When it comes to exploring the Hawaiian Islands, island hopping is a popular choice due to their close proximity. With just eight miles separating some major islands like Lanai and Maui, it’s tempting to visit multiple islands during your trip. However, to truly enjoy Hawaii and make the most of your experience, it’s important to be strategic and spend enough time on each island before moving on to the next.
There are several transportation options for getting around the Hawaiian Islands. Helicopter flights offer a thrilling and scenic way to travel between islands. Alternatively, you can take a ferry or boat, although these options may be more limited. In most cases, flying is the most common and convenient method of transportation between the islands.
To ensure a seamless vacation, it’s important to plan your itinerary and transportation in advance. Consider the time you’ll need to explore each island fully and factor in travel time between them. This will help you make the most of your time and avoid feeling rushed or constantly on the move.
By carefully planning your transportation and allowing for sufficient time on each island, you can have a memorable and enjoyable Hawaiian vacation.
Oahu is the hub
Oahu serves as the central hub for inter-island travel in Hawaii. It is where most international flights arrive, as well as where the majority of mainland U.S. flights operate. Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the primary airport on Oahu, offering flights to almost all of the major neighboring islands.
If you’re unsure about which islands you want to visit during your Hawaiian vacation, it is still a good idea to book your main flights in and out of HNL. This provides a convenient starting point for your trip and allows you flexibility to plan your inter-island travel later.
However, it’s important not to limit yourself to just staying in the Waikiki area on Oahu. Hawaii offers much more to explore beyond Waikiki, and the experience improves significantly as you venture out to other islands. Nonstop flights from HNL to other major Hawaiian islands typically take around 30 to 45 minutes.
By securing your main flights through Honolulu, you can have confidence that the remaining logistics of your inter-island travel can be arranged at a later stage, allowing you to make the most of your Hawaiian adventure.
Flying between the islands
Historically, Hawaiian Airlines has been the primary airline for inter-island travel in Hawaii, and it continues to be a popular choice with frequent daily flights between the islands. However, Southwest Airlines has emerged as a strong competitor in the Hawaiian market, offering travelers more options and potentially better deals when flying to the Big Island, Maui, or Kauai. Southwest operates flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Kauai (LIH), Maui (OGG), Hilo (ITO), and Kona (KOA). It’s worth noting that Southwest flights between the islands usually require a layover in Honolulu, so if you prefer a nonstop flight from Kona to Kauai, Hawaiian Airlines may be your best choice.
Mokulele Airlines is another option for inter-island travel, offering around 120 daily flights. They provide service to unique Hawaiian destinations like Lanai and Hana.
For a charter option, travelers can consider Makani Kai Air, which operates a small fleet of planes to fly between the islands, including destinations such as Princeville on Kauai, Molokai, or the Kalaupapa Peninsula, a national historic park that requires a permit for entry.
If you’re heading directly to the small island of Lanai, Lanai Air offers turbo-prop flights from Honolulu to Lanai, making it convenient for those staying at the Four Seasons or similar accommodations.
With these various airline options, travelers have flexibility in choosing the most suitable carrier for their inter-island travel needs, ensuring a smooth and convenient experience as they explore different Hawaiian islands.
Take the Ferry to Lanai
If you prefer a more scenic and leisurely option instead of heading back to the airport, you have the opportunity to take a ferry between Maui and Lanai with the Expeditions Lanai Passenger Ferry. This ferry service offers a convenient way to travel between the two islands, allowing you to enjoy the experience of being at sea.
The ferry journey takes approximately one hour, and the cost for a one-way ticket is around $30 for adults and $20 for children. It’s important to note that the ferry operates with a limited schedule, offering only five departures and returns each day. Therefore, careful planning is necessary when considering day trips or excursions between Maui and Lanai.
By opting for the ferry, you can enjoy the picturesque views of the ocean while seamlessly transitioning between the two islands, adding an element of adventure to your Hawaiian vacation.
Fly to Molokai
Direct access to the island of Molokai from the U.S. mainland is not available. To reach Molokai, you will need to take a connecting flight from airports such as HNL (Honolulu), OGG (Kahului), or JHM (Kapalua). There are several airlines that offer flights to Molokai from these airports, including Hawaiian Airlines, Makani Kai Air, and Mokulele Airlines. The duration of these flights is relatively short, with a typical travel time of around 25 minutes. By booking a connecting flight, you can conveniently reach the beautiful island of Molokai and begin exploring its unique attractions and natural beauty.
Book a cruise between the islands
For those seeking an immersive Hawaiian vacation and have the luxury of time and budget, embarking on a cruise can be an excellent option. Cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line offer enticing itineraries that allow you to visit the four major Hawaiian islands, with some cruises even including overnight stays.
