Hawaii's Airport: A Gateway To Paradise

what is hawaii

Hawaii has five major airports located on its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The largest airport in the state is the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Oahu. The airport is named after Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye, who represented Hawaii in the US Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012. Other major airports in Hawaii include Kahului Airport (Maui), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (Keahole, Big Island), Lihue Airport (Kauai), and Hilo International Airport (Hawaii Island).

Characteristics Values
Name Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (also known as Honolulu International Airport)
Location Honolulu, Oahu
Address 300 Rodgers Boulevard Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone Number (808) 836-6411
Code HNL
Named After Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye
Size 4,220 acres (1,710 ha)
Percentage of Oahu's Land More than 1%
Airlines Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Air Cargo, British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Canadian Pacific Air Lines, Aloha Airlines, Braniff International
Facilities International arrivals corridor with moving sidewalks, food and beverage vendors, parking garage, rental car facility
App HNL Airport app available on Google Play and Apple Store
Other Airports in Hawaii Kahului Airport (Maui), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (Hawaii Island), Lihue Airport (Kauai), Hilo International Airport (Hawaii Island)

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Hawaii's largest airport

The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (IATA: HNL, ICAO: PHNL, FAA LID: HNL), also known as Honolulu International Airport, is the largest airport in Hawaii. The airport is located in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the city's central business district. Covering an area of 4,220 acres (1,710 ha), it accounts for more than 1% of Oʻahu's land. The airport is named after Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye, who served as a senator for Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is a major hub for Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Air Cargo. It offers nonstop flights to destinations in North America, Asia, and Oceania. The airport has undergone modernization and upgrades over the years, including improvements to flight display monitors, the addition of new food and beverage vendors, and the construction of a new parking garage. The check-in lobby of the Interisland Terminal has also been renovated, enhancing the efficiency of check-in processes for passengers.

The airport is conveniently located less than 10 miles from downtown Honolulu and the famous Waikiki Beach. It provides easy access to various attractions on the island. With its open-air concept and outdoor gardens, the airport embodies the spirit of Aloha and offers a distinct Hawaiian experience even before visitors step outside.

In recent years, the airport has introduced a wayfinding app, available on Google Play and the Apple Store, to assist passengers with airport navigation. Additionally, the implementation of Mobile Passport Control (MPC) and REAL ID enforcement measures has enhanced security and streamlined the pre-flight baggage inspection process.

With its size, modern facilities, and efficient operations, the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport proudly serves as Hawaii's largest airport, providing a seamless travel experience for visitors to the island paradise.

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Honolulu International Airport

The airport offers nonstop flights to several destinations in North America, Asia, and Oceania. It serves as the primary hub for Hawaiian Airlines and is also a base for Aloha Air Cargo. The airport has undergone modernization and upgrades over the years, including improvements to flight display monitors, the addition of new food and beverage vendors, and the construction of a new parking garage. A new concourse, the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1, was completed in 2021, providing gates capable of accommodating wide-body jets.

British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA) began serving the airport in the 1940s with Douglas DC-4 aircraft, offering routes connecting multiple destinations, including Honolulu. By the 1950s, Northwest Airlines was operating nonstop flights from Seattle using Boeing 377 Stratocruiser propliners. Canadian Pacific Air Lines, which later became CP Air, also served the airport during this decade, connecting Vancouver, Honolulu, and other cities.

In the 1960s, local air carriers Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines introduced jet services on their inter-island routes in Hawaii. By the 1980s, Hawaiian Airlines was operating nonstop flights from Honolulu to various destinations in the continental US, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The airline has continued to invest in the airport, funding projects such as the renovation of the check-in lobby in the Interisland Terminal.

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Other airports on Oahu

Hawaii's largest airport is the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), located in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The airport is named after Hawaii's late Senator Inouye, who was the second-longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate before his death in 2012. It is the main hub for Hawaiian Airlines and offers nonstop flights to North America, Asia, and Oceania.

Honolulu International Airport is located less than 10 miles from downtown Honolulu and the famous Waikiki Beach. With its open-air design and friendly staff, this airport offers a laid-back atmosphere as soon as you touch down. It is also known as the Hawaii airport on Oahu, landing you right in the middle of the action.

Kahului Airport, Kapalua Airport, and Hana Airport are all airports on Maui that can be easily accessed from Oahu via neighbour island flights from Honolulu. Kahului Airport is located just three miles east of Kahului and serves as the main airport on Maui. It offers a central location, with easy access to the island's top attractions, including Haleakala National Park and the town of Lahaina.

Lihue Airport on Kauai is another airport accessible from Oahu via inter-island flights from Honolulu. Kauai is a popular destination for those island-hopping in Hawaii, with flights from seven airlines.

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole is located on the Big Island, with flights from ten airlines, most of which are inter-island flights from Honolulu. This airport is built upon lava flows from the Hualalai volcano, offering a unique experience for travellers.

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Maui's Kahului Airport

Hawaii has five major airports, one of which is Kahului Airport, located on Maui Island. The airport is also known as Maui Airport. It is the biggest and the only international airport of the three other airports on Maui Island. It is located three miles east of the town of Kahului and occupies 1,391 acres of land.

The history of Maui Airport dates back to 1927 when the Territorial Legislature allocated $15,000 to acquire land for an airport site on Maui. The site chosen was at Maalaea, and the property was acquired from a Hawaiian sugar company. In 1947, the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission (HAC) planned to move all operations from Puunene Airport to Maui Airport, as it was considered more reliable for commercial airline operations. After serious negotiations and major improvements, full commercial airline operations began in June 1952.

Kahului Airport is equipped with modern terminal facilities and has two intersecting runways. It is served by many major and minor airlines and serves an average of 7,000 passengers per day, making it the second busiest airport in Hawaii. The airport offers various facilities, including airline lounges, ATM and banking services, medical services, Wi-Fi access, curbside check-in, food and beverage concessions, shops, and a newsstand.

There are several transportation options available from the airport, including bus, taxi, and car rental services. The Maui Bus operates two routes that stop at Kahului Airport: Route 35 Haiku Islander and Route 40 Upcountry Islander. These routes connect the airport with nearby towns and provide convenient travel options for passengers arriving at the airport.

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Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport

The airport was renamed Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on January 8, 2017, to honour astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The airport has a small museum called the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, which features displays such as a sample of lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items belonging to Onizuka.

The runway at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is 11,000 feet long, making it the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu. This length allows much larger aircraft to utilise the airport, facilitating nonstop flights to various destinations in the United States and international locations like Tokyo and Vancouver. The airport covers 4,204 acres of land at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level.

In terms of dining and security, the airport has received mixed reviews. While some appreciate the open-air design, others have found the dining options limited and have experienced strict security protocols. A modernisation project was initiated in March 2017 to combine the airport's two separate terminals into one central terminal area, enhancing security screening and providing passengers with access to more dining and shopping options.

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Frequently asked questions

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), also known as Honolulu International Airport.

The airport is located in Honolulu on the island of O'ahu, about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Honolulu's central business district.

Other major airports in Hawaii include Kahului Airport (Maui), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (Hawaii Island), Lihue Airport (Kauai), and Hilo International Airport (Hawaii Island).

The airport covers 4,220 acres, offers nonstop flights to North America, Asia, and Oceania, and serves as the main hub for Hawaiian Airlines. It has an open-air concept, outdoor gardens, and a wayfinding app for visitors.

The airport is named after Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye, who served as a senator for Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012.

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