A good deal on non-stop service from Texas to Hawaii today. Cost:  $434 round trip (all-inclusive). Airlines:  Continental (also American Airlines for about $20 more). Dates:  Travel through December 16. Availability:  Good. Minimum stay:  3 days.

Range has always been a significant issue for transpacific flights using Boeing 737. When defunct Aloha Airlines was flying between Las Vegas and Honolulu, their solution to the problem was adding a stop in Southern California.  This added extra time and wasn’t cost-effective, but was better than an emergency water landing in the middle of [...]