Hawaii - Suggestions for inter-island flights - which airline? which island?

Hi. My family has 2 weeks in Hawaii, flying in and out of HNL. Wondering what the cheapest way to get to another island is? I don't have an island preference (any suggestions)? Looking for a good price-- 5 x return flights, lots of baggage = expensive.

There aren't really that many options - air is the only real choice - and with Aloha gone, there isn't much competition. There are a few small players but they flew tiny aircraft with tight luggage constraints last I booked flights. Keep an eye out for sales, but be prepared for $60-80pp one-way on Hawaiian.

Please continue to follow this discussion in the FT Hawaii Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

One idea if you haven't booked a flight yet would be to book it to HNL, connect interisland, and return from another island back to the mainland, avoiding another flight. Depending on where you are flying from, this works well, and may be cheaper- plus less flying time :cool:

Another option with that many people and that much baggage could be a light twin air charter. Not only would it get you where you need to go but would also be a unique experience and the cost would vary depending on which island you wanted to go to and the flight time it would take.

I've heard that the smaller airlines limit the weight of the carry on bags - at least for no fee. I was told by one person that she was charged extra for a carry on which exceeded the weight (not sure what the weight limit was, but not too many pounds).


DD

Interisland by air is the only choice.. Ferry's only happen between a few islands in close proximity. Hawaiian Air is my first choice, as I've heard locals wary of Mokulele

as I've heard locals wary of Mokulele

This is simply much too over-general.

To the OP: Hawaiian and Island Air are both good folks. IslandAir's flights are on Dash-8s (which some like and some don't; I love them for the views!) In terms of which island, you will likely find greater availability (and thus **possibly** lower prices) going from HNL to Maui. IslandAir also has somewhat more restrictive baggage policies.

The only ferry options are Maui to Lana`i and Maui to Moloka`i.

The only airline I would avoid are the go! CRJ200 flights. go! (Mesa) is a company that has caused much misery in Hawai`i and the CRJ200s are possibly the most uncomfortable commercial jet aircraft ever made.

Depending on how much baggage, you might want to pursue the earlier poster's suggestion about a charter. George's Aviation is one well-though-of local company: http://www.georgesaviation.com/

And <mod hat on> I'm going to change your thread title to "inter" rather than "intra" (since "intra" suggests flights on the same island, e.g., ITO-KOA or OGG-JHM). </off hat.

This is simply much too over-general.
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I received quite a few comments from locals to avoid Mokulele because their aggressive pricing put Aloha Air out of business. Aloha Air was around apparently for quite awhile, and a part of the Hawaiian culture mesh. Some comments here on FT as well.

Ive heard recently Island Air to be an option. I'm hoping we'll be able to capitalize on an Hawaiian Air Flight, but looks to be the most expensive. We'll be hopping islands for our Spring Break trip beginning late next month.

I received quite a few comments from locals to avoid Mokulele because their aggressive pricing put Aloha Air out of business. Aloha Air was around apparently for quite awhile, and a part of the Hawaiian culture mesh. Some comments here on FT as well.

Ive heard recently Island Air to be an option. I'm hoping we'll be able to capitalize on an Hawaiian Air Flight, but looks to be the most expensive. We'll be hopping islands for our Spring Break trip beginning late next month.

I think you've got your Airline names mixed up.
Go! ( a subsidiary of Mesa Air ) is the one who came in the market to force Aloha Air out.
Everyone who was ever associated with the Airline business in Hawaii ( including me ) will tell the story and recommend other carriers.

Cblaisd will have more to add.

Aloha, BW

I think you've got your Airline names mixed up.
Go! ( a subsidiary of Mesa Air ) is the one who came in the market to force Aloha Air out.
Everyone who was ever associated with the Airline business in Hawaii ( including me ) will tell the story and recommend other carriers.

Cblaisd will have more to add.

Aloha, BW
go! and Mokulele are now part of a "joint venture" with go! having a majority stake, so I suppose you can say it's all go! now. But go! (prior to its "joint venture" with MW) was a significant factor in bringing down AQ, along with AQ's management.

