If you love the South Pacific as we do, today’s announcement from Hawaiian Airlines will please you. Today they announced service to the Cook Islands starting in May 2023. The once-weekly flight of 2,941 miles is between Honolulu (HNL) and Rarotonga (RAR); both are in the same time zone. That’s right, no jet lag!
Now visitors from Hawaii and the 15 mainland gateway cities served by Hawaiian Airlines will have a convenient way to visit the Cook Islands. You may recall that Aloha Airlines flew this route previously, as did Hawaiian, between 1987 and 1993.
“We are delighted to grow our South Pacific network by offering our guests access to the Cook Islands, an archipelago that shares Hawai’i’s Polynesian roots and natural beauty. — Peter Ingram, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines.
The Cook Island Prime Minister Mark Brown said, “We look to rebuild our tourism industry and strengthen access to our northern hemisphere markets.”
Tickets to the Cook Islands can be purchased starting December 7.
Look for HA 495, which will depart HNL at 4 PM on Saturdays, arriving in RAR at 10:25 PM the same day. The return flight, HA 496, is set to depart a full 24 hours later, at 11:35 PM on Sundays, arriving in Honolulu at 550 AM on Mondays. That’s a change from the nonstop to Tahiti (Papeete) that returns to Honolulu shortly after arrival.
The flights will be aboard Hawaiian’s narrow-body A321neo aircraft, which, unfortunately, does not feature lie-flat seating in business class. It has 16 business recliners, 45 extra legroom seats, and 128 regular economy seats. Entertainment is via wireless streaming to customer devices, and seats feature USB outlets.
We plan to go and report back – how about you? Are you eager to visit the Cook Islands?
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Aimée says
I’m intrigued to travel there but would need to research what there is to do if we would need to stay either one day only or a full week before being able to depart back to Hawaii.
Roger L says
I don’t think Hawaiian Airlines ever flew this route before. I can only remember Aloha Airlines flying between Hawaii and Cook Islands. Aloha Airlines only had regular service for a brief time before the company went bankrupted. I think it was a shorter period of time than the 1987 to 1993 time frame. It was not a profitable route so both airlines cannot be running at the same time.
Brad I says
Any chance Hawaiian could include a stop at Christmas Island?. Fisherman’s paradise and no service from HNL since Fiji Air bailed in 2020
Laura M. says
We’ve been crying since Air New Zealand stopped flying to Raro. We’ve been going at least once a year for over 20 years. A bonus for us is that we can fly out of our local airport in Sacramento and not have to fly to LA first. We are packed and ready to go! Great for the Cook Islands economy!!
Theresa S says
Can’t wait to read your article regarding this trip! I’m very interested in travel to the Cook Islands.
Kauaidoug says
I am very interested in going. Can one connect to Bali from there? Bali has always been a bucket list thing.
DebraM says
Aloha Rob +Jeff. YES!!!!! I am excited to read about this new adventure. What will the cost be and will they have a air,hotel and car PKG? Am going to look up and see what it’s like there. Keep me posted please.Majalo Debra
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Debra.
There’s no competition so we expect airfares to start at about $1,000 RT. Ouch.
Aloha.
SWAFlyer says
What are they now round trip?
Jen says
I am so happy about this. I am booking my trip back to the Cooks asap. I’ve been missing those LAX to Raro direct flights but this? This is fantastic I can’t think of a better place to be en route from the mainland, and working in some Hawaii time too. I wonder what the flights will cost?
Heather M says
I have always wanted to go to Rarotonga, so I am really excited about this. Seems like the same amount of time it took me from HNL to Fiji, which stopped on Christmas Island.
Maleko says
Very poor decision on Hawaiians part not to use the 330 on that route. Guess they want to see the load factors first.
JohnW says
Btw, what the people complaining about narrowbody service don’t realize is that a route like this simply cannot support widebody service. It’s a narrowbody or nothing. If you can’t handle 5+hours in a narrowbody you’ll not be happy when you arrive in some of the less developed areas of the planet anyway. Best to stick to the large resorts where you’ll be better catered to.
JohnW says
Safe to say by the comments so far, places like the Cook Islands are not for the complaining types. Others will relish a visit to place that will be like traveling back in time to the South Pacific in the days of Jack London!
DianeS says
I was interested until I saw that the aircraft used will be the A321neo aircraft. We just flew to Kauai on this. It was the most uncomfortable flight we’ve ever had. Narrow uncomfortable seats with no leg room. My husband actually got an imprint on his knee from the seat in front of him!
Mike G says
Flying to Hawaii on an A321 is not bad compared to doing the same aboard a 737
Mike G says
The A321 is a safe and comfortable aircraft. It’s a lot better flying on that than a 737
Rob S says
So…. A321neo on Hawaiian Air offers 30 inch pitch in economy. 35 inch pitch in Extra Comfort. Both offer 17.3 inch width.
Southwest 737-8MAX and 737-800 both offer standard economy seats with 32-33 inch pitch and 17.8 inch width.
Trudy C says
Absolutely look forward to visiting Cook Islands. Prime minister Brown seems quite welcoming to travelers. Will be nice to enjoy the Polynesian culture and learn of their own history without feeling like one is imposing. Going to research lodging now so that when flights open up I will have a plan.
Nadege S says
Please do report about your upcoming 2023 trip! I am dreaming of visiting the Cook Islands!
Happy holidays, in case I don’t leave another comment in 2022!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nadege.
Thanks. Best to you and your family.
Aloha.
Steven G says
It’s fascinating given the distance that the Cook Islands are in the same time zone. I remember flying once from HNL to Micronesia. The first stop was in Majuro in the Marshall Islands. The flight left HNL at 7 a.m. and landed five hours later at noon–the next day. But that heads just west enough to cross he line. Looks like the Cook Islands basically hug the date line. Definitely on the bucket list. Look forward to your report.
Tommy says
Who wants to take a 5+ hour flight and not have lie down seats……certainly not I.
Eldo R says
Well then you should check out the numerous promotions that Amtrak is having for their sleeper cars. Lots of exciting destinations: Chicago! St Louis! Eugene! Phoenix!
Mike G says
Not having lie flat seats on a 5 hour flight is not the end of the world