Jeff took his first flight to Hawaii in 1970 and has had his feet on the ground here on Kauai ever since. When he flew here, the price for the ticket was $199 round-trip, which is equal to $1,400 in today’s dollars. Rob came to Hawaii in 1989. While he doesn’t remember his United Airlines flight that much, or the cost, he does remember feeling an immediate connection to Kauai on arrival.
Below are two fascinating videos. The first is an early 1940s video likely of the Clipper Honolulu taking off from Hawaii, and the second is a 1976 United Airlines Hawaii commercial,
When was your first flight to Hawaii? Let us know in your comments. Jeff is a commercial aviation aficionado and decided to do a recap of historic air travel to Hawaii. After all, it was air travel that transformed Hawaii and made it accessible to the world.
When Air Travel Transformed Hawaii, Tickets Cost $5,500
Flights to Hawaii from the US Mainland began in 1936 when Pan Am carried passengers from San Francisco on the Martin M-130 “Hawaii Clipper.” The navigator on that flight was Fred Noonan, who later disappeared with Amelia Earhart on their 1937 round-the-world flight. The Clipper flew once a week and mainly brought cargo and mail with its 8 or 9 passengers who paid a premium price to be on board. More than anyone would pay today. In fact, the lead image above is of the Honolulu Clipper (a Boeing 314), which at the time was advertised at $278 one way. In today’s dollars, that is about $5,500. To see a video of the Boeing 314 take-off from Pearl Harbor, head to the bottom of the post.
Before that, James Dole (yes, the pineapple king) offered $25,000 to the first crew who could fly from Oakland to Honolulu. A dozen people died in what was called The Dole Derby before it was called off. Dole’s interest began with the 1927 Lindbergh solo flight across the Atlantic.
But the first flight in Hawaii, and not across the Atlantic, was done by Bud Mars, who took off from a polo field in Honolulu. His aircraft was a Curtiss pusher and the year was 1910. Thousands of people watched his demonstration flight. Six months later a man by the name of Clarence Walker became the first to crash in Hawaii using a similar type of aircraft. He survived after hitting a barn, a tree, and a telegraph pole.
Traveling to Hawaii has always been and remains exotic.
You are still to this day venturing to some of the most remote islands on earth when you travel to Hawaii. With the ease and frequency generally associated with modern-day travel, it is easy to forget the complexity of navigating oceans, where any error or technical problem could spell complete disaster. Let alone the fact that from the Hawaiian Islands, the nearest land is over 2,500 miles away.
Travel has helped define the Hawaii of today.
Even before flights to Hawaii began, the allure of the islands foretold what was to come. In the 1800s, travelers first sailed, then steamed by ship to Hawaii. As word spread about Hawaii, interest grew in what was then called the “Paradise of the Pacific.” As early as 1920, the rich and famous had already found Waikiki Beach and were traveling here by luxury ship. The first hotels included the Moana (Surfrider), which opened its doors in 1901. And then came air travel, which changed everything.
Hawaiian Airlines since 1929.
The first commercial inter-island flights were born when a company that was to become Hawaiian Airlines began flying from Honolulu to Hilo via Maui, on a three-hour flight. Originally a steamship company subsidiary, their operations actually began with short sightseeing flights on Oahu. Later, Inter-Island Airways Ltd., as it was known then, acquired a fleet of two 8 passenger Sikorsky S-38 amphibian planes. That was followed, in 1935, by 16 passenger, Sikorsky S-43’s, to permit more traffic and inter-island mail service.
In 1941, Hawaiian’s first DC-3 Gooney Birds joined the fleet, some of which remained with the company for nearly three decades. In 1966, the company added DC-9’s inter-island, which many of us still remember well. Those were replaced in 2001 by the current Boeing 717 fleet, also a DC-9 derivative.
The airline began scheduled trans-Pacific flights with Lockheed L-1011’s Tri-Stars starting in 1985. Those were later followed by various aircraft including DC-10’s, 767’s, and the current Airbus A332 fleet. Those to be joined next year with 10 new Hawaiian Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Pam Am opened Hawaii to the world.
With a global route from San Francisco to China, Pan Am simultaneously started service to Honolulu, Midway, and Wake Islands, Guam, and the Philippines. It was 1936 when the Pioneer Clipper first landed in Hawaii. The flight from the Bay Area was nearly 18 hours long! Hawaii travel was born.
Later, larger Boeing Clippers joined the fleet, some of which included passenger lounges and cabins on the bottom floors, men’s and women’s restrooms, and bridal suites. During World War II, however, air travel to and within Hawaii was suspended.