By opting for a cruise, you can explore Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island without the need to worry about transportation between islands. The convenience of boarding and disembarking the ship simplifies your travel logistics. Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line offers the opportunity to combine a cruise around Hawaii with a trip to French Polynesia, creating an even more remarkable experience.
Disney Cruise Line’s Hawaii cruises typically span over 10 nights and may start or end in Vancouver, with stops at multiple Hawaiian islands along the way. This extended duration allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the islands and their unique offerings.
Choosing a cruise as part of your Hawaiian vacation allows you to enjoy the comfort and amenities of a luxurious ship while discovering the diverse beauty and attractions of each island. It’s an all-in-one experience that combines relaxation, entertainment, and unforgettable island adventures.
Helicopter to remote areas
For those seeking an immersive Hawaiian vacation and have the luxury of time and budget, embarking on a cruise can be an excellent option. Cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line offer enticing itineraries that allow you to visit the four major Hawaiian islands, with some cruises even including overnight stays.
By opting for a cruise, you can explore Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island without the need to worry about transportation between islands. The convenience of boarding and disembarking the ship simplifies your travel logistics. Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line offers the opportunity to combine a cruise around Hawaii with a trip to French Polynesia, creating an even more remarkable experience.
Disney Cruise Line’s Hawaii cruises typically span over 10 nights and may start or end in Vancouver, with stops at multiple Hawaiian islands along the way. This extended duration allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the islands and their unique offerings.
Choosing a cruise as part of your Hawaiian vacation allows you to enjoy the comfort and amenities of a luxurious ship while discovering the diverse beauty and attractions of each island. It’s an all-in-one experience that combines relaxation, entertainment, and unforgettable island adventures.
Use airline miles for intra-Hawaii travel
Island-hopping in Hawaii using airline miles offers a range of options, although most of them involve Hawaiian Airlines operated flights. However, the number of miles required for inter-island flights on Hawaiian Airlines varies among different airlines, so it’s worth exploring your available miles to find the best deal. If you’re flying an inter-island route operated by Southwest Airlines, you’ll have another set of choices. Here’s a breakdown of popular options, with prices listed as one-way unless stated otherwise. (To get an idea of the experience, here’s what it’s like to island-hop on Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines.)
American Airlines miles for Hawaiian Airlines: 7,500 miles in economy, 15,000 in first class
Delta Air Lines miles for Hawaiian Airlines: 7,500 miles in economy
Hawaiian Airlines miles: 7,500 miles in economy, 15,000 in first class
JetBlue TrueBlue points for Hawaiian Airlines: 6,000 miles in economy, 12,000 in first class
If you have credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio. Citi ThankYou Rewards also has a 1:1 transfer ratio to JetBlue. JetBlue Plus Cardholders receive 10% of their redeemed points back.
Note that JetBlue awards for Hawaiian Airlines must be booked over the phone with JetBlue, but availability generally aligns with what United displays as available.
United Airlines miles for Hawaiian Airlines: 7,000 miles in economy (10.5k miles if travel is within the next 30 days)
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles for Hawaiian Airlines: 7,500 miles in economy, 15,000 in first class (2,000 miles in economy/10,000 in first class for infants)
One advantage of using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles is that they are easily earned through transfer partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and even Marriott Rewards. Periodic transfer bonuses from Amex and Citi have been observed in the past, so your award rates may be further discounted during these promotions.
Southwest Airlines: Many inter-island flights on Southwest are currently available for 2,000 to 4,000 Rapid Rewards points each way. Rapid Rewards points can be earned through Southwest credit cards, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. Additionally, you can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, using cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. On Southwest, you’ll enjoy benefits such as two free checked bags and access to in-flight streaming entertainment on your personal device. Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, you can take advantage of a 2-for-1 deal!
By leveraging your airline miles, you can make island-hopping in Hawaii more affordable and convenient, allowing you to explore the beauty of multiple islands during your vacation.
Free island-hop via the United Excursionist Perk
If you’re looking to include island-hopping within your larger booking to Hawaii, you can do so “for free” by using United miles. By taking advantage of the United Excursionist Perk, you can incorporate additional stops in your itinerary without using extra miles. For example, you could book a trip from Houston to Honolulu (with a stopover), then continue to Lihue (another stopover), before returning to Houston. This entire itinerary would cost the same number of miles as a round-trip between Houston and Honolulu (45,000 miles in saver economy). This is possible because Hawaii is considered a separate region in United’s award chart, allowing for a free stopover within the same round-trip booking.
While commercial aircraft are typically the main mode of transportation for island-hopping in Hawaii, there are some exceptions to this rule. In some cases, the cost of inter-island flights may be low enough that using airline miles may not be necessary. It’s always advisable to calculate the value you would be getting from your points to ensure it’s worth using them. However, if you are flying with Southwest Airlines, which offers fixed-value points, or if the cash prices for flights exceed the $100 threshold, using miles becomes a worthwhile option to consider.
