What is the cheapest month to fly to Hawaii?

Late April through early June offers the lowest fares, followed closely by September through mid-December (excluding Thanksgiving week). You'll find round trips from the West Coast for $200-$350 during these windows. Avoid summer, holidays, and spring break when fares spike 30-50%.

Which Hawaiian island is the cheapest to fly to?

Honolulu (Oahu) is consistently the cheapest because it has the most airline competition. Even if you're headed to Maui or Kauai, it can be cheaper to fly into Honolulu and grab a $39-$59 inter-island flight on Southwest or Hawaiian Airlines than to fly direct to your destination island.

How far in advance should I book flights to Hawaii?

Book 1-3 months ahead for the best domestic fares to Hawaii. Flights booked 28+ days before departure are typically 24% cheaper than last-minute bookings. For peak travel periods like summer and holidays, booking 3-4 months out is safer to guarantee availability at reasonable prices.

Is Southwest really the cheapest airline to Hawaii?

Southwest is often the best overall value, not always the lowest sticker price. Two free checked bags save $70-$140 round trip, and no change fees mean you can rebook if prices drop. Their base fares are competitive with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, and the total cost with bags is frequently the lowest.

Can I find cheap flights to Hawaii from the East Coast?

Yes, but expect to pay $400-$600 round trip rather than the $200-$400 that West Coasters pay. JetBlue from Boston and New York sometimes offers competitive fares. Another strategy is booking a cheap flight to a West Coast city and then a separate fare to Hawaii, which can save $100-$200 over a single booking from the East Coast.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Hawaii

The Quick Answer

The cheapest flights to Hawaii run $200-$400 round trip from the West Coast and $400-$600 from the East Coast. You'll find these prices by flying in shoulder season (mid-April through May, or September through mid-December), booking 1-3 months ahead, and checking Southwest alongside the major carriers. The cheapest day to depart is Tuesday, and the cheapest day to book is Sunday.

Best Time to Fly to Hawaii

Cheapest Months

Hawaii has two pricing seasons, and the difference is dramatic.

Cheapest: Late April through early June and September through mid-December (excluding Thanksgiving week). Fares drop 30-50% compared to peak season. April and May are the sweet spot for both price and weather.
Most expensive: Mid-June through mid-August (summer), mid-December through early January (holidays), and mid-February through March (spring break). You'll pay $200-$400 more round trip during these windows.

The weather in Hawaii is good year-round, so there's no real downside to shoulder season. It's slightly rainier from November through March, but showers are brief and localized. You might get 20 minutes of rain, then sunshine for the rest of the day.

Cheapest Days

Tuesday departures are consistently the cheapest day to fly to Hawaii. Wednesday is a close second. Avoid Friday and Sunday departures, which carry a $50-$100 premium because everyone wants to maximize their weekend.

For booking, Sunday is statistically the cheapest day to purchase your ticket, saving 6-13% compared to booking on a Friday.

Best Airports to Fly Into

Hawaii has five commercial airports across four islands. Your choice of airport directly affects your fare.

Honolulu (HNL) on Oahu: The most competition among airlines means the lowest fares. This is where you'll find the cheapest flights to Hawaii, period. Even if Oahu isn't your final destination, flying into HNL and grabbing an inter-island flight is often cheaper than flying direct to another island.
Kahului (OGG) on Maui: Second most competitive with strong direct service from the mainland. Fares are typically $20-$50 more than Honolulu.
Kona (KOA) on the Big Island: Good direct service from the West Coast. Prices are similar to Maui.
Lihue (LIH) on Kauai: Fewer direct mainland flights means higher fares. Often $50-$100 more than Honolulu.
Hilo (ITO) on the Big Island: Limited mainland service but sometimes has surprisingly low fares. Worth checking.

The Airlines That Fly to Hawaii

Southwest Airlines

Southwest changed the Hawaii game when they started flying there. Here's why they matter:

Two free checked bags: This alone saves $70-$140 round trip compared to other airlines that charge $35+ per bag.
No change fees: If your fare drops after booking, you get the difference as a travel credit. Book early and keep checking.
Inter-island flights from $39-$59 one-way: Southwest flies between Oahu, Maui, the Big Island (both Kona and Hilo), and Kauai.
Rapid Rewards points: Southwest's Companion Pass (earned by accumulating 135,000 points in a calendar year) lets a companion fly free on every flight. For couples who travel to Hawaii regularly, this is the holy grail.

