Travel
Getting to Hawaii: Airports, Flights, and Tips
How to get to Hawaii: the main airports, how to find good flight fares, arriving by cruise, and practical booking tips for a smooth trip.
Almost everyone reaches Hawaii by air. Honolulu (HNL) on Oʻahu is the largest hub, with direct flights to the other main islands and to cities across the mainland and beyond. From the U.S. West Coast, the flight is about 5 to 6 hours. Choosing the right arrival airport for your island saves time and money.
The main airports
Each main island has its own airport: Honolulu (HNL) for Oʻahu, Kahului (OGG) for Maui, Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO) for the Big Island, and Lihue (LIH) for Kauaʻi. Fly directly to your island when you can to avoid extra connections.
Finding flights
Compare fares across airlines and dates, and set alerts if you can be flexible. Prices swing with the seasons, so pairing this with our best time to visit guide helps you catch better deals.
Flying to Hawaii?
Compare prices from many airlines to Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), and Lihue (LIH).
Search FlightsArriving by cruise
Some visitors reach Hawaii on a cruise, either round-trip from the mainland or as part of a Pacific itinerary. Cruises let you sample several islands, though time in port is limited. If your goal is to really know one place, flying and staying is better.
Booking tips
Book a few months ahead for the best fares, especially in peak season, and be flexible on days of the week. Once you land, you will likely need a rental car, so read getting around Hawaii. If you plan to visit more than one island, see island hopping.
Compare flights to Hawaii
Search fares across airlines to Honolulu and the neighbor-island airports.
Search Flights to HawaiiPlanning a Hawaii trip?
Find the best flights and hotels across all islands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Hawaii?
How long is the flight to Hawaii?
When are flights to Hawaii cheapest?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.