You’ve likely heard of the road to Hana, and maybe you’re considering traveling along the famous route when you’re in Hawaii. But there’s another way to get to the secluded East Maui locale: you can fly into the Hana Airport.
Want to experience Hana without the winding drive? Here’s great info about flying there instead!
The Hana Airport: A Flight and a Unique Experience
When people fly to Maui, they’re most often flying into Kahalui, which is the main airport. However, there’s a smaller airport on the east side of the island called the Hana Airport. You canʻt fly straight here from the mainland, but you may want to consider a flight here when you visit the Garden Isle.
The Hana Airport (HNM) is in the beautiful isolated town of Hana, and it’s a great place to fly into. You get to see beautiful waterfalls on the descents and take-offs!
Also you may get to see Whales breaching out in the beautiful Hawaiian waters out in the sea. I have seen many whales a lot of times when flying into Hana Maui, and I can tell you it is breathtaking. Look for some sea turtles swimming around too.
Traveling by air to Hana has to be one of the most decent 20-minute flights around because you get to see a whole lot more with the price of the ticket you purchased. Just make sure to take pictures to capture the beauty of flying into the Hana Airport.
What Airlines Fly Into The Hana Airport
There is one commercial company that services Hana Airport: Mokulele Airlines. It flies between Kahului and Hana. Mokulele also connects flights between Kahului and other Hawaii airports. So if you’re traveling to Hana from Honolulu, Kona, or Lanai, you’ll be able to fly on Mokulele and connect through Kahului.
Hana Maui Resort also offers plane service for guests staying seven or more days at the property.
Hana Airport is also used for private planes and chartered flights.
What to Expect
If you decide to take my advice and fly into Hana Airport, here is what you can expect. The airport has a Small one-room Terminal, pretty much just a pavilion-like building. There is no security checkpoint or TSA stands in the airport due to the facility being used as a General Aviation hub.
Inside the airport, there are vending machines for purchasing drinks (nonalcoholic) and snacks. Luggage claim is located inside the terminal. Usually the Pilot and Co-Pilot unload the luggage and then put it out in the terminal. Trust me, flying into Hana Maui will be a memorable one.
Rental Cars in Hana
One of the biggest things that prevent visitors from flying into the Hana Airport is the lack of transportation options. There are no rental cars at the airport, and there is no public transportation in Hana.
So what do you do if you’re visiting Hana? Guests of the Hana Maui Resort can take advantage of the hotelʻs shuttle service or the limited number of rental Jeeps that are on hand. If you’re staying at a local inn, you can check with the management to see if they offer a shuttle service from the Hana airport.
You may also have some luck using a person-to-person car rental app, but it may be risky flying into Hana with no car backup plan.
If you canʻt secure a rental car for your trip to Hana, you may be better off driving from the Kahului Airport (OGG), which has many rental car options.
After all, once you are in Hana, you likely will want to drive around and see some of the local sights. But, you may find that flying there is a great way to see Mauiʻs shoreline from a unique perspective – an adventure that is about the journey, not the destination.
Hana Airport Tips:
Parking Lots:
-Check your surroundings when parking
-Lock and inventory what is in your rental
-Make sure to take everything you need with you
Terminal:
-Check your surroundings again
-Make sure to have your ID for the airline employees when checking in.
-When using the restrooms, make sure to take everything with you (to prevent the possibility of theft)
-When your flight is called, make sure to double-check your seating area to make sure you have everything
That covers Hana East Maui Airport. If you wanna see what I am talking about, book with us here at Hawaii Aloha Travel, and you will see the magical beauty of traveling to Hana by Air. A Hui Hou!
Want to learn about more small airports in Hawaii? Here’s everything you need to know about flying to Molokai!
