- I island-hopped from Maui to Oahu on a 40-minute Hawaiian Airlines flight and loved the experience.
- I enjoyed the gorgeous aerial views of the islands and sipped on complimentary tropical-fruit juice.
- The flight was great, but I recommend tourists fly from exciting Oahu to relaxing Maui instead.
As someone who's lived in Hawaii, I've island-hopped via plane many times.
Growing up on Maui, I often traveled to Oahu for family gatherings. The brief flight was always an easy island-hopping experience, and I've taken the journey dozens of times.
To get to Oahu, I fly with either Mokulele or Hawaiian Airlines. Though Mokulele is a 10-seater commuter plane that feels like an intimate tour of the islands, Hawaiian Airlines is usually cheaper and offers non-stop flights.
I recently took the 40-minute flight from Maui to Oahu via Hawaiian Airlines. Here's how it went.
Maui and Oahu have vastly different vibes and offer unique experiences.
Before booking any flight, it's important to note that each Hawaiian island has its own vibe.
If you're looking for a relaxing respite, Maui may be more your speed, whereas party animals and city people may prefer Oahu's fast-paced energy.
That being said, both destinations have world-renowned beaches and surf spots, shopping and dining, historical sites, and stunning natural beauty so there's no shortage of those on either island.
If you want to experience both islands, I recommend starting with Oahu and then visiting Maui at the end of your trip.
In my opinion, traveling inter-island is less stressful than flying to the mainland.
No matter which islands you're hopping between, you can expect the short jaunt to be easier than flying to the mainland.
I typically arrive at the airport one hour before my flight with only one carry-on bag to expedite the airline's security-checkpoint process.
Booking an early morning flight helped avoid long lines at security.
In August, the Department of Transportation installed a tent at Kahului Airport to provide shade for passengers waiting in long lines amidst concerns about extensive wait times.
In order to avoid these crowds and make the most of our travel day, my group and I booked an early-morning flight that departed at 8:30 a.m. Luckily, we were more intimidated by the Starbucks line than the wait to get through security.
I bought a digital boarding pass on the Hawaiian Airlines app.
I bought my ticket through the Hawaiian Airlines app so I was able to download a digital boarding pass that came with a QR code.
I thought it was more convenient to have my ticket ready and pulled up on my phone instead of keeping track of a physical boarding pass.
Passengers crowded around the entrance to board the flight.
Akin to the Oahu energy, passengers rushed to the front of a haphazardly formed line to board our flight and be the first to store their belongings in the overhead bins.
I thought it felt chaotic at first but the passengers eventually established a more organized flow.
After boarding your 40-minute Hawaiian Airlines flight, there's usually just enough time to enjoy a refreshing beverage before arriving in Honolulu.
We flew on the fleet's smallest plane, which is designated for inter-island travel.
Boeing 717 planes are deemed efficient for short-haul flights, including trips between islands. The Boeing 717 is the smallest in Hawaiian Airlines' fleet and can seat a maximum of 128 people
Though I didn't think the seats were as comfortable as the ones on larger vessels, the service and views were still top-notch.
There was only one bathroom at the back of the plane.
Since the flight was so quick, I don't normally use the onboard restroom. However, I wanted to see what the bathroom was like so I got up to check it out during the flight.
I thought the bathroom was clean.
The onboard bathroom appeared to be a lot cleaner than those on some mainland flights I've been on, perhaps because not many people use it during such a short trip.
Flight attendants had just enough time to pass out refreshments.
During the plane ride, flight attendants passed out water and POG (passion-orange-guava) juice, which is packaged in small, sealed cups that remind me of my elementary-school days.
By the time flight attendants came back around to collect any trash, the plane was already descending into Honolulu.
In my opinion, the aerial views alone are worth the cost of a plane ticket.
No matter how you're flying, I think traveling inter-island guarantees spectacular views.
I also recommend sitting on the right side of the plane when flying from Maui to Oahu since these seats offer the best views of both islands.
The flight was delightful but I'd recommend flying from Oahu to Maui instead.
I've found that the experience of island-hopping doesn't change with the direction you're going, but I'd recommend that tourists start on Oahu (most flights from the mainland will likely land in Honolulu anyway) and then visit Maui.
If I were visiting myself, I would choose Oahu's fast-paced city environment as a fun way to begin the journey, and then balance my vacation with the relaxing respite of Maui. Of course, you might not have time to island hop — if you're only staying for a few days or a week, I think it's better to fully experience one island instead of trying to squeeze in multiple stops.
Overall, I only recommend island hopping to tourists who believe they'll get the most out of their vacation by starting on Oahu and ending on Maui, going in the opposite direction of my Hawaiian Airlines flight.
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