Southwest flies to Hawaii from Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Their fares don't always show up on Google Flights, so check Southwest.com directly.

Hawaiian Airlines

The hometown carrier offers the most routes to Hawaii and between islands. They're not always the cheapest, but their frequent flyer program and direct routes from smaller mainland cities make them worth checking. They've merged with Alaska Airlines, which expands your routing options significantly.

Alaska Airlines

Consistently competitive on West Coast to Hawaii routes. Their mileage plan is one of the best for Hawaii redemptions, and partner awards through the Oneworld alliance give you more options. With the Hawaiian Airlines merger, Alaska now has the most extensive Hawaii network of any carrier.

Other Airlines

United, Delta, American, and JetBlue all serve Hawaii. They're usually pricier than Southwest and Alaska but occasionally run sales that beat everyone. JetBlue from the East Coast (Boston, New York) sometimes offers surprisingly good fares.

Best Search Strategies

Layer Your Search Tools

Google Flights: Best for comparing dates and seeing fare calendars. Set up price tracking for your route.
Southwest.com: Check separately since Southwest fares aren't on most search engines.
Hopper: Their price prediction algorithm is particularly good for Hawaii routes. It'll tell you whether to buy now or wait.
Going.com (Scott's Cheap Flights): Their Hawaii deals are some of the best they publish. Sub-$300 round trips from the West Coast pop up regularly.

The Positioning Flight Hack

If you're not on the West Coast, consider booking a separate cheap flight to a West Coast city, then flying to Hawaii from there. A $150 round trip to LA plus a $250 round trip from LA to Honolulu ($400 total) often beats a $700 direct flight from an East Coast or Midwest city.

This works especially well if you can spend a night in the connecting city. Two separate one-way tickets on different airlines give you more flexibility than a single connection on one airline.

Book One-Way Flights

Unlike international travel where round trips are usually cheaper, domestic round trips are typically just two one-ways added together. Check if mixing airlines saves money. You might fly Southwest to Honolulu and Alaska back to the mainland for less than a round trip on either airline alone.

Inter-Island Flights

If you want to visit multiple islands, inter-island flights are quick and affordable.

Southwest: $39-$59 one-way during sales, $79-$129 normally. Two free checked bags included.
Hawaiian Airlines: $59-$99 one-way typically. More frequency and routing options.
Mokulele Airlines: Small prop planes serving smaller airports like Molokai and Lanai. Fares from $40-$80 one-way.

Flight times between islands are just 25-55 minutes. Honolulu to Maui is about 35 minutes. Early morning and late evening flights are typically the cheapest.

Credit Card Points for Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the best domestic redemptions for credit card points. Here are the most valuable options:

Southwest Rapid Rewards: Points don't have fixed values. They're worth whatever the cash fare is. During sales, you can fly to Hawaii for 8,000-15,000 points one-way. The Companion Pass doubles the value of every flight.
Alaska Mileage Plan: 12,500 miles one-way to Hawaii in economy. With the Hawaiian merger, this is one of the best point currencies for Hawaii travel.
Chase Ultimate Rewards: Transfer to United (17,500 miles one-way) or Hyatt (for hotels). The Chase Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus alone can cover a round trip.

Timing Your Booking

Book 1-3 months ahead for the best fares. Domestic flights to Hawaii follow the same general pricing curve as other domestic routes. Booking more than 3 months out rarely gets you a better price, and last-minute bookings (under 2 weeks) almost always cost more.

One exception: Southwest sometimes drops fares for near-term travel when planes aren't full. If you're flexible and can travel on short notice, check Southwest weekly for deals within the next 2-4 weeks.

What About Package Deals?

Bundling flights with hotels can save money for Hawaii, especially at resort properties. Costco Travel is consistently rated as one of the best for Hawaii vacation packages. Their hotel rates include extras (resort credits, breakfast, upgrades) that you won't get booking separately. Check Costco Travel against your best a la carte prices before booking.