Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), formerly known as Honolulu International Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in Hawaii.
The airport is located in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, approximately 10 miles from Waikiki. It is an important hub roughly halfway between the mainland United States and Asia, and offers awesome connectivity to other destinations in the Pacific Ocean.
In 2024, HNL handled nearly 22 million passengers, making it the busiest non-Australian airport in Oceania and within the top 20 US airports by international passenger traffic.
Major Airlines - Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, Southwest, United
Honolulu is a hub for Hawaiian Airlines, the 10th largest airline in the USA. It offers the greatest number of flights from HNL connecting the state to many destinations in the contiguous United States, the Pacific nations, and East Asia.
A smaller regional airline that uses HNL as a hub is Mokulele Airlines. It operates flights to the other islands that make up Hawaii.
All the big US airlines have scheduled flights to and from Honolulu. Ordered by the number of passengers served, they are:
Southwest Airlines flies to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, etc.
United Airlines flies to Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, etc.
Delta Air Lines flies to Atlanta, Detroit, Seattle, etc.
Alaska Airlines flies to Anchorage, Portland, etc.
American Airlines flies to Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, etc.
It’s also worth mentioning some of the international airlines that connect Honolulu to their countries:
Air Canada flies to Vancouver and Toronto.
Air New Zealand flies to Auckland.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) flies to both airports in Tokyo, whereas Japan Airlines flies to Nagoya and Osaka as well as Tokyo (HND and NRT).
Korean Air flies to Seoul.
Qantas flies to Melbourne and Sydney.
Philippine Airlines flies to Manila.
Fiji Airways flies to Nadi, Apia (Samoa), and Kiritimati (Kiribati).
Suffice it to say, Honolulu is pretty well connected to North America, East Asia, Oceania, and within the Hawaiian Islands.
To see a full list of airlines that serve HNL, click here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
HNL comprises three terminals:
Terminal 1: The second-oldest terminal, formerly known as the “Interisland Terminal”. Today, it handles only Hawaiian Airlines flights, though only the domestic ones. It has 2 concourses - A with 20 gates on the north side and B with 5 gates on the south side.
Terminal 2: The oldest terminal, formerly known as the “Overseas Terminal”. It accommodates all international carriers and receives all international flights, including those by Hawaiian Airlines. It has 29 gates spread between Concourses C, E, and G, including 2 capable of handling Airbus 380.
Terminal 3: This is the newest terminal. It opened in 2018 as a single-story facility and is today used only for interisland commuter flights by Mokulele Airlines.
Terminals 1 and 2 are connected airside by a free intra-airport shuttle service. The shuttle stops are on level 3 of each concourse, except for Concourses C and G, where the shuttle stops on level 2. These shuttles operate daily between 6 AM and 10 PM, every 20 minutes. You may also walk between any two concourses within the Terminals 1 and 2 complex, with a maximum time of 15 minutes between the farthest.
Landside, similar shuttle buses called Wiki Wiki Shuttle connect all three terminals. They stop in front of Terminal 1 and curbside on level 1 at Terminals 2 and 3 and operate from 3 AM to 10:30 PM every day. It’s not possible to walk to Terminal 3 from T1 or T2.
Connecting Flights and Transit at HNL
All international arrivals must clear Immigration and Customs in Honolulu before proceeding to their next flight. This applies both if your next flight is within the USA (domestic) or international.
If you’re connecting a domestic to an international (or vice versa) flight, note that you will have to change terminals. This takes approximately 15 minutes on foot and can be faster or slower using the free airside bus.
As an example, let’s say you have 2 flights, both operated by Hawaiian Airlines, connecting at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The first one is international and arrives at Terminal 2. You will need to go through Immigration and Customs procedures and recheck your bag at the HA Transit Bag Drop (all arriving passengers coming from abroad must re-check bags upon entry at a US airport), then walk or take the bus to Terminal 2 and find your next gate for the domestic flight with Hawaiian.
It is similar if you have an interisland flight with Mokulele from Terminal 3, though you will need more time to transit between terminals.
Additionally, all carry-on luggage must go through agricultural inspection after landing.
Longer layovers will give you enough time for some of the best things to do in Honolulu.
Wi-Fi at HNL
The airport provides free Wi-Fi throughout Terminals 1 and 2.
The free option is unlimited, but slow, with a speed of just 5 Mbps. If you need a faster connection, you can opt for the premium Wi-FI by purchasing a Boingo subscription - the options will be displayed on the welcome screen after you select the standard network (“Boingo Hotspot”).
Alternatively, you can use the Wi-Fi at one of the premium lounges listed below.
Terminal 3 does not have Wi-Fi coverage.
Dining Options at Honolulu Airport
Dining is not HNL’s strongest point, and many have found the options limited and overpriced.
Most restaurants and bars are located within Terminal 2, where international passengers arrive and depart. Some of the best places to eat and drink there include:
Burger King: Fast-food burgers and fries. It’s next to Gate F2.
California Pizza Kitchen: Pizzas, salads, and breadsticks right by Checkpoint 3.
Chow Mein Express: Asian cuisine near Checkpoint 3.
Lahaina Chicken Company: Rotisserie chicken and side dishes. Located between Gates E2 and E4. Also has an outlet in T1.
