Kauai Is Getting 20% More Flights While Honolulu Loses Them

If you’re planning a Kauai trip this summer, the flight picture just got considerably better. Lihue Airport is forecast to be the strongest and most consistent growth story in the state, with capacity rising nearly 20% by June and holding there through at least this fall.

Lihue outpaces the state in capacity growth this summer.

Flight capacity into Lihue is rising faster and more consistently than anywhere else in Hawaii. According to state airline capacity data presented by DBEDT Director of Tourism Research Jennifer Chun at the HTA Spring Tourism Update, it started at nearly6% this past January and is forecast to climb to nearly 20% growth by June and July, before holding close to 17% through October. That, while statewide seat growth is just under 5% overall. Lihue was already posting the strongest sustained growth among all of Hawaii airports in late 2025.

Why Kauai is outperforming even Honolulu this season.

Part of what makes Kauai stand out right now is what’s happening elsewhere. Honolulu is seeing international capacity drop between 8% and 13% from July through October 2026, shifting the growth balance there. Maui is still rebuilding its flight base and remains about 15% below pre-pandemic capacity, while Kona saw a strong early 2026 spike, peaking at over 20% growth in March before that surge began to taper off. Kauai, by contrast, is the only major airport showing steady, sustained increases month after month.

What the new routes mean for your Kauai vacation costs.

Airline expansion is driving much of this, and Alaska, which completes its full integration of Hawaiian Airlines on April 22, is the dominant player at Lihue. It now connects the island to more mainland airports than any other carrier, with 11 routes in total.

One of the biggest changes is San Francisco to Lihue moving to daily nonstop service in June 2026, where Alaska and United are now competing head-to-head on the route.

That competition is showing up directly in better airfares, with round trips currently running around $399 for peak midweek summer flights, a price that reflects what two carriers fighting for the same nonstop route can do for Hawaii travelers.

Portland nonstop has shifted from seasonal to year-round service. San Diego, where Alaska is again the only nonstop, continues at four flights per week, and Los Angeles remains one of the most competitive routes into Kauai, with Alaska, United, American, and Delta flying nonstop as Alaska and Hawaiian complete their full integration on April 22. Southwest also serves the LAX route on Saturdays in June and July.

Maui and Kona are growing, but Kauai is different.

Kahului is seeing a strong summer bump, with capacity up between 14% and 17% from May through July, but that growth is concentrated in a shorter window, while Kona’s earlier spike has already cooled. Kauai’s growth is not just bigger at its peak. It holds through October, which matters for travelers planning ahead.

What travelers should know before they book.

Lihue Airport’s ongoing construction is still affecting arrivals, with the curb at Baggage Claim A currently closed and all pickups shifted to Baggage Claim B. Mokulele Loop is also closed through July 31, with a detour in place via Ahukini Road.

If you are flying from the Bay Area, there is also a seasonal adjustment to watch, because Alaska is suspending Oakland service from August 12 until October 2 and San Jose to Lihue from August 10 through October 31.

San Francisco remains the fallback, and the capacity numbers and expanded gateways make this a strong summer for Kauai flights, though the state forecast figures predate Alaska’s announced suspensions in the Bay Area. Be careful about booking from Oakland or San Jose, and confirm your fall dates before those routes go dark later this summer.

Are you already booked for a Kauai vacation this summer, or are you still waiting to see how the season shapes up?