Originally Posted by
WrightHI
You can search another airline that partners with HA on interisland (eg AA). If you see availability there, it will also be bookable through HA.
HA partner awards at the lowest level book into T class and HA awards at the lowest book into U (I think, but it is certainly a different class than T). T does not always equal U (or whatever it is), so I am not sure referring to a partner website to view HA award availability will always show accurate HA award availability.
In any event, it may seem like a lot of money vis-a-vis the mileage required for an award, but the value proposition is usually not there (except in those rare instances where the one way flight is over $200 and there is somehow and surprisingly award availability at the lowest level--I've seen this once or twice). So I am usually paying cash and saving the miles for bigger and brighter.