Aviation in Hawaii
Hawaii is served by a network of 33 public-use airports recorded in the FAA's NASR Airport Master Record. The mix breaks down into 4 large hubs, 10 medium hubs, and 19 small or regional fields. Together they form the on-the-ground network that connects Hawaii residents to the rest of the country and, in many cases, to international destinations through the connecting hubs profiled elsewhere in this directory.
Reading the table below as a planner: the large-hub entries are where you will find the broadest selection of carriers, the longest list of nonstop destinations, and the most amenities, and also the longest TSA queues. Medium hubs typically host scheduled service from three to ten carriers and are often the most efficient choice for travelers based outside the largest metropolitan areas. The small and regional entries cover everything from Essential Air Service routes to general-aviation strips that primarily serve charter, training and corporate traffic.
FAA region: Hawaii falls inside the FAA's Western-Pacific Region, headquartered in Lawndale, CA. The region oversees airport certification, safety inspections, and air-traffic-control coordination for every airport in this state.
All 33 airports in Hawaii
| Airport | City | IATA | ICAO | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel K. Inouye International Airport | Honolulu, Oahu | HNL |
PHNL |
Large hub |
| Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole | Kailua-Kona | KOA |
PHKO |
Large hub |
| Kahului International Airport | Kahului | OGG |
PHOG |
Large hub |
| Lihue Airport | Lihue, Kauai | LIH |
PHLI |
Large hub |
| Barking Sands Airport | Kekaha | BKH |
PHBK |
Medium hub |
| Hana Airport | Hana | HNM |
PHHN |
Medium hub |
| Hickam Air Force Base | Honolulu | - | PHIK |
Medium hub |
| Hilo International Airport | Hilo | ITO |
PHTO |
Medium hub |
| Kalaeloa Airport | Kapolei | JRF |
PHJR |
Medium hub |
| Kaneohe Bay MCAS (Marion E. Carl Field) Airport | Kaneohe | NGF |
PHNG |
Medium hub |
| Kapalua Airport | Lahaina | JHM |
PHJH |
Medium hub |
| Lanai Airport | Lanai City | LNY |
PHNY |
Medium hub |
| Molokai Airport | Kaunakakai | MKK |
PHMK |
Medium hub |
| Waimea Kohala Airport | Waimea (Kamuela) | MUE |
PHMU |
Medium hub |
| Bradshaw Army Airfield | Waimea (Kamuela) | BSF |
PHSF |
Regional |
| Brandt Field | Port Saint Joe | - | - | Regional |
| Cooper Airfield | Waimea (Kamuela) | - | - | Regional |
| French Frigate Shoals Airport | Tern Island | - | - | Regional |
| HI 23 (Puhi) Airstrip | Puhi | - | - | Regional |
| Haiku Airstrip | Lihue | - | - | Regional |
| Hanamaulu Airstrip | Hanamaulu | - | - | Regional |
| Honokaa Airstrip [UNUSABLE] | Honokaa, Hawaiʻi | - | - | Regional |
| Kaalaiki Airstrip | Naalehu | - | - | Regional |
| Kalaupapa Airport | Kalaupapa | LUP |
PHLU |
Regional |
| Kawaihapai Airfield | Mokuleia | HDH |
PHDH |
Regional |
| Mountain View Airstrip | Mountain View | - | - | Regional |
| Pahala Airstrip | Pahala | - | - | Regional |
| Panda Airport | Kaunakakai | - | - | Regional |
| Port Allen Airport | Hanapepe | PAK |
PHPA |
Regional |
| Princeville Airport | Hanalei | HPV |
- | Regional |
| Upolu Airport | Hawi | UPP |
PHUP |
Regional |
| Upper Paauilo Airstrip | Paauilo | - | - | Regional |
| Wheeler Army Airfield | Wahiawa | HHI |
PHHI |
Regional |
Travel context
Travelers comparing flight options inside Hawaii should look beyond the obvious large-hub entry. Many travelers reflexively book through the biggest airport in their state, but for short-haul itineraries a closer medium or regional airport can shave an hour off the total door-to-door time even when its ticket price is slightly higher. The opposite is also true for long-haul or international travel, where the broader carrier selection at the large hub typically wins on both price and routing.
For multi-airport metropolitan areas, and several states have them, pay attention to which carrier alliance dominates each airport. A traveler with frequent-flyer status on one alliance will usually find the better experience at the alliance's home airport, even at the cost of a slightly longer drive.