Our Review of Honolulu Airport (HNL)

Table of contents: Our Review of Honolulu Airport (HNL) Pros and Cons of Honolulu Airport (HNL) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Honolulu Airport (HNL)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

To create this summary, we used publicly available traveler feedback and professional ratings from:

Skytrax airport ratings, an industry standard for airport quality based on passenger feedback and expert evaluation (facilities, comfort, cleanliness, services, etc.)
Google user reviews and aggregated travel site summaries, which reflect thousands of real traveler experiences with facilities, staff, signage, food, and overall impression
TripAdvisor user reviews, representing individual passenger opinions about comfort, layout, and services
Other online review aggregators, giving additional context on traveler sentiment

Summary of Reviews — What Travelers Say

Skytrax Professional Rating

Skytrax currently classifies Daniel K. Inouye International Airport as a 3-Star Airport, indicating average overall quality across categories like facilities, cleanliness, shopping, dining, and staff service.
The Skytrax assessment notes the airport has an “appealing terminal environment” with open planning, but also mentions crowding, outdated finishes, long walking distances, and less efficient transfer processes as negatives.

Positive Highlights from Travelers

Many Google and other reviews point out several strengths:

Pleasant landscaping and green spaces: Travelers frequently praise the indoor garden areas and the unique open-feel interior with greenery.
Friendly and helpful staff: Several reviews highlight helpful airline and airport workers, especially in customer service areas.
Clean and well-maintained areas: Parts of the airport, especially newer or renovated sections, are described as clean and orderly.
Comfortable seating and some modern touches: Many travelers enjoy areas with comfortable seating and views of surrounding landscapes.

Traveler Tip: Many positive reviewers recommend exploring the garden and outdoor elements inside some concourses — it’s a unique feature that makes HNL more memorable than a typical airport terminal.

Common Complaints & Critical Feedback

Traveler feedback also reveals a number of recurring criticisms:

Outdated facilities: Many reviewers say large portions of the airport feel old, worn, or in need of modernization.
Confusing layout and signage: Several users mention confusing signage and coordination between terminals, which can cause stress during connections.Limited seating and power outlets: Lack of plentiful seating and charging points in some areas is a frequent complaint.
Food options and quality: Some travelers felt food options were limited, expensive, or not clearly available late at night.
Agricultural and TSA wait times: Lines for TSA and agricultural checks have been noted as long and unpredictable, especially during peak periods.
TripAdvisor negative reviews: Several deeper criticisms on TripAdvisor describe a chaotic feel, outdated décor, and frustrations with procedures like baggage restrictions or limited stores.

If your flight involves agricultural inspection lines (common in Hawaii), plan for extra time — those queues can be longer than typical TSA lines, especially midday or early morning.

Review Score Snapshot

According to online aggregators:

Google reviews (aggregated) indicate an average rating around 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on thousands of user reviews.
Other review sites show similar mid-range ratings (e.g., chamber of commerce data around 3.7/5).

These mixed scores show that traveler sentiment is quite balanced, with some passengers loving specific aspects (staff, gardens, views) while others are frustrated by aging infrastructure or procedural issues.

Overall Rating and Justification

Final Rating: 7.2 / 10

Justification

Strengths

Comfortable and clean in many areas, with unique garden elements and open design not found in many U.S. airports. Friendly and helpful staff in many services.
Efficient in parts, especially if traveling within Hawaii.

Weaknesses

Outdated facilities and confusing layout reduce the overall quality of the experience.
Crowding and long inspection lines at peak times.
Mixed satisfaction in food, seating, and services, causing frustration for some travelers.

Conclusion: While HNL has several appealing features and reflects an authentic Hawaiian welcome, it struggles with modernization, consistency, and wayfinding, resulting in a mid-range traveler satisfaction score overall.

Pros and Cons of Honolulu Airport (HNL)

PROS

Location: Honolulu Airport is located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Honolulu city, making it easily accessible for travelers.

Modern Facilities: A variety of modern facilities are available at Honolulu Airport, including dining options, retail stores, lounges, and cozy relaxing places.

Accessibility: HNL offers a range of transportation choices, including ride-sharing services, taxis, rental automobiles, and the Bus.

Disability accessibility: Accessibility features are available for travelers with disabilities ensuring they have access to wheelchairs.

Hub: Honolulu Airport is the main hub of Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Air Cargo, Asia Pacific Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, Transair and Corporate Air.

CONS

Seasonal Congestion: During the busiest travel seasons, the airport may get packed, resulting in lengthier wait times and crowded terminals.

Terminal Layout: First-time visitors may find the terminal layout confusing because certain gates and services require a considerable amount of walking.

Weather Delays: Due to its location, HNL can experience weather-related delays more frequently.

Parking Availability: Parking can be challenging during peak times, and rates for long-term parking can be relatively high.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals: HNL airport has three terminals; Terminal 1 (Inter Island Terminal), Terminal 2 (Overseas Terminal), Terminal 3 (Commuter Terminal). Passengers can transfer between terminals by the free inter-terminal buses. Make sure to check your departure gate and terminal in advance.

Transport to and from Honolulu: The airport is well-connected to downtown Honolulu and other areas via TheBus, which offers frequent service. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also readily available, and there are several options for airport shuttles and transfers. Parking is available if you’re driving.

Check-in Areas:

Terminal 1: The check-in area is located in second level of the terminal 1. Both check-in lobbies 2 and 3 are also located here.
Terminal 2: The check-in area is located in second level of central lobby area in terminal 2.
Terminal 3: The check-in area is located in ground level of the terminal 3. It is the smallest terminal of the airport with only a single Baggage Claim Area (A).

Services and Facilities: There are several restaurants, stores, and lounges available at the airport. There are restaurants located throughout the terminal. There are several lounges accessible for travellers to relax.

Family-Friendly Amenities: The Honolulu Airport has amenities for families, such as family toilets and places specifically designed for lactation. Additionally, there are kid-friendly spaces, making it ideal for families taking little children on vacation.

Additional Services: Honolulu Airport offers a range of additional services including free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, luggage storage and baggage wrapping, lost & found, a medical clinic for emergencies, and pet relief areas. There are also ATMs, currency exchange services, and a variety of information desks to assist travellers with inquiries and provide airport and local information.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation