Putting Hawaii travel costs in perspective. From the Honolulu Clipper take off to today’s landing.
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191 thoughts on “Prices Went From $5,500 To $99 As Air Travel Reshaped Hawaii”
Putting Hawaii travel costs in perspective. From the Honolulu Clipper take off to today’s landing.
We went to Kona to buy a condo in April of 2008. We had spent 3 nights in Kona 15 years prior but knew our retirement home should be there. While we were there both ATA and Aloha folded! We offered to bump off our Delta flight and theY readily accepted. We decided not to when they told us we would have to fly to Honolulu and spend 5 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village – room and meals provided. Great, except we both felt we would miss too much work! Great call – pass up a paid vacation in Hawai’i! Fast forward, we moved to Kona in 2015 after retiring in Washington state. Love The Big Island!
I first flew to Hawai’i (Honolulu) in February 2007 with my two daughters on Air Pacific (now Fiji Air). I liked it so much that I have been back ten more times. I have flown there from Vancouver six times (WestJet and Air Canada as well as Air Pacific) from Seattle three times (Alaska Airlines) and from Sydney, Australia twice (JetStar and Fiji Air). I have also flown Inter-Island with Hawaiian, Island Air and Mokulele. Aloha.
Hi Alan.
Thanks.
Aloha.
As usual, great article. My first visit was in 1983 via United from SFO. However, my mother first came to Hawaii before statehood on a PA Stratocruiser. I have her slides taken at the old terminal on Lagoon Drive, along with Pan Am and Aloha planes. Is there any way to share a photo?
Hi Peter.
First thank you for your comment and suggestion. You can send us images here: https://beatofhawaii.com/image-upload/.
Aloha.
My first trip was in 1984 with my mother. We flew from San Francisco to Honolulu through Sun Trips. I will never forget that trip. We did a hop over to Maui for one day. The last full day on the beach someone opened their hotel room sliding door and beautiful pink and white balloons flew out. I can remember the sun on the ocean, the smell of flowers and those balloons floating toward Diamond Head. The every next year and for several years after that I took my summer vacations and stayed on Maui. I’ve been to the Big Island several times and in 2002 i starting going to Kauai. I’ve been to Kauai with two of my best friends for my 55th birthday, with my husband for our 50 anniversary, with my granddaughter when she got her Degree, and with my oldest daughter on my 70th birthday to walk the path at the Buddhist temple. I’m hoping and planning another trip this year to Kauai for either my birthday or 55th anniversary. Paradise to me is the Hawaiian Islands and everyone I’ve meet there. I remember flying out of Kauai by myself the year my mother passed away and crying as I boarded the Hawaiian Airline flight. The attendant asked if she could help and I explain why I didn’t want to leave. She was so kind and gave me a hug and walked with me to my seat and checked on me through out the flight back to Sacramento. Hawaiian Airlines will also be my favorite airline because of the Aloha spirit and the joy I feel as soon as I board the plane.
Whenever I click on my e-mails, yours is the one I go to first. This article is a breath of fresh air during these tough times. People like you are the reason I love traveling to the islands.
Aloha,
Curtis C.
Hi Curtis.
You just made our day! Thanks very much.
Aloha.
I arrived on July 6, 1960 on the Matsonia from LA. I had just graduated from HS and was on the way to the Philippines where my Dad had a job assignment. Celebrated the official admittance of Hawaii as a state on July 4th on the Matsonia. Stayed at the Moana hotel and fell in love with a Hawai’i. Flew on a Pan Am Boeing Stratocruiser to Manila—3 eight hour legs through Wake and Guam. Had the worst sunburn of my life from surfing the afternoon before we left. Returned in September on way to college and again the following year going back to PI now on a 707. From then on I was always trying to figure out how to get back until I bought a timeshare 16 years ago and have been to Kauai every year since as well as stops on the other islands.
Our first flight to Hawaii was for our honeymoon February, 1968. I don’t think we flew United Airlines. I think maybe it was American from Chicago, connecting through Seattle then to Oahu, with an inter-island to Hilo where we started our 5 island honeymoon.
Over the ocean we had complimentary glasses of champagne. We were one of the first visitors to stay in the Naniola hotel in Hilo, and also in the new Kona Hilton (now Royal Kona Resort) in Kailua Kona. We also stayed in a young Maui Hilton next to the Sheraton Maui in Kanapali. Each evening a hotel maid came to the room, opened your bed and put an orchid blossom on the pillow. Those were the days! Inter-island air flights were $35 for visitors and $25 for residents. It took only 50 years for inter-island air fares to once again be reasonable.
We came back for a number of visits since then starting with my husband’s R & R in 1970 when he was in Vietnam. Then finally we made the move here to live on the Big Island in 2015. We’re now semi retiree and retiree (husband) living the good life and traveling to explore other parts of the world and visit the 2 daughters and grandchildren.
My first trip to Hawaii was in 1996 when my son was honored as the 1996 National Navy Sea Cadet of the Year. The Navy League was the most incredible host and we were treated so well by the wonderful folks of Oahu. My most persistent memory was the wonderful aroma of the flowers everywhere, even in the middle of downtown Waikiki! Been back to visit each of the islands; disappointed that we will miss our May trip to Kauai, but we’ll rebook and be there as soon as possible.
My first flight to Hawaii was on Pan Am in 1968 on a 707. We stayed at the Ilikai. I have visited nearly every year since then. I love Hawaii!
Looking forward to my next trip in December!
Aloha! I was 5 when I first flew to Honolulu. My parents and I flew out of LA. It was a prop plane and took approximately 12 hours. I remember they had a contest to guess the exact arrival time…guess it could vary quite a lot! I remember as we rolled down the runway my dad said “Look! There’s a jet!” We went to Honolulu and Hilo and in Waikiki we stayed at the Edgewater. We went to Hawaii every few years and eventually moved there. Very strong memories of those great and simpler times. Can’t wait to visit again when these crazy health issues are behind us!