Hawaii Island Hopping (How To Travel Between Islands)

Island hopping around Hawaii is one of the best ways to experience different Hawaiian cultures and aloha vibes on each island. But if you want to include more than one island, you need to know the logistics of Hawaii island hopping. In this guide, we will teach you the best ways for how to travel between islands.

There are multiple ways to travel between the different islands, but some are more efficient and cost-effective. And the bigger islands have more options than the smaller, less touristy islands. It can get a little confusing between all the options. Therefore, in this Hawaii island hopping guide, we will go over everything you need to know. From airplanes, ferries, private charters, and more. 

This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

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How Many Islands Does Hawaii Have?

There are technically 137 islands that make up the state of Hawaii. But there are really only 8 islands that sustain life. And out of those 8, there are 4 “main islands” that attract tourists. 

Oahu (The Gathering Place)

Oahu has the highest populated area of all the Hawaiian Islands. Most well known for the city of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, dormant volcanic craters, etc. Oahu is also famous for being the backdrop of many famous Hollywood movie sets.  

Kauai (The Garden Isle)

Kauai is one of the best islands if you are a nature lover. Best known for its lush jagged cliffs that line the coastal shore (aka the Napali Coast). It’s the best island for a helicopter tour to experience its vast untouched land and immense beauty from the sky. 

Maui (The Valley Isle)

Maui has two major mountain ranges, Haleakalā and the West Maui Mountains, with a large valley connecting the two. Popular destinations here are the Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, sightings of Humpback Whales, and world-famous beaches.

The Big Island (AKA Hawaii)

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest island. Known for its active volcanoes (currently as of Nov 2023 Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa), slower pace of living, and abundance of golf courses. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit stop on the Big Island. 

Less Touristy Hawaiian Islands

Lanai (The Pineapple Isle)

A mostly remote and rugged island with a few luxury resorts. Usually not a first choice for tourists. 

Molokai (The Friendly Isle)

The highest population of native Hawaiians. The island residents are strongly resistant to mass tourism. There’s only a single hotel, some vacation rentals, and camping. You won’t receive special treatment if you come to Molokai like what the Major Hawaiian Islands offer. But many will offer aloha if you respect the area as much as they do.

Islands Closed To Tourists

Kahoolawe (The Target Isle)

Kakoolawe is a small island off the coast of Maui, that is closed to tourists. It served as a training ground for the U.S. Army during WWII. 

Niihau (The forbidden Isle)

Only inhabited by a few native Hawaiians, and is closed to tourists.

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How To Travel Between Islands In Hawaii

There are a few different ways to get around to the different islands of Hawaii: airplane, helicopter, cruise ship, ferry boat, and private charters. 

Airplane: 

Airplane travel is the fastest and cheapest way for Hawaii island hopping. Plus it is now the only way to make it to all the islands, since some of the other modes of transportation have been discontinued. 

There are now only 3 airlines offering inter-island flights: Mokulele Airlines (aka Southern Airways Express), Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.

Mokulele Airlines

Mokulele Airlines has been around since 1994 offering the best options for inter-island flights. They are now operated under Southern Airways Express, but you can still book through their webpage. Also in 2020 Makani Kai Air merged with Mokulele Airlines, so Makani Kai Air is no longer an individual airline. 

So if you see Mokulele Airlines, Southern Airways Express, or Makani Kai Air, they are all technically one and the same. 

Mokulele Airlines offers the most inter-island flight options, as it is the only airline offering flights to and from Lanai and Molokai.

Flights with Mokulele Airlines are much smaller planes and more like a private charter. There are only 8 seats on each plane, driving the price much higher than commercial airlines. But ultimately, it can offer a more scenic and personable route to island hopping in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines is one of the two commercial airlines that fly between the major airports of Hawaii. Prices for Hawaii Island hopping on Hawaiian Airlines can be as low as $29 one way. 

Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to and from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and The Big Island. They offer no flight services to Lanai or Molokai.

Book a Flight to Hawaii

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is the second commercial airline to offer inter-island flights in Hawaii. But they have the least amount of flights to offer. They only offer direct flights to the neighboring island. With the exception of The Big Island offering direct flights to and from Honolulu from both Hilo and Kona.

They do not offer any flights in or out of Lanai or Molokai.

