Airport (LUP)
• Kapalua Airport (JHM)
• Kawaihapai Airfield (HDH)
• Lanai Airport (LNY)
• Lihue Airport (LIH)
• Molokai Airport (MKK)
• Port Allen Airport (PAK)
• Upolu Airport (UPP)
• Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE)

Lihue Airport (Kauai)

Lihue Airport (LIH) is the primary airport on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is located in the capital city of Lihue, on the southeastern coast of the island. The airport is owned and operated by the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division. Covering an area of 915 acres (370 hectares), it is considered a small-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lihue Airport has two asphalt runways, each measuring 6,500 by 150 feet (1,981 by 46 metres), and one helipad measuring 64 by 64 feet (20 by 20 metres).

The airport caters to both overseas and interisland flights, with the five most popular destinations being Honolulu, Los Angeles, Kahului, Seattle, and San Francisco. In 2017, these cities saw significant passenger traffic to and from Kauai, with around 700,000, 265,000, 135,000, 94,000, and 72,000 passengers, respectively. The airport is served by several airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and more.

Lihue Airport provides a range of amenities and convenient features for travellers. It is recommended that passengers arrive at least two hours before their departure to ensure a smooth experience. Transportation options from the airport include ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber, as well as taxis and shuttles. Car rental services are also available at the airport, with companies such as Dollar Rent a Car, Alamo, Avis, and Budget having kiosks on-site.

For those seeking a meal upon their arrival or before departure, downtown Lihue offers a variety of dining options showcasing Kauai's diverse and locally sourced cuisine. The island's small size makes vehicle travel affordable, and travellers can easily access nearby attractions such as beautiful beaches, Waimea Canyon, and exciting water sports. Lihue Airport serves as a key point of entry for visitors exploring the natural wonders and experiencing the Aloha Spirit of Kauai.

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