Fast forward to the early 1960s, when Pan Am began direct flights from California to Hilo. It was at that point the now oversize airport received a runway long enough for jets, and a new terminal to accommodate visitors. In 1970, they started a historic twice-daily Boeing 747 service to Honolulu. Those continued until 1985 when Pan Am sold their Hawaii routes to United Airlines.
United Airlines: a Hawaii flight leader since 1947.
United began service to Hawaii with Honolulu flights starting in 1947, and Hawaii is a big part of the airline’s history ever since. They started with DC-6 Mainliner, then Stratocruiser flights from San Francisco. Did you know that in 1964, United was the first to install in-flight movies on Hawaii flights?
Starting in the 1960s, United flew DC-8 planes to Hawaii on what were and still are some of the longest flights in the United States. Those included nonstop from Chicago and New York to Honolulu, starting in 1969. Later aircraft included a range of DC-8’s, DC-10’s, plus Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787.
So many aviation memories! These are just the start of how air travel transformed Hawaii.
1940 Boeing 314 Clipper Video.
Please share your memories in the comments below. Mahalo!
Updated 10/3/21.
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Ray S. says
My first flight to Hawaii was in 1966….when my mom, three siblings and I flew on Braniff from SFO. We had to spend a night in Hawaii before continuing our flight to Guam and then the Philippine. My dad’s submarine was moved from San Diego to Subic Bay. That B-707 looked so huge to my six-year old eyes! Thirteen years later I returned to Hawaii for a wedding…on a Western Airlines Boeing 707.
Debi S says
Mahalo for writing and sharing this well-informed and entertaining article with us. I love your historical articles about Hawaii and aviation. Glad to hear that you are both doing well.
Aloha
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Debi.
Thank you! We appreciate you being a part of this for more than five years.
Aloha.
Steve O says
First flight to Hawaii was in August 1969, Pan Am 707, LAX to HNL, one way $75. Flight to Maui was prop Hawaiian Airlines, cost about $10.
I remember the free pineapple juice dispenser at HNL. Had to walk pretty far through the parking lots to Hawaiian inter island terminal.
JohnnyW says
Are you Margo’s husband?
JohnW says
I wasn’t very clear in my question….If so I know you guys from the Hansen/OP days! 🙂 Aloha!
Mike S. says
Aloha and mahalo for the brief history. Would you have any idea how that plane was brought to Hawaii in 1910 that was the first flight ever in the Islands. Thank you for all your info.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Mike.
We don’t know the answer but perhaps fellow aviation buffs here will lend a hand.
Aloha.
Bob B. says
Mike here’s two site for ya should have the info you want.
Bob B
airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/hawaii-by-air/online/early-flights/crossing-the-pacific.cfm#:~:text=The%20Navy%27s%20Ordeal%20at%20Sea%20The%20Navy%20decided,31%2C%201925%20from%20the%20waters%20near%20San%20Francisco.
aviation.hawaii.gov/aviation-photos/1910-1919/
kiawe says
I wish I could click on that first link (covered by an ad; once I got rid of the ad, it still wouldn’t click/copy) — I just saw what I swear was one of the Pan-Am Hawaiian Clippers on display at the Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian annex in DC.
Bob says
So far this is all I found will have more time to research tomorrow.
airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/sikorsky-jrs-1/nasm_A19610112000
There is a company in Carson City NV that restores the military twin engine Albatross amphibians.
I remember when they used to fly up to Lake Tahoe, land out in the middle of the Lake, party awhile, then fly back to Carson City.
Bob B. says
Most likely brought to HI as deck cargo on a freighter or broken down then reassembled in HI
Bob B.
Peter M says
My first flight to Hawaii was from San Francisco to Honolulu in 1983, when I was 5 years old. I don’t recall much about the flight other than it was on United Airlines and took a long time (probably on a 747). I do recall that we took a United DC-8 the following year nonstop to Kahului, which was not common at the time. I liked the little packs of Mauna Loa macadamia nuts United handed out as snacks in those days (which you can still find at stores like Foodland).
Bob B says
Mauna Loa macadamia nuts thought they were “unique” I bought 4 cans while on Maui in 2000. Took to UPS to ship back to the mainland, no room in luggage. So cost $45 to ship them back to the mainland. When we landed back in San Francisco, I saw the same cans of nuts at half the price we paid on Maui already on the mainland, lesson learned!
John A says
My brief comments two months ago on my first trip to Hawaii weren’t entirely accurate. Having read some of the unforgettable stories the past few days, I want to fill in the details on that trip.