Main Differences Between Hawaiian Airlines & Southwest Airlines

One major difference to choosing Southwest Airlines over Hawaiian Airlines is the 2 free checked bags + 2 free carry ons. Hawaiian Airlines charges $30 for one checked bag ($15 for members) but still offers 2 free carry-on items. 

Plus Southwest Airlines offers no change or cancellation fees, which can be a huge added bonus when you encounter unexpected changes to your Hawaii island hopping plans.

Airport Names For Each Hawaiian Island & Their Location

Oahu – 

Daniel K. Inouye Airport in Honolulu (HNL) – Located on the south shore

Kauai – 

Lihue Airport (LIH) – located on the east side

Maui –

Kahului Airport (OGG) – located on the north shore

Kapalua Airport (JHM) – located on the north-west side

Big Island – 

Hilo International Airport (ITO) – located on the east side

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) – located on the west side

Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) – located in the north 

Lanai – 

Lana’i Aiport (LNY) – located middle of the southwest side of the island

Molokai – 

Molokai Airport (MKK) – located in the middle of the northwest side of the island

Final Notes on How to Travel Between Islands on an Airplane

Oahu has the most direct flights as Honolulu International Airport is the biggest airport hub in Hawaii.

Flights generally take 25 – 50 minutes to island hop depending on which island you are transferring to or from.

Don’t forget to consider the time it takes to get to and from the airport. Plus the TSA security checkpoint and waiting time before boarding. It is always suggested to arrive 2 hours ahead of departure time. 

Therefore, you can expect airplane travel for Hawaii island hopping to take around 3+ hours to get to and from each island. 

Mokolele Airlines might offer a shorter wait time, since the planes are much smaller than the commercial airlines.

Tips for Finding Cheap Flights for Hawaii Island Hopping

Book in advance, but not too far in advance. I love to plan far in advance to find the cheapest flights, but sometimes I’m not patient enough.

What I learned about inter-island Hawaii flights is that many tickets only become available 3 months in advance. It’s a little scary to wait until 3 months before your trip.

But at least in this case, it pays to wait. Suddenly there is a plethora of $39-$45 flights on either Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest Airlines.

Use Websites That Can Help You Find the Best Deals: 

Going (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – This is a great website for snagging awesome deals on air travel.

Kayak – Kayak is our go-to website for comparing different brands for the best deals on airline tickets.

Hopper – Personally we love Hopper because you can watch a flight for months in advance. It will notify you if there is a big change in the ticket price. They will also give you advice on whether or not they think the ticket price will go down or up over the months and when the best time to purchase the ticket is!

Skyscanner – Skyscanner is another great website or app for finding some killer deals on airline tickets.

Cruise Ship

Cruise Ships are another option for Hawaii island hopping. Major cruise lines leave from the west coast of North America, and you will be at sea for 3+ days before you hit your first Hawaiian Island.

Once you make it to the cruise ports, you can get off the boat and partake in a fun excursion on the islands. You usually only stay at each port for 1 day.

We feel island hopping via cruise ship is the least interactive way to get immersed in Hawaiian Culture. There just simply isn’t enough time at each location to truly enjoy the islands to the fullest. But it can be a great way to island hop around Hawaii nonetheless. 

Norwegian Cruise Line (Pride of America) is the only large cruise line that offers a 7-day inter-island itinerary.

Cruise Lines That Offer Island Hopping Around Hawaii:

• Royal Caribbean
• Princess Cruises
• Celebrity X Cruises
• Carnival
• Norwegian Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line

Cruise Port Locations:

• Lihue, Kauai
• Honolulu, Oahu
• Lahaina, Maui
• Kahului, Maui
• Hilo, Big Island
• Kailua-Kona, Big Island

Do note, none of the major cruise lines will offer a stop at Lanai or Molokai. 

Ferry

Ferry boats used to be a mode of transportation for Hawaii island hopping, but there is only 1 ferry operation left. Which is from Lāhainā, Maui to Mānele, Lāna’i by Expeditions ferry service. 

The cost is $30 one way. The Expedition ferry runs 4 times a day starting from Maui to Lanai and ending with the last operation leaving from Lanai to Maui. 

