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.
First time to Hawaii(Maui) was 1989 on our honeymoon. Aloha Airlines wide body jet. My wife was a smoker at the time and we sat in the back ‘smoking section’ of the plane. This section was merely a curtain to separate the cabins. This was also previous to the extensive TSA checks so we had mini bottles of Vodka along to make our own in-flight drinks. We stayed in Kihei which was much, much less built up than it is today.
How times have changed but still love going back as much as we can.
My dad was stationed on a Destroyer in Pearl Harbor during WW2. He fell in love with the people and Hawaii. He then took my mom back in 1958 when I was 8 years old, to show her the beauty of Hawaii and what he fell in love with. Growing up in the house all I heard was, Hawaii this, Hawaii that. With my dad born and raised in San Diego and being one of the first lifeguards in Ocean Beach. He got me into surfing at 10 years old. In 1966 my friend and I scrapped together enough money and booked a trip to Oahu and stayed in Waikiki for one week in the summer time. And just like my dad, I fell in love with Hawaii too. I moved back to Hawaii on Feb. 14th 1970, (yes, I still remember the date) to Oahu and resided on the North Shore of Oahu on the point at Sunset Beach. My love blossomed for Hawaii while living there. The food, the local people, the waves, the weather, the long hikes in the mountains and on and on. Then in 1978 I met my future wife at Sunset Beach. We moved back to Pacific Palisades so I could learn a plumbing trade. Then in 1986 I moved the whole family, (my wife & I with 4 girls under 10 years old). I bought a house up in Pupukea and started a plumbing business in Pearl City and did projects all over the islands from custom homes to restaurants in Waikiki to government projects on all the bases. Then the recession hit in 1991 and Hawaii just shut down with no work. We decided in 1993 to pack it up, rent the house out and move to the Bay Area where work could still be found. Now after 27 years, I live in Santa Cruz Ca. and fly back and forth as much as I can to work to on my house, go surf and hang with my friends. Thank god for frequent flyer miles, cheap tickets, ATA yearly passes, credit cards that build up points, buddy passes from pilot friends and any other means to keep the aloha going. Now for the past 12 years, I have gotten in the routine of flying back every two months now. The most memorable airline was when ATA started selling yearly passes for under a $1,000. I was flying back and forth every weekend for a couple years. I made a lot of friends on those flights. Hawaiian then started to be my go to airline for sometime because my neighbors in Hi., Michelle and her husband were both pilots for Hawaiian. They would always helped me out with their buddy passes. Now with Southwest in the market they are my go to airlines to get to Hi. Hi is my second home and will always be. I have my whole family hooked on Hi. now.
Thanks Greg B, I really enjoyed reading your story.
Greg B,
It was so exciting to hear how you keep the aloha going. You really did have the system, work ethic, mental strength to make it happen and that is what the succesful (transplants) have to do to make it there. I envy that you had it. I did not have the guts to follow through, but Still remain to have the love and save all my money for return trips. Thats all my husband hears, is Hawaii this and Hawaii that! Thanks for sharing. Bless your Dad!
My first trip to Hawaii was on American Airlines. I flew with my Sister and her 2 children, June 1985. I fell in love. My favorite place in the world and I go back every chance I get. It is like going home.
My first trip to Hawaii was in 1990 on an American DC-10. I still recall the excitement as Oahu first came in to view. Stunning ! I fell in love with Hawaii immediately, and have been back numerous times. Looking forward to returning as soon as pandemic is over. Aloha !
Hi Ron.
Thank you.
Aloha.
My first flight to Hawaii was in 1977, my brother lived in Oahu and we went there for my nephews wedding. We have been back many times since then, lots of fond memories.
Hello, My first flight to Hawai’i was a surprise for my Mum’s 75th Birthday in 2009 – so I flew from London with my Mum, husband and 3 children aged 5, just 3 and 6 months! My Mum has travelled a lot but Hawai’i was always on her list – she was a big fan of the original Hawaii Five-0. On her birthday we had given her a box of Hawai’i related gifts including our baby’s plane ticket (all the rest of us had an e-ticket!) We stayed in Waikiki and travelled around and my Mum adored it. What a beautiful place on earth. My children, now 15, just 14, (and big fans of the new Hawai’i Five-0) and 11 keep talking about when they can go to Hawai’i again and we have since been blessed with a fourth child who is now 6 – so we had tickets for LÀ this August and decided to surprise them so are booked for HawI’i – we are so hopeful that we will be able to visit and that the islands and their people stay well. Dv. Ohana takes on a greater meaning in these times. Mahalo.
Hi Louise.
Thanks for sharing that!
Aloha.
You are welcome. I should have probably added that we flew American and are booked on American outbound again this time but returning on Hawaiian. Dv. I just read about non-stop flights London to Hawai’i coming soon – wow!
Mahalo.
I first flew to Hawaii from San Francisco in 1990, on United. In coach. I was sent on a work trip at the age of 33. I’d never particularly had any interest in going to Hawaii and I didn’t know much about it. But I’ll never forget walking out of the terminal to catch the wiki wiki bus and literally FEELING the weight of the air, redolent with the scent of tropical flowers, looking at the primordial mountains in the background. It was love at first sight; a love that deepened with more trips to other islands in the next couple of years. I began reading about Hawaii’s history and learning about the culture. When I met the love of my life, I could hardly wait to take her to Hawaii, which we did in late 1992. This time first class on United (a 2 class plane). We went to Oahu (she had to see Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Hanauma Bay, Sunset Beach). Then it was off to what had become my favorite island–the big island of Hawaii. She thought I had taken her to the surface of the moon! We began going twice a year, then three time a year. Eventually we owned 3 timeshare units. It would be 20 years before we could afford to buy a condo on Maui, where we plan to spend much of the year when we retire. Over the years I think we’ve flown every airline that comes to Hawaii from the mainland We love Hawaiian Airlines best, but they are usually the most expensive. Sometimes so much more that we feel we have no choice but to fly on one of the other airlines. The best thing about flying to Hawaii is that everyone on the plane is happy!
Hi LJ.
Thanks.
Aloha.
My first trip to Hawaii was for my honeymoon in 1985. We flew from Upstate NY on United to Honolulu for 5 days then took Aloha Air to Maui for 4 days. I’ve been back several times but to the Big Island. I’ve spent the last 2 February’s there and just love it. If all goes well I’ll spend next February there also. There’s nothing like Hawaii. 🌴🌈🐋
First visit was in 1961 chasing after my wife to be who was on Oahu with her mother. Traveled via Lockheed Constellation of Pink Cloud Airlines (Think Bob Newhart and the “Grace L Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company). Worked a few odd jobs in Honolulu and then took a job to the west on an island (at that time called Ponape). After we were married, my wife and I returned to Hawaii many times. Hawaii is a truly wonderful place.
Hi Fred.
Thanks.
Aloha.
In 1982, the Army paid for my very first flight to Hawaii, to work at Tripler Hospital. I immediately said to myself “omg”, this sure beats Texas, where I was born, raised, & educated. I then island-hopped all over, usually on Mid-Pacific Airlines, for $19 each way. In 1985, I landed a job in the more relaxed town of Hilo; I recall looking down from my airplane window, absolutely knowing in my heart that “this is home”, although I’d never lived there, and didn’t know a soul. Still unforgettable.