In the summer of 1962 when we were sixteen, my best friend, Gary, and took our first plane trip, the “Pink Cloud Flight”, on a four-engine prop plane out of Los Angeles to Honolulu. The plan was for us to stay with my uncle in Kailua and work at his building materials business. That changed the second day when my uncle told us he already had enough “yard men” and, instead, we were going to paint his house. Plus, we weren’t going to stay at his house and he had arranged other living quarters for us with a friend. That friend happened to be Don Lord, owner of Lord’s at Lanikai.
Behind the steakhouse/bar was a shack attached to a rental room which was already occupied. We got the shack for 50 cents a day. Don was an unforgettable, somewhat notorious character. We got steak dinners for hauling his trash to the dump. His clientele mostly consisted of USMC pilots from the Kaneohe Air Station, and their dates. They wanted us to play our guitars and sing, but we were too intimated – a real missed opportunity.
There are other stories, but all in all, it was a dream trip. During the week, my uncle let us use his second car, a 1957 Chevy Nomad wagon with a 3-speed shift on the column – perfect for hauling surfboards and checking out Honolulu.
Gary and I talked about not going back to California, but just couldn’t come up with a viable plan. His dad would have come after us and that wouldn’t have been pretty.
We stayed most of the summer. My uncle got what he paid for in house-painting. In 1969 when my naval ship stopped in Pearl on the way to pick up Apollo 10, Uncle Bob toured the ship, then took me over the Pali Highway for a night at his house. I noticed it had a very professional paint job with no signs of our hard work!
Thanks for the opportunity to share this.
Jennifer S. says
My parents took me to Honolulu on a plane in about 1955 when I was 10 years old. I remember there was a lounge at the back – circular Naugahyde covered bench seating with a table in the center. I remember my parents were served mixed cocktails. We heard a rattling noise above us and were really scared. The stewardess told us not to worry, but we did. VERY exciting for me to be in a plane for the first time. We took the “Lurline” ship back from Honolulu to San Francisco.- also a HUGE thrill and great fun for me.
Margaret P says
My husband and I, newly married the year before (with a very tight budget) took an “incentive” trip to Hawaii in 1992 because I joined a health club in Toronto area. We were sure it was a scam and didn’t actually believe we would get there until we got on the plane for the second leg of the journey from Chicago and the pilot announced our expected arrival time in Honolulu.
We had to pay for the hotel for a few days to extend the trip but overall it was a steal. We walked everywhere or took the city bus around Oahu – 60 cents a ride (too young and too frugal to rent a car back then). There was no internet or trip planning back then but fortunately we didn’t have to funds to pay for the “hard sell” tours the incentive company was offering so we didn’t get sucked in. With a copy of Fodors and a lot of wandering we had a magical time.
We fell in love with the Aloha spirit and marvelled how helpful and friendly the locals were. We took the kids in 2012 and hope to go again this December.
Alfred H says
First flight to Hawaii, around 1964 on a Pan Am 707 US government charter from Japan. I was around 4 years old. Parents bought a house on the beach in Haleiwa around 1959 and was moving the family so that dad could work at Pearl Harbor.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Alfred.
It’s nice to get to know more about our regulars like you. Thanks for sharing.
Aloha.
EVAN says
TWA, 1975, SFO-HNL, B707-131
Jan M says
Aloha! My first trip to Hawaii was in 1963. My dad was on a game show called 7 Keys and won the grand prize for a trip around the world for two. Yours truly suffered from fever convulsions, so my parents conveyed their concerns in leaving us kids behind. So, they actually offered my dad a trip for 5 to Hawaii instead. We flew on Pan Am, and, in those days, you actually got greeted with free leis upon entering the terminal. Back then, you had to leave your cameras behind to boat over the Arizona. We loved it so much that in 1964 we took my grandparents. My dad took us there every summer for vacation and we continue the tradition. The changes I’ve seen over the years!
Glenn H says
When I was 11 years old, December, 1973, my Parent’s and I took a bus from Vancouver British Columbia to Seattle and flew a DC 10 “AirClub International” direct to Honolulu.
During the flight, midway,the plane dropped port sideways, 10,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. Crystal clear blue sky day, I was in the Port side window seat and remember seeing a Ship on the Ocean through the window.
The Stewardess and her tray of beverages ended up thrown about the cabin as she attempted to get to her seat and belt herself in. Many black eyes and bruises.
The plane righted itself at its lowest point and the passengers kept totally quiet for the last hour of the flight until we landed at Honolulu to which then there was a roar of exhilaration that we made it!
