How to Travel Between Hawaiian Islands
The world-class beaches, surfing, traditional cuisine, and excellent summer vibe, make Hawaii a hotspot for tourists. This state is an archipelago of 8 major islands, smaller islets, and atolls. The Big Island of Hawaii encompasses 63% of the state’s archipelago, and it is a go-to tourist destination.
But, many who visit Hawaii also want to see the rest of the islands to really make traveling to Hawaii worth it. Many people only get one magical trip to the islands. With island hopping, you can see as much of this state as possible. It has a long-established ferry travel route and cheap flights. If you want to know how to travel between Hawaiian islands, then you are in the right place. This detailed guideline can answer all your queries.
How to Travel Between Hawaiian Islands?
Flying is the most affordable and popular way to travel between the Hawaiian islands. You can book an inter-island flight through three commercial airlines. These include:
It is convenient to travel by plane since you can’t drive between the islands. The water is too deep, which is why these areas don’t have any connecting bridges. Air travel offers dozens of inter-island flights a day, making the journey relatively easy.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines have an average of 170 daily flights between islands. You can book a roundtrip, a one-way trip, or a multi-city trip. A multi-city trip combines flights between multiple cities into a single reservation, which saves you time from booking multiple one-way tickets between locations.
Mokulele Airlines
Mokulele Airlines has more than 120 daily flights between most islands. They have turbo-prop, small planes. This is the only airline to fly to both Lanai and Molokai.
Southwest Airlines
If you are looking for the cheapest ways how to travel between Hawaiian islands, then Southwest Airlines can be your best option. They have low-cost fares, although you can get some competitive prices with Hawaiian Airlines as well.
How Long Are Flights For Hawaii Island Hopping?
When you are searching for ways how to travel between islands in Hawaii, you should know how long the plane ride can be. Most of the flights are brief, between 30 to 50 min. In fact, you will be spending more time getting to the airport, boarding, and going through security.
Here are some of the flight lengths you can expect, based on your travel location.
Oahu (HNL) non-stop to:
- Kauai – 35 min
- Maui – 39 min
- Kona Island – 47 min
- Hilo Island – 55 min
Kauai (LIH) non-stop to:
- Oahu – 35 min
- Maui – 49 min
- Kona Island – 55 min
If you are doing research on Hawaii and how to travel between islands, it’s important to mention tiny flights, like Kahului to Hana. A direct flight to Hana from Kahului can take an average of 20 min or so. This is a great option when looking to save some time.
How Do Locals Get Between Hawaiian Islands?
Transportation options vary from island to island. Want to know how to travel between islands in Hawaii? People can board a plane, hop on a boat, or travel by ferry. But, air travel is the most popular form of travel.
Since interisland flights are frequent and short, it is easy to board a plane and get to the desired location on time. The plane ride has an average cost of $69 for a one-way ticket. But, the prices can vary depending on the tourist season.
- The busiest airports are Kona and Hilo on Hawaiʻi (Big Island), Lihuʻe (Kauaʻi), Honolulu (Oʻahu), and Kahului (Maui).
To figure out how to travel between Hawaiian islands, you can make use of the regular service of smaller airports. Such as Kalaupapa on Molokaʻi and Kamuela (Waimea). For many locals, boats are a practical form of transportation. Roughly 1 in 93 people in Hawaii has a registered watercraft. If they own one, some locals might prefer to go by boat.
Are There Any Ferries For Visiting the Islands?
Only one ferry from Maui to Lanai is available when doing interisland travel in Hawaii. Unfortunately, there isn’t a network of ferries that can take you from island to island. To reach other islands, you would need to fly. To travel between Oahu and Kauai, Oahu and Maui, and Kauai and Maui, you must fly. Round ferry trips from Maui to Lanai are less than half the price of a plane ticket from Maui or Honolulu to Lanai.
- Departure time from Maui to Lanai: 6:45 am, 9:15 am, 12:45 pm, 3:15 pm, and 5:45 pm.
- Departure time from Manele, Lanai: 8:00 am, 10:30 am, 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:45 pm.
How long is the ferry ride between the Hawaiian Islands?
Traveling by ferry can take around 1 hour. This gives you enough time to enjoy the scenery and the islands. At times, you can catch a glimpse at Humpback whales, which are often visible from January to April during the crossing.
Can You Make Day Trips Between the Hawaiian Islands?
A day tour doesn’t give you enough time to explore other islands. There is too much to see and too little time to explore it. With plane travel, you can get from one island to another in the nick of time. But, if you want to make the most of your vacation, we suggest that you visit a different island every day. Or visit at least two islands during your stay.
What Is the Easiest Hawaiian Island to Visit?
Most of the Hawaiian population is in O’ahu, also known as “The Gathering Place”. Since this is where the state capital of Honolulu is located, it makes it one of the easiest Hawaiian islands to visit. This island is easy to fly to and has a ton of food and hotel options.
Some of the top destinations to see at O’ahu are:
What Is the Best Hawaiian Island for Watersports?
If you want to go for early snorkeling, relax, and go with the flow, then you might want to travel to Maui Island. It is the second-biggest island in Hawaii. It is famous for Wailea Beach, Whale watching, and the Haleakala National Park. Although Maui doesn’t have an over-the-top nightlife, Lahaina and Kaanapali, are the two areas that come alive at night. Some restaurants and bars tend to stay open until 10 pm or 11 pm.
What Is a Good Hawaiian Island for Nature Lovers?
Kauai, also known as the “Garden Island”, or “Garden Isle” is the ultimate destination for outdoorsy individuals. There are plenty of natural beauties to see, such as Wailua Falls, Kalalau Trail, and Waimea Canyon. This is a relatively quiet island with sandy beaches and lots of nightclubs, bars, and lounges, scattered around the area.
How to Save Money When Traveling Between Hawaii Islands
A trip to Hawaii often costs a lot, and when you are taking multiple plane rides, the costs only keep piling up. The tips below can help you save some cash for interisland travel.
- Travel during the off-season: The island is packed with tourists in the summer (between June and August) and winter (between December and April). At this time, the prices tend to skyrocket. So, traveling off-season can help you get some great deals and lower costs for travel.
- Get budget-friendly accommodation: When you book a room a couple of months in advance, you can get some great deals and save money. Hostels offer some of the cheapest accommodations.
- Do some free or low-cost activities: There are things you can enjoy free of cost. Such as going on road trips, hiking, checking out the waterfalls, swimming, and snorkeling.
- Visit local markets: Buying local food can help you save on costs. Food trucks have budget-friendly and delicious local foods you can try. You can get a full meal for $5 to $10. And when you buy from local supermarkets, you can save a lot of cash.
- Don’t overspend on souvenirs: Every island has a ton of souvenir shops and stands – pretty much everywhere you go. You can find some stunning Hawaiian flower necklaces and other items. Although you might be tempted to spend all your earnings in one go, you should take a step back and evaluate your expenses.
Conclusion
Traveling from one island to another in Hawaii can give you a unique experience and show you the Hawaiian culture. It is the best way to celebrate a Hawaiian vacation wearing your new favorite Hawaiian travel-inspired t-shirt, just remember to get your lei on. You get to see all the different locations and enjoy a quality vacation. But, interisland travel in Hawaii can be a bit expensive. Considering most of the time, you will need to use a plane to get to your location. The good thing is, plane rides in Hawaii are frequent and short. So, you don’t have to spend too much time in the air. Now that you know how to travel between Hawaiian islands, you can plan ahead for your next vacation.