After $2.3B, Hawaii Airports Land at Bottom In US Rankings

After $2.3B, Hawaii Airports Still Land At Bottom In U.S. Rankings

Problems are vast and unending at Hawaii airports after 15 years of “improvement.” Is the lack of an independent airport authority at fault?”

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60 thoughts on “After $2.3B, Hawaii Airports Still Land At Bottom In U.S. Rankings”

  1. I personally love the Kona Airport, it is number one in my book. I have been through Chicago, both New York airports, Seattle, Portland, Sacremento, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Atlanta, and New Orleans. New Orleans is the worst by far. Forgot Spokane also, Spokane is up there with Kona.

  2. We love the Hawaiian air that greets us upon landing at OGG, and wouldn’t want to lose that, but OGG seriously needs updating/enlarging, and better foodservice options. The Kona airport is a disaster – too much open-air. In January of this year we had to wait outside for our flight to board, and it was so hot and almost no shade. I can’t imagine how bad it is in the summer. It’s a little too quaint. In terms of great airport renovations, I can’t say enough about the newish Harvey Milk terminal at SFO – absolutely stunning, so much space, lots of great food options, and great bathrooms!

  3. I love Kona airport! It really makes me feel like I am in the Islands! Only bummer was that they moved all the car rental kiosks from across the street from the terminal to a bus ride up the road but I can live with that as long as they keep the open air and current setup. Yes, like the rest of the states airports, the food choices are poor but most repeat travelers know to grab something before you get there at any of the close, good, local nearby food options.

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  4. We pretty much just fly from the coast to Kona. Arrival is not bad; I get the rental car, the wife gets the bags, and we go. Departures are another thing. Not bad getting through security but once inside there are few places to sit, essentially no places to eat, and no places to shop. I would agree that the Hawaii airports are low on the rating scale and not anywhere near as nice as foreign ones (even smaller ones) we have used. In some ways, it seems that descriptions of the Hawaiian Government better describes a Banana Republic than a first-world operations.

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  5. I’ve flown in and out of HNL for decades while working as an airline pilot, not counting my time in the USN or when I first flew to The Territory in the ’50s as a boy.

    Based upon years of first hand experience with HNL, I can say it’s near the bottom of my list. As regards to customer service, most employees were rude and arrogant, as were the incompetent government employees who staffed the airport, and airport management in general. The concessions have been below average over the years. The only thing that was reliable was the tower personnel; they were sharp.

    It seems no matter how much money you dump into the care and feeding of HNL, nothing seems to improve. So where is all that money going?? I think we all know the answer.

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  6. I remember when they took out the fountain to put in the freeway access. Sad day. As for LGA being the worse, the new terminal is spectacular. Miami the best? Been through Miami many times, it’s a third world dingy airport from my own personal experience. Maui is certainly the worst in Hawaii in my book, for the reasons you stated. On a recent trip, Southwest was located as far away from the other gates as was possible. (State conspiracy to favor Hawaiian Airlines?) The pathway to the gate was boarded up, blocking light from the few windows down long corridors from days past, wires dangling down from the ceiling, flickering lights. Wow.

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  7. Would Love to see improvements & restored direct to mainland flights at funky but user friendly Hilo airport to serve the 100k plus E side residents.
    Kona airport “renovations” are shoddy. We know from the gorgeous homes on millionaires’ row beachfront that Big Island construction can be gorgeous and durable, with beautiful hardwoods,,tile, copper downspouts etc. Why cut corners at the airport ?

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    1. Cut Corners? Don’t Encourage the State of Hawaii! As practically every Hawaiian Resident has said “The Families and Friends” of the Politicians are all Contractors and Building Materials Suppliers, that’s how They get Rich, the State and Counties get Poorer and Nothing Ever Gets Done! After seeing the never ending, or beginning, public works projects I tend to subscribe to Their Thinking Entirely.

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  8. I read the article twice. The only specific examples of deficiencies for HNL seem to be that the new terminal is designed in an impersonal “mainland” style, and that there aren’t enough good places for people to chow down. Is that it? If so, Much Ado About Nothing.

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  9. Hawaii airports are reminiscent of travel in 3rd world countries in the 1990s. Hawaii government is inept and moribund. I’ve been a frequent traveler for over 40 years and cringe when I disembark to such shabby facilities.

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  10. I just traveled thru HNL and OGG and I love the updates at HNL. Much easier to transition through from car rentals, security and gates. I like that they kept some of the open air portions. But OGG needs either more gates or less airplanes.

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