On the Ground: I spent a few days in Honolulu on business and, like many travelers, extended my trip for some R&R on the neighboring islands. This time I was heading to Maui for the first time. Honolulu Airport—HNL—the main gateway to the islands, sits roughly 20 minutes from downtown Waikiki. Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland connections make it easy to visit multiple islands, with more than 20 daily flights out of HNL. Check-in and TSA lines were busy but moved efficiently, and I reached the Plumeria Lounge in the Interisland Terminal within about 10 minutes.
The Plumeria Lounge is reserved for international business and all first-class passengers and Pualani Platinum members, though access is available to others for a modest fee. The lounge delivers what you expect from a quality business-class facility: abundant seating, complimentary Wi‑Fi, modern design and warm aloha hospitality. Local beverages such as mai tais and beers, along with juices and light snacks, were available and a welcome way to finish a few last-minute emails before the weekend. My gate was a short walk from the lounge, so I left a few minutes before pre-boarding.
Pre-Flight: Boarding the mid‑afternoon flight was quick. The cabin crew assigned to first class was friendly and attentive, offering guava juice, Champagne or mai tais before takeoff, along with macadamia nuts. We departed on time for a short gate‑to‑gate hop to Maui that lasted about 41 minutes door to door.
In-Flight: The Boeing 717 is well suited for interisland service, seating about 128 passengers and optimized for short, frequent hops. First class comprises eight seats with a 37‑inch pitch, offering comfort similar to a generous premium‑economy seat and plenty of legroom. The airborne portion of the trip is only around 25 minutes, so there’s no full meal service, but attendants quickly refreshed drinks. Because we climbed only to a low altitude, passengers on both sides of the airplane had exceptional, close-up views of islands, beaches and volcanic features. The captain encouraged passengers to keep window shades open and provided a brief commentary as we passed notable landmarks. Before long we were on final approach to Kahului Airport and disembarked smoothly.
Kahului (OGG) still retains a compact, island‑style atmosphere, though infrastructure is expanding to better serve visitors—there’s now a Target and a Starbucks in the terminal for last-minute needs. Maui’s coastline offers many beaches and scenic drives; the Road to Hana is a standout experience for crossing the eastern side of the island, so renting a car is highly recommended. Hawaiian Airlines also offers bundled packages that can save money on car rentals, hotels and flights.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland network provides more than 70 route combinations, making island‑hopping convenient.
◆ Flight attendants and gate agents consistently reflect the aloha spirit, offering helpful service, local tips and recommendations.
◆ Expanded first‑class products and additional nonstop options from the U.S. mainland make reaching Hawai‘i easier than ever, particularly for long‑haul travelers coming from the East Coast.