Honolulu Airport Gate Holds, Runway Work, Delays Wreak Havoc

The Reef Honolulu Airport Runway: 45 Years Of Hawaii Magic

Culture and Events / / 23 Comments

Iconic Hawaii aviation. A unique experience you’ll probably never forget. We haven’t. The Reef Honolulu Airport runway rocks.

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23 thoughts on “The Reef Honolulu Airport Runway: 45 Years Of Hawaii Magic”

  2. Roger B

    Ya, so your “reef runway” is so
    like, extra cool?!?! -Well, – , – ,
    I’d hafta agree. . . . Butt,, Y
    do flts from mainland cruise
    over E Oahu, whip a quickie right
    180, an cruise down to 8L rather
    than cruise in W of Aulani, turn E,
    an go straight in?? Haw? Doya kno?
    Well, haw, doya?!?!
    Love ❤️ the site, muy mahalo’s.

  3. Geoff g.

    The Honolulu reef runway was/is an atrocious Project. Poorly designed and never met expectations. Built for one reason … federal money was available. Spend it or lose it. Ditto H3. Ditto Hart. Daniel Inouye brought those funds to Hawaii. Yea! And we totally wasted them.

  4. John A

    Aloha Everyone,
    Mahalo for your article it’s just Wonderful and
    Great video,
    It’s always an extremely bittersweet departure for me, sweet..is I just love to fly TO/Landing oh love it, but bitter part-because I’m leaving home!
    I worked at HNL on Ramp for Dynair in 93/95 what a great bunch of friends to work with!! Gary, Ed, Lee, Mike, Danny, Ho, Arms (his name for a reason lol)..I Love and Miss you all ever so much and you guys-my Ohana are always on my mind!and I should never have left!!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi John.

      Thanks for that and for your input here and on many other posts. We appreciate it.

      Aloha.

  5. Bob C

    First trip out there, 1958 on a DC6B from LAX. Back to the islands many times since but HNL only twice. Happiest people on earth, those arriving. Saddest? Those leaving. A beautiful sight landing there, looking down on Pearl Harbor and Ford Island.

    1
  6. Rod W

    BOE,

    Thanks for the video!

    It’s embarrassing – for all the decades I’ve been coming to HNL I couldn’t tell you if I landed or took off from the Reef Runway!

    Any idea as to what percentage of T/Os and landings use that runway.

    1
    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Rod.

      Thank you. No idea about percentages. It seems to vary a lot, but it’s used a great deal. It never disappoints.

      Aloha.

      1
  7. MJ

    I totally agree with this whether interisland or mainland bound. Back before they caught on we would get coach seats for Chicago and upgrade to 1st class (just one upgrade) Then we’d fly upstairs on a 747 and with the mileage and the 1st class bonus we’d earn another upgrade each direction. Seeing the coral runway meant we were home, especially with the sharp turn which always made the wife nervous.

    1
    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi MJ.

      Yes that final big turn before pearl harbor and landing. Exciting to this day.

      Aloha.

      1
  8. Chris S

    Have always enjoyed it as well. Remember when it first opened and landing on it as a boy in the 70s. Definitely knew your were somewhere special.
    Aloha and mahalo for the memories guys

    2
    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Chris.

      Thanks. Concur with your feelings about that. Who knew you could be sentimental about a runway.

      Aloha.

      4
  9. Starla G

    I didn’t know the runway had a name but I will never forget it now. 3.5 weeks and hopefully that will be my view. No I’m not counting the days at all.

    2
  10. George S

    I was also a student pilot in late ’70s, with Hawaii Country Club of the Air’. I flew out of KOA, and after sign-off for unsupervised solo, I started working for my school one day a week. I got to ferry single engine airplanes back and forth for maintenance at HNL, not much pay, but free flying!

    I didn’t often get the reef, but it was always fun, and a l-o-n-g taxi from the GA north ramp, most fun was Touch & goes on Ford isl. which was still open then, but that’s another story!

    Mahalo

    4
  11. Kat

    Seeing the reef is an absolutely special feeling of being connected to the ocean and its creatures so deeply! I especially enjoy the sense of unique perspective available to us, humans. Although, perhaps the honus watch airplanes and think of them as gliding fishes of the skies. Thanks for the article.

    2
  12. Don K.

    Taking off at night on the reef runway at night was a real visual experience if you were on the left side of the aircraft. Honolulu at night can be amazing on a clear night.

    4
  13. Stan F

    While the Reef Runway at 12,000 feet is impressively long, it is not the longest runway at HNL. 8L is a smidgen longer at 12,312 and is jointly owned by the military and the State Airport.

    3

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