Non-Rev Travel Guides: Asia | Europe | Hawaii

Non-Rev Travel Guide: 125+ Different Routes To Get Back To The U.S. Mainland and Canada From Hawaii 

Originally Created: August 1, 2017
Updated: August 24, 2022

It’s no secret that it can be difficult at times to get to/from Hawaii as a passrider. And sometimes its easy to get there and really difficult to get back. But if you are creative enough and have a few backup cards in your pocket you can get it done. In this post, I’ve identified over 150+ routes that will get you off the islands. At least 50 or more of them will get you back to North America on nonstop flights.

Hawaii is interesting as some islands are known by its airport name others by the island name. As an example, Honolulu is on the island of Oahu, but not many know that. Likewise, people say they are going to Maui as opposed to saying the name of the main town Kahului. Others islands are typically unknown and for most people when they say they are going to Hawaii, they mean Honolulu :-).

As any good Passrider, you should always travel with your passport and have current Australian, Brazilian and Chinese visas handy. One never know when you will need them.

Let’s take a look at some destination information about the Hawaiian Islands.

• Currency: USD as its a part of the United States.
• Language: English with a Polynesian accent :-), Hawaiian and a local dialect called Pidgin. Don’t worry, everyone speaks English there.
• Visa Information: As a U.S. citizen, no visa or passport is required (just a government-issued ID)as its a part of the U.S. Citizens of other countries should check with their consulates for visa and health requirements. Use this link to check visa requirements.
• Airlines Based in Hawaii: Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Mokulele Airlines operated by Southern Airways Express (9X)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Hana, Maui (HNM)

• Maui, HI (OGG) on Mokulele Airlines operated by Southern Airways Express (9X)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Hilo, Hawaii [The Big Island] (ITO)

• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Honolulu, Oahu (HNL)

• Agana, Guam (GUM) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Anchorage, AK (ANC) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• Atlanta, GA (ATL) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Austin, TX (AUS) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Boston, MA (BOS) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Calgary, AB Canada (YYC) – Air Canada (AC), WestJet (WS)
• Chicago-O’Hare, IL (ORD) – United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA)
• Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) – American Airlines (AA)
• Denver, CO (DEN) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Detroit, MI (DTW) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Edmonton, AB Canada (YEG) – WestJet (WS)
• Hilo, HI (ITO) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Houston-Intercontinental, TX (IAH) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Kapaliua, Maui (JHM) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Kona, HI (KOA) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Kalaupapa, Molokai HI (LUP) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Lanai City-Lanai, HI (LNY) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Lihue-Kauai, HI (LIH) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA)
• Majuro, Marshall Islands (MAJ) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Molakai, HI (MKK) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• New York-JFK, NY (JFK) – Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Oakland, CA (OAK) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Orange County, CA (SNA) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Orlando, FL (MCO) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX) – American Airlines (AA), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Portland, OR (PDX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Sacramento, CA (SMF) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• San Diego, CA (SAN) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• San Jose, CA (SJC) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Seattle, WA (SEA) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Tokyo-Haneda, Japan (HND) – All Nippon Airlines (NH), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Japan Airlines (JL)
• Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT) – All Nippon Airlines (NH), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Japan Airlines (JL), Korean Airlines (KE), United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Toronto, ON Canada (YYZ) – Air Canada (AC)
• Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR) – Air Canada (AC), WestJet (WS)
• Washington-Dulles, D.C.  (IAD) – United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Kahului, Maui (OGG)

• Anchorage, AK (ANC) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• Atlanta, GA (ATL) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Calgary, AB Canada (YYC) – Air Canada (AC), WestJet (WS)
• Chicago-O’Hare, IL (ORD) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) – American Airlines (AA)
• Denver, CO (DEN) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Edmonton, AB Canada (YEG) – WestJet (WS)
• Hana, HI (HNM) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Hilo, HI (ITO) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Kamuela, Waimea, HI (MUE) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Kona, HI (KOA) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southern Airways Express (9X), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Lanai City-Lanai, HI (LNY) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Lihue-Kauai, HI (LIH) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Molakai, HI (MKK) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Oakland, CA (OAK) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX) – American Airlines (AA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Portland, OR (PDX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Sacramento, CA (SMF) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) – Delta Air Lines (DL)
• San Diego, CA (SAN) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• San Jose, CA (SJC) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Seattle, WA (SEA) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Toronto, ON Canada (YYZ) – Air Canada (AC)
• Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR) – Air Canada (AC), WestJet (WS)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Kalaupapa, Molokai (LUP)

• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Molakai, HI (MKK) – Southern Airways Express (9X)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Kapalua, Maui (JHM)

• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Molakai, HI (MKK) – Southern Airways Express (9X)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Kona, Hawaii [The Big Island] (KOA)

• Anchorage, AK (ANC) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• Calgary, AB Canada (YYC) – WestJet (WS)
• Chicago-O’Hare, IL (ORD) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Denver, CO (DEN) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Southwest Airlines (WN) 
• Lihue-Kauai, HI (LIH) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines – Star Alliance (UA)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southern Airways Express (9X), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Oakland, CA (OAK) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX) – American Airlines (AA)
• Portland, OR (PDX) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• Sacramento, CA (SMF) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• San Diego, CA (SAN) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• San Jose, CA (SJC) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Seattle, WA (SEA) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Tokyo-Haneda, Japan (HND) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Tokyo-Narita, Japan (NRT) – Japan Airlines (JL)
• Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR) – Air Canada (AC), WestJet (WS)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Lanai, Lanai (LNY)

• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Molakai, HI (MKK) – Southern Airways Express (9X)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Lihu’e, Kauai (LIH)

• Denver, CO (DEN) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Kona, HI (KOA) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Oakland, CA (OAK) – Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX) – American Airlines (AA)
• Portland, OR (PDX) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• San Diego, CA (SAN) – Alaska Airlines (AS)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO) – United Airlines (Star Alliance) (UA)
• San Jose, CA (SJC) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Southwest Airlines (WN)
• Seattle, WA (SEA) – Alaska Airlines (AS), Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR) – WestJet (WS)

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Molokai, Molokai (MKK)

• Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Kalaupapa, Molokai (LUP) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Lanai City-Lanai, HI (LNY) – Southern Airways Express (9X)
• Maui, HI (OGG) – Southern Airways Express (9X)

Airfare Tip

If looking for a low fare, book at the Web sites for the low cost carriers as you’ll more than likely get the best value there. Start with Google.com/flights.

Airport To The City

This will vary from airport to airport You will have to check with your travel arrangers before heading down.

Hotels

Let’s talk hotels for a moment. In Hawaii, they are a bit pricey. The chain that gives airline staff great deal is Outrigger Hotels. But of course you can check the other chains as well.

Start your search with our partner HotelsCombined by using the search box below; when you search though enter the name of the island (Oahu) or the city (Honolulu) or airport name so you don’t end up booking a hotel in say Kauai when you wanted a hotel in Oahu (Honolulu).

 

 

Transportation

This will vary island by island. However you can always rent a car. When you do, ensure that you’ve read the rental agreement as some agreements do not allow you to drive the car everywhere on some of the islands. This is very important as you will be charged if you violate the agreement. You can actually take the local bus on some of the islands if you just want to not worry about and chill. Here is some additional information:

• On Oahu; the one with Honolulu :-), you can take TheBus from the airport into the city of Honolulu. Just head out to the arrivals area, cross the street and look for the bus stop. The can find scheduling information here. The #19 or #20 should be the ones you need. Ensure you take it in the right direction so you don’t end up at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, unless that’s where you want to go.
• On Hawaii Island, the Big Island, its the Hele-On Bus. You can check out the airport service here.
• On Kauai, its the Kauai Bus which does provide service to the airport; the schedule may not match your arrival time though. You can find additional information here.
• On Lanai, there is no public bus service. So rent a car or arrange with your hotel.
• On Maui; the #35 goes to the airport, check the routes and times here.

A little known fact, there are two ferries that run in the Hawaiian Islands. I’ve actually never taken them, but want to at some point although I may be too late since the Maui and Molokai Ferry ended service on October 27, 2016. The other service is the Maui to Lanai service. They have three departures a day. Check their Web site before you head out.

Things To Do

There is tons to do in the Hawaiian Islands or you can just relax and do nothing at all. If you want to get out and do stuff, let’s look by islands. I’ll be updating this as time go along so check back and/or leave your suggestions in the comments:

• – Hawaii
• – Kona
• – Lanai
• – Lihue
• – Maui – Drive to Hana. It’s a scenic journey that takes some time. Give yourself a day to do it and drive carefully. Do not rush this one.
• – Molokai
• – Oahu – Hike up to Diamond Head Crater, Visit the Dole Plantation, Visit Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Arizona Memorial, Watch the sunset at Waikiki Beach and also go for a swim. Check out the surf on the South Shore.

I’m sure you have your own tales to tell about your times in Hawaii. Please leave a comment below. And if you have any tips as well, please leave them.