Everyone received a Lei upon disembarking.
It was my very first time on an airplane.
We stayed at the Reef Hotel on Waikiki Beach for 2 weeks.
I did not want to fly back. Neither did my parents.
After a most memorable holiday in “Old Waikiki ” our family gained the courage to fly back to the Mainland just before Christmas.
Since then, I flew Ward Air in 1980 with 15 other high school graduates and spent 2 weeks in Waikiki Beach.
I have taken my wife and children since as well.
Many different experiences on my travels to Oahu and Kauai as well.
I miss the “Old” Hawaii, when things were much less crowded.
Mahalo to Beat of Hawaii, you are a great representation of current and past events of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
Mahalo Nui Loa from my Ohana in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Glenn.
Thanks so much. We appreciate you sharing those stories!
Aloha.
Janet H says
My first flight to Hawaii was actually a layover on our way to Tokyo. It was the summer of 1971 and I was 17 years old. What was supposed to be a quick stop for refueling turned into an overnight stay because of bad weather. My mom sisters and I were more than happy to have a stay on Oahu. The airline put us up in the Princess Kaiulani (I think was the name). Wonderful stop over and it made me want to go back. So in 1975 I when I was 21 a friend and I went to visit two islands Oahu and Maui. I fell in love with the island and I’ve been back to Hawaii many times since then. Last time being March 2020. In 2018 I took my 12 year old grandson he too fell in love with the island vibe and I believe he’ll also be visiting Hawaii many more times in his lifetime as well.
Dayna R. says
Aloha Jeff & Rob!
Great memories!
My first trip to Hawaii/ Kauai was in 1979 on a 747 (I don’t remember the airline).
We landed in Honolulu where I boarded a small commuter plane which landed at Princeville airport.
Stepping off the plane, a lei was placed around my neck by the welcoming airline staff.
I clearly remember feeling the trade winds, & how fragrant the air was. It was absolutely magical.
We stayed at the Kauai Surf Hotel & ate at Club Jetty near Nawiliwili bay (I still have one of their key chains somewhere).
Subsequent trips I stayed in Princeville, & flew in & out of Princeville airport for many years until it shut down to commercial traffic.
Wow, it was so much different then—less crowded, less commercial.
But I still have a love affair with Kauai & have a trip planned for April/May.—can’t wait!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Dayna.
Thanks for sharing your own Kauai experiences. They made us smile.
Aloha.
Skip S says
First trip to Hawaii was u January of 1970. I was working as a Trip Director for the E.F. MacDonald Incentive Travel Company, handling an award trip for agents of the Combined Insurance Company. A few nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and a few more at Kauai Surf. That part included some Kauai sightseeing and a lunch stop at Coco Palms. A year and a half later I went to work for Island Holidays Tours and Resorts and had an amazing 15 years of frequent trips to the Islands and many great friends including Lyke and Grace Guslander, and John Defries.
Really appreciate all you do in keeping us up to date regarding Hawaii travel!
Mahalo and Aloha!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Skip.
Thanks for sharing some of your Hawaii stories with us. The post provided a nice way for people on the site to get to know each other better. And thankfully without regard to Covid issues. LOL. We’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks for your dozens of comments over the past few years.
Aloha.
Linda K. says
Aloha! Our first trip to Hawai’i was in 2004. Our two tickets cost a total of $500, & we flew with Aloha Airlines. Since then we’ve visited about 10 times, & visited 3 islands. Our last trip, early this year, cost a total for two of us $558 on Alaska Airlines. We love Hawai’i. Aloha!
Lisa L. says
My Mother and I flew the Pan Am Yankee Clipper in 1960 to visit my grandparents who lived in Waikiki. I know my Grandparent’s sent my mother money for the flight but I don’t know the cost.
Bob B. says
They were still using the Clipper Sea planes in 1960 or prop job Electra and “Clipper” in name only?
Wow, thought they were all gone by then. All the original various “Clippers” were seaplanes, stopping at HI, Midway, Wake maybe Guam before getting to the PI then to China or Japan. Back in the day.
My English teacher in HS (1966) was Hawaiian, her dad managed a pineapple plantation, I don’t remember which Island. She invite myself and 4 other upperclassmen to come for a week and live on the plantation during the summer of 1967. The other guys went, I had to stay home and shovel cow poop and milk cows. Have Always regretted not making that trip!
Justin S says
I think there was a typo. The “Yankee Clipper” crashed off the coast of Portugal in 1943. The last of the Pan Am flying boats was scrapped in 1951 and none have survived to this day sadly.