PGA Tour Grill: American fare and beverages, which golf enthusiasts will find exciting. It’s between Gates E1 and E2.
Terminal 1, where Hawaiian Airlines operates its domestic flights, also has a few dining options:
Dunkin’ Express: Located between Gates A1 and A13, this American favorite pastry and coffee shop serves a wide variety of sweet and savory products.
Island Brews: Local brews from the exotic Hawaiian islands. Located by Gate A16.
Stinger Ray’s Tropical Bar and Grill: Located near Gates A18 and A19. Probably the best place to sit down and have a drink inside Terminal 1.
Mauka Market: Grab a quick bite at this small market near Gate A12.
Most of these establishments have hours of operation based on flight schedules.
Lounges at HNL
What Daniel K. Inouye International Airport lacks in top-class restaurants, it more than makes up for in available lounges.
HNL has a whopping 13 lounges, putting it ahead of some of the biggest airports in the USA.
Terminal 1, home to Hawaiian, houses two of its lounges:
Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge: Located on Level 3, near the shuttle pick-up point. Open from 6:30 AM to 10 PM daily.
Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club: Located on Level 2, near gate A18. Open from 5 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and 6 AM to 10 PM on weekends.
Terminal 2 has the remaining 11:
American Airlines Admirals Club: Shared with Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge and located above The Local @HNL.
ANA Lounge and Suite Lounge: Situated above Gate C4.
Delta Sky Club: Across from Gate F1.
United Club: Above Gate G3.
IASS Hawaii Lounge: Accessible to Priority Pass members and anyone else, too, for a $25 per day pass.
H.I.S. LeaLea Lounge: Located in the Garden Court Area. Any passenger can purchase a pass at the door for $38.
Ko Olina Club Lounge: Also located in the Garden Court Area, but accessible to guests of select exclusive resorts on Oʻahu.
Korean Air KAL Lounge: Located in the Garden Court Area.
Qantas Business Lounge: Located in the Garden Court Area.
USO Lounge: Located landside, on level 1, between baggage claims E and F. Eligible to enter are only active military members and their families, plus select military retirees who meet the lounge’s admission requirements. It’s the only lounge to offer shower facilties.
Airline-specific lounges are generally only accessible by passengers of the airline with certain requirements based on destination, class of ticket, and membership status. It’s best to inquire with the airline to see if you’re eligible to enter its lounge at HNL.
These lounges normally offer complimentary snacks and beverages, premium Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating areas.
Transportation options at HNL Airport
Two public buses provide affordable connectivity to various parts of Honolulu:
Route 20 connects the airport with Waikiki, stopping at Kalihi (via Nimitz Highway), downtown Honolulu, the Honolulu Civic Center, and the Ala Moana Shopping Center.
Route 303 connects the airport with the Pearlridge Shopping Center, stopping at Arizona Memorial, Aloha Stadium, and Aiea.
The adult single fare is $3.00, which includes 2.5 hours of unlimited transfers. These buses operate daily from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
Other ground transportation options at Honolulu Airport include:
Taxis and Rideshares: Designated pickup areas are located outside the terminals, between the exits and the parking garages. The fare to Waikiki is around 35-45 USD.
Shuttle Services: Companies like SpeediShuttle offer shared and private rides. You can find more information about private transfers from HNL here.
Rental Cars: Available from multiple agencies, including Avis, Dollar, Budget, and Hertz, inside the 5-story Consolidated Rent-A-Car (CONRAC). A shuttle bus connects the terminal to the CONRAC with a frequency of every 15 minutes, between 4 AM and midnight.
Parking at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Three parking garages are available at HNL airport:
International Parking Garage: Located directly across from the International Arrivals Building and spread over 8 floors.
Terminal 1 Parking Garage: Adjacent to Terminal 1 and has 7 floors.
Terminal 2 Parking Garage: Adjacent to Terminal 2 and has 5 floors.
The parking fees at these three facilities are the same:
The first 15 minutes are free of charge.
16-30 minutes costs $1.
Stays of up to 1 hour cost $3.
Each additional hour costs $2-5.
The maximum daily parking rate is $25
These prices are valid for 2025 but are set to increase incrementally every year until at least 2027.
Motorcycles can be parked at designated areas within each of the parking garages, whereas bicycles can only be parked at the International and Terminal 2 parking garages.
Additionally, two cell phone waiting areas with a maximum waiting time of 60 minutes are available for everybody picking up passengers at the airport on a first-come-first-served basis:
Diamond Head Cell Phone Area: Located on Aolele Street, near the intersection with Lagoon Drive.
Ewa Cell Phone Waiting Area: Located on Service Road A near the Airport Post Office.
You must remain inside the vehicle while parking at the cell phone lots
Hotels near HNL
While there are no hotels within any of the terminals of HNL, there is one hotel less than half a mile away: the Airport Honolulu Hotel. This 2-star hotel is everything you need for a short stay, and the added complimentary shuttle is a welcome addition too (even if walking distance is just 10-15 minutes).
Other options near the airport with shuttle service included are the Best Western The Plaza Hotel and the Pacific Marina Inn.
All three hotels offer various amenities and are suitable for short stays or layovers.
To see even more hotels near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), click here.
Honolulu, HI, USA