Thank You slippahs for the clarification/ update.

BW

I apologize.. I didn't mean to cause a karfuffle.. I guess there has been some strong feelings back and forth.

So question.. I'm looking to book my next inter-island flight (don't mean sidetrack this thread).. so is booking with Go! or Mokulele a faux pas amongst the locals. I care about the many staff we see year in and year out, and certainly care if there is whiff of dissatisfaction amongst the O'hana.. After all I look Hawaiian (although Chinese) and I'm 6'5" Big Kahuna.. Brushing up for the exciting revisit coming up Spring Break.

Mahalo.

If you are 6'5" a flight in a CRJ2 will be quite unpleasant they are very very cramped. Plus the overhead bins are very small, which means more checked baggage and fees. I personally don't fly go! because I have a lot of family and friends who work for Hawaiian and I like to support them. One thing I have noticed though is whenever I look at the departure boards, you always see a lot of red "delayed" notices on Go/Mokulele flights, I think they've had some issues with on time preformance recently.

Last year I took Mokulele Airlines on their prop plane - Caravan 208B - From Kona to Maui.

I thought it was quite fun and it ended up being significantly cheaper than flying Hawaiian Air or anyone else. As I remember our baggage was free and they were pretty generous about what size/weight of bags you could take on.

On the prop plane - we flew out of the commuter terminal which meant that we did not go through any security screening or deal with the TSA.

Our pilot also did our safety briefing for the flight. One of the best parts was when he said that we could leave our cell phones on but please don't talk on them during the flight.

Last year I took Mokulele Airlines on their prop plane - Caravan 208B - From Kona to Maui.

I thought it was quite fun and it ended up being significantly cheaper than flying Hawaiian Air or anyone else. As I remember our baggage was free and they were pretty generous about what size/weight of bags you could take on.

On the prop plane - we flew out of the commuter terminal which meant that we did not go through any security screening or deal with the TSA.

Our pilot also did our safety briefing for the flight. One of the best parts was when he said that we could leave our cell phones on but please don't talk on them during the flight.

^ That's awesome you can text and surf all throughout the flight.

I ended up booking with Hawaiian Air again.. Although they are more expensive than other alternatives, I felt the airline has been around a long time, and that's a plus in my books. Flying smaller planes might be fun, I'm afraid their safety record may not be as high as a commercial liner. Plus a safe choice booking Hawaiian Air, as I know quite a few locals, and don't want O'hana to feel uncomfortable.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I would avoid go Mokulele at all costs. They left us stranded at the airport all day with our 2 young children due to a "mechanical issue". Apparently they do this ALL the time. Either their planes are falling apart or they don't fly unless they have a full load our flight was 40 % full. We ended up having to rebook a new ticket on Delta who were wonderful since we missed our connections. I will NEVER fly no go Mokulele again and would strongly reccomend avoiding them.

I would avoid go Mokulele at all costs. They left us stranded at the airport all day with our 2 young children due to a "mechanical issue". Apparently they do this ALL the time. Either their planes are falling apart or they don't fly unless they have a full load our flight was 40 % full. We ended up having to rebook a new ticket on Delta who were wonderful since we missed our connections. I will NEVER fly no go Mokulele again and would strongly reccomend avoiding them.

Welcome to Flyertalk flyer2468, and that does sound like an unfortunate event with YV... but glad that DL took charge and secured you a flight home.

I would avoid go Mokulele at all costs. They left us stranded at the airport all day with our 2 young children due to a "mechanical issue". Apparently they do this ALL the time. Either their planes are falling apart or they don't fly unless they have a full load our flight was 40 % full. We ended up having to rebook a new ticket on Delta who were wonderful since we missed our connections. I will NEVER fly no go Mokulele again and would strongly reccomend avoiding them.

Welcome to FT!

I don't have experience with Go Mokulele, simply because I've known Hawaiian Air since I was a kid, so I try to fly with them.. adds a bit of Aloha to the trip.

Sorry to hear about your experiences.