Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Nov. 5, 2014. It was updated on August 26, 2022.
First impressions count. That’s why the airports in Hawaii are making a concerted effort to create a sense of place from the moment visitors land in the 50th state. As airports add destination-specific touches to their terminals, they’re making sure visitors know they’re in Hawaii.
Here’s a primer on Hawaii’s five major airports.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Oahu (HNL)
Views of Waikiki, Diamond Head and Oahu’s southern coastline welcome incoming passengers to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii’s largest air travel hub.
Ten miles north of Waikiki, it hosts visitors from around the state and the world on more than 20 carriers. HNL has four runways, one of which is built on a reef. It serves clients’ needs with a range of stores, restaurants and bars, plus business facilities, ATMs and currency exchange offices.
In August 2021, the airport unveiled its new Mauka Concourse, a $270 million project that began in 2018 as a part of Hawaii’s Airport Modernization Project, which includes runway widening, construction in taxiway areas and more.
Kahului Airport, Maui (OGG)
With its alfresco design and gardens, Kahului Airport (OGG) embraces visitors with the smell of plumeria from the moment they get off the plane. Although it’s Maui’s primary airport (welcoming both overseas and interisland traffic), OGG has an intimate, laid-back vibe.
Once through the security checkpoint, departing travelers can grab a bite in one of the restaurants and pick up Hawaiian-style gifts from kiosks and shops in the airy promenade. Three miles east of Kahului, OGG features two intersecting runways that welcome 10 interisland, national and international airlines.
Hilo International Airport, Hawaii Island (ITO)
Ferns, red ginger, bird of paradise and gardenia blossoms set a tropical tone in this comfortable dual-level airport, and so do the Hawaiian-print sofas and chairs in the airport’s lower-level lobby.
Two miles east of Hilo, Hilo International Airport (ITO) is ideally situated for visitors looking to explore the eastern side of Hawaii Island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
United Airlines flies direct to and from ITO, and its runways also accommodate interisland flights from Southwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines. Travelers can purchase a floral treasure at the airport’s lei stands. A display honors Albert Kualii Brickwood Lyman, the first person of Hawaiian ancestry to be appointed as a U.S. Army brigadier general.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahol, Hawaii Island (KOA)
First-time incoming Kona International Airport (KOA) visitors are often surprised to see a runway constructed in the middle of lava fields. The distinctive delights continue as passengers disembark the plane using mobile outdoor stairs rather than jetways, something not found at Hawaii’s other major airports.
KOA’s open-air terminal structures greet arriving travelers with a charming, low-key first impression. Recent upgrades to the passenger experience include a centralized security checkpoint and improved baggage handling.
A new $58.7 million Federal Inspection Station, which will house U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was completed in 2021. A larger terminal-wide modernization project is currently taking place.
Lihue Airport, Kauai (LIH)
As planes approach Lihue Airport (LIH), passengers heading to Kauai are rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the mountains, beaches and natural beauty that define Kauai. Less than two miles east of Lihue town, the airport is centrally located between the island’s major destinations. Several movies have filmed scenes at this innately Kauai-style airport in Hawaii.
To keep the facility up to snuff, the main lobby was recently upgraded and expanded. At the same time, the one-level terminal remains refreshingly casual as it reflects the heritage of the island. The airport is currently repaving its public parking lot, set to be complete in early 2023.
