Hawaii Interisland Travel Guide 2025: Airlines, Fares & When to Book

The Current Airline Landscape: Who Flies Where

Hawaiian Airlines: The Heavyweight

Hawaiian remains the undisputed king of interisland travel with over 170 daily flights connecting all major airports. They’ve been doing this since 1929, so they know exactly what they’re doing. Hawaiian operates the most comprehensive route network and averages 170 daily flights between the Hawaiian Islands, serving Honolulu, Kahului (Maui), Lihue (Kauai), and both Kona and Hilo on the Big Island.

The airline uses Boeing 717s for most interisland routes, seating about 123 passengers. Flight times range from 20 to 50 minutes depending on the route. They offer the most frequency and flexibility, but that convenience comes at a premium, especially during peak travel times.

Southwest Airlines: The Disruptor (Maybe Not for Much Longer)

Southwest disrupted the market five years ago with $39 fares, but recently hinted at plans to reduce its Hawaii interisland operations in 2025 significantly. This is a big fucking deal for anyone planning future trips. Southwest brought real competition to interisland routes, forcing Hawaiian to lower prices and improve service.

The airline currently serves five Hawaii airports with Boeing 737s and maintains their signature no-assigned-seating policy. Hawaii residents get two free checked bags on interisland flights through their Ohana Rewards program, plus up to 25% off points bookings. But if they scale back operations significantly, those benefits might become harder to access.

Mokulele Airlines: The Scenic (and Complicated) Option

Mokulele operates small Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft seating just nine passengers plus crew. The airline has faced recent operational challenges, including temporary groundings due to maintenance issues and a history of reliability problems. However, they serve routes that the major airlines don’t, particularly connecting smaller airports on Molokai and Lanai.

The upside? Incredible views and a genuine small-plane experience. The downside? Limited baggage allowance (15 pounds for carry-on), higher per-seat costs, and operational reliability issues. Mokulele is the most pet-friendly airline in Hawaii, allowing dogs and cats up to 80 pounds in the cabin for $25 one way.

Baggage Policies: The Hidden Costs That’ll Get You

This is where newcomers get blindsided. Interisland baggage policies are different from mainland flights, and the fees add up quickly if you’re not prepared.

Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Reality

HawaiianMiles members get reduced baggage fees on interisland flights, with the first bag costing $25 instead of $30 for non-members. The second bag runs $35 for members, $40 for everyone else. Weight limit is 50 pounds, with hefty overweight fees starting at $50 for bags between 51-70 pounds.

Here’s a gotcha many miss: Despite Hawaiian’s promise to treat surfboards as standard checked baggage, recent incidents show inconsistent enforcement at check-in counters, with some passengers being denied the policy. If you’re traveling with sports equipment, confirm the policy directly and be prepared to advocate for yourself.

Southwest’s Generous Baggage Policy

Southwest maintains two free checked bags for Hawaii residents on interisland flights, even as they’re introducing bag fees for mainland routes. This policy continues for residents with Rapid Rewards accounts and Hawaii addresses. For visitors, Southwest’s baggage policies are still more generous than Hawaiian’s, though you’ll pay standard mainland rates.

Mokulele’s Weight Restrictions

Mokulele’s 15-pound carry-on limit catches people off guard. With such small aircraft, weight and balance are critical, so they’re strict about enforcement. Checked baggage fees apply and can be expensive relative to the ticket price.

Seasonal Fare Patterns: When to Find the Deals

Understanding Hawaii’s tourism patterns is crucial for scoring better fares and avoiding the worst crowds.

Low Season Opportunities

April, May, September, and October generally offer periods of low demand where you may find good airfare deals, and weekday flights tend to be cheaper than weekends. These shoulder seasons offer the best balance of decent weather, lower prices, and smaller crowds.

Peak Season Reality

Summer (June-August), Christmas/New Year, and major holidays see the highest demand and prices. During these periods, fare sales won’t take place, and even discounted fares can be double the cheapest mid-week prices. If you’re traveling during peak season, book as early as possible and accept that you’ll pay premium rates.

Weekly Patterns That Matter

Early morning and late evening flights are typically the lowest priced, while flights timed for connecting with trans-Pacific flights tend to fill up first and be the most expensive. Mid-week travel offers the best shot at rock-bottom fares.

When to Book: The Timing Strategy

The conventional wisdom about booking flights doesn’t always apply to Hawaii’s unique market dynamics.

The Sweet Spot for Booking

On average, the best time to buy tickets to Hawaii is between 21 and 121 days before departure, with the period between 40 and 50 days often mentioned as optimal. However, interisland flights operate differently from mainland-to-Hawaii routes.

Interisland-Specific Timing

Purchase interisland flights as soon as deals are announced for the greatest opportunity to find lower-cost flights at your desired times. Unlike mainland routes, interisland flights don’t follow predictable pricing patterns. Sales can appear and disappear quickly, especially for popular weekend travel times.