Ferry transportation between Hawaiian Islands was primarily put out of operation by airplane travel. But it was more than just that. Ferries were a big harm to the local ocean ecosystem. And the cost to run a ferry to and from the island is nearly 15 times the amount of an airplane. 

Do note, there used to be the Molokai Ferry that traveled between Lahaina, Maui, and Kaunakakai, Molokai, but this ferry is no longer in operation as of 2016.

Helicopter

If you want a more personalized route in the air, then a helicopter transfer can be just what you’re looking for. 

Paradise helicopters is a company that offers transfer services between Kailua-Kona, Honolulu, Kahului, and Lana’i. You can also add a landing stop on your route over. So if you really wanted to see an area on a certain island, be sure to reach out and ask if it is possible to land at that location.

Private charter on a helicopter transfer is definitely not the cheapest option but can offer one of the most unique routes to Hawaii island hopping.

Private Charter Boat

One of the best ways to Hawaii island hop is by private charter boat. So if you like cruising but want to adventure the islands on a smaller boat or with a smaller crowd, then a private charter is your best option. 

There are many different companies offering private charters with different overnight options. You can choose a 1-night cruise around an island or a multi-day trip around to many different Hawaiian Islands. 

Do note, a private charter will be thousands of dollars, and not a cheap way to island hop around Hawaii.  But it is a unique experience in itself, beyond just transportation.

Tradewind charters offer many different options for private charters around the inter islands of Hawaii. You can choose just an overnight trip or multi-day trips either starting from Oahu or Maui. 

Hawaii Catamaran Charters also offers an overnight cruise or a 7-day cruise to Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.

Boat Affair offers a 7-day, 6-night cruise between Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai & The Big Island.

Some other yachting/private charters are Hawaii Yachts, Noelani Yacht Charters, Yacht Charters Hawaii, Hawaii Sailing Adventures, Sail Blue Hawaii , and more.  

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Deciding Which Islands to Visit:

Now that you know it is possible to island hop around Hawaii, you might be curious what islands to visit.

Well obviously if you have time, we suggest traveling to all the major Hawaiian Islands that allow tourism. But if you are just in Hawaii for a short time, it might be a good idea to just pick 2-3 different islands to explore.

Here is a guide for what each island is best for:

• Maui – Best for families and wildlife viewing
• Oahu – Best for city lovers and surfers
• Kauai – Best for nature lovers, hiking, and lush mountains.
• Big Island – Slower pace, active volcanoes, and best for golf nuts
• Molokai – Highest population of native Hawaiians. Known for its massive cliffs and untouched landscapes. 
• Lanai – Mostly remote and rugged island. Known for pineapple production. 

Check out our full guide for What is the Best Island in Hawaii To Visit for an in-depth guide to each island. 

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Is it worth Renting A Car while Island Hopping Hawaii:

Now that you made it to the island, it’s time to explore. While you can get a taxi, ride-share, or public transportation, we found a rental car to be very helpful for getting around the islands. But that is because we ventured out and explored each island to the fullest. 

So if you plan to just enjoy your time at a luxury resort, then it probably doesn’t make sense to get a rental car. 

But if you are like us and want to go hiking, camping, snorkeling, visiting restaurants, etc, then a rental car will get you to everywhere you need around the island. 

We suggest using Kayak to find the best deals or rent a car from a local on Turo. 

  

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Takeaway | Hawaii Island Hopping (How To Travel Between Islands):

Overall, airplane travel is by far the best method for Hawaii island hopping because it is the easiest and cheapest. You are almost guaranteed to find an available flight to get you over to another island. 

If money isn’t an issue, there are definitely some more unique methods for Hawaii island hopping. Such as a private charter yacht to take you around to the different Hawaiian Islands. Or a private helicopter ride that offers unique stops in between. 

Cruise Ships can be a fun way to island hop, but will likely leave you craving more time on each island. 

Commercial airlines are your answer to cheap travel for Hawaii island hopping. You can find flights as low as $30 to island hop around Hawaii.

A private airline charter is probably the fastest way, since you avoid the 2+ hour early arrival time. And get to skip the TSA security line. But prices run $100-$200+ per ticket. 

And for the most scenic route for Hawaii island hopping, a helicopter is probably the best option. 

We hope this guide helps to decide if Hawaii island hopping is for you, and the best route for getting around to each Hawaiian Island. Mahalo!

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