Flexibility is Your Friend

Be flexible both in the time of day and day of the week you fly. Check both Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as deals are often available with both carriers for similar prices and dates, but not always on the same days.

Route Options and Connection Strategies

The Hub-and-Spoke Reality

Most interisland flights route through Honolulu (HNL), making it the natural hub for island hopping. While this means an extra stop for some routes, it also provides the most flight options and competitive pricing.

Direct Route Availability

Hawaiian offers some direct flights between neighbor islands (like Maui to Kauai), but these routes have limited frequency and often command premium pricing. Southwest focuses primarily on routes connecting through Honolulu.

Multi-Island Strategy

For newcomers planning to visit multiple islands, consider an “open jaw” itinerary: fly into one island and depart from another. This eliminates backtracking to your original arrival point and can save both time and money.

Current Market Disruptions and What They Mean

The Southwest Uncertainty

Southwest’s potential reduction of Hawaii interisland operations in 2025 raises the possibility of a return to a near-monopoly on interisland routes, which historically resulted in higher fares for everyone. This shift could fundamentally change the competitive landscape that has kept fares relatively affordable.

Hawaiian Airlines Under New Ownership

Hawaiian Airlines is now a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, with changes in leadership and potential service integration planned. The full impact of this merger on interisland operations remains to be seen, but historically, airline consolidation has led to higher prices and reduced service frequency.

Mokulele’s Operational Challenges

Mokulele has faced recurring maintenance issues, sudden groundings, and reliability problems that have frustrated passengers and raised concerns about the carrier’s long-term viability. While they serve essential routes to smaller airports, their operational challenges make them a risky choice for tight connection schedules.

Hidden Costs and Gotchas Newcomers Miss

TSA and Airport Processing Time

Passengers should arrive at least 90 minutes before interisland flights at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Despite being domestic flights, interisland travel requires full TSA screening. Factor in rental car returns, parking, and potential traffic when planning connection times.

Same-Day Connection Challenges

Many newcomers underestimate the time required for interisland connections. A “quick hop” to another island can easily consume half a day when you factor in airport arrival time, security, flight delays, baggage claim, and ground transportation on the destination island.

Equipment and Route Changes

Airlines occasionally substitute smaller aircraft or cancel flights due to weather, maintenance, or operational needs. Always have backup plans, especially if you have non-refundable reservations on your destination island.

Money-Saving Strategies That Actually Work

Join Airline Loyalty Programs (Free)

Even if you’re not a frequent flyer, join HawaiianMiles and Southwest Rapid Rewards before booking. The savings on baggage fees alone can justify the five minutes it takes to sign up.

Book One-Way Tickets Strategically

Sometimes booking two one-way tickets on different airlines costs less than roundtrip tickets on a single carrier. Compare Hawaiian outbound with Southwest return, or vice versa.

Consider Package Deals Carefully

Hawaiian offers flight + hotel packages that can save money and earn HawaiianMiles on every booking. However, compare individual bookings to package prices, as packages aren’t always the better deal.

Monitor Both Airlines Actively

Deals are often available with both Hawaiian and Southwest for generally the same prices and dates, but not always. Frequently, Hawaiian offers their best prices on different days than Southwest.

The Reality Check for 2025 and Beyond

The interisland market is in transition. With Southwest potentially reducing operations and Hawaiian under new ownership, the competitive pressure that brought us affordable fares may be diminishing. Newcomers should expect:

Higher Base Fares

The days of consistently finding $39 interisland flights may be ending. Budget for $80-150 per segment as a more realistic baseline, with occasional sales dropping below that range.

Reduced Flight Frequency

If Southwest significantly cuts service, expect fewer flight options and less flexibility in scheduling. This makes advance planning even more critical.

Increased Importance of Flexibility

As competition decreases, airlines have less incentive to accommodate passenger preferences. Flexible travel dates and times become more valuable for finding affordable options.

Bottom Line for Newcomers

Interisland travel remains the best way to experience Hawaii’s diverse islands, but it requires more planning and budgeting than in recent years. Book early, join loyalty programs, pack light to avoid baggage fees, and build flexibility into your itinerary.

The key to successful island hopping isn’t finding the perfect deal—it’s understanding the system well enough to make informed decisions about when to splurge for convenience and when to adapt your plans for savings. With Southwest’s future uncertain and Hawaiian’s monopolistic tendencies historically well-documented, the window for affordable, competitive interisland travel may be narrowing.

Plan accordingly, book strategically, and remember that even expensive interisland flights cost less than missing out on experiencing multiple Hawaiian islands. The memories you’ll make island hopping are worth navigating the complexity of Hawaii’s changing aviation landscape.

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