Massive flight delays at Honolulu Airport

Travel Meltdown: ~400 Hawaii Flights Canceled, Delayed Amid Storm Chaos

A powerful Hawaii windstorm has triggered mass flight cancellations and delays across the state, leaving travelers stranded and scrambling for alternatives including travel and accommodations. Here’s how today’s extreme weather disrupted air travel and which airlines were hit hardest.

Hawaii airports face major travel disruptions.

Travelers across Hawaii are experiencing widespread flight delays and cancellations today as a severe windstorm disrupts operations statewide. Strong, unpredictable gusts and poor visibility have forced airlines to adjust schedules, leaving passengers stranded.

At Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, a ground stop temporarily halted all interisland flights, preventing takeoffs and landings for about an hour. A second ground stop was issued later in the afternoon, delaying inbound transpacific flights. Some mainland-bound flights were also diverted, adding to the travel chaos.

Nearly 400 flights have been affected statewide, and the number is still rising. At Honolulu airport, 190 delays and 80 flight cancellations were reported, making it the hardest-hit airport. Maui’s Kahului Airport saw 73 delays and 35 cancellations, while Lihue and Kona reported a combined approximately 100 delays and dozens of cancellations. With strong winds continuing, further disruptions remain likely.

The statewide interisland ground stop went into effect at 12:35 p.m. and was lifted by 2:30 p.m., but conditions continued to deteriorate later in the afternoon. By 3:35 p.m., a new ground stop was issued for all inbound flights to Honolulu, forcing transpacific arrivals to be diverted, some to Kona. While the Federal Aviation Administration allowed transpacific flights to resume at about 4:30 p.m., the interisland ground stop at HNL remained longer. Adding to the turmoil, Lihue Airport lost electricity at its security checkpoint just before 5 p.m., causing long lines before electricity was restored.

Airport gates across the state were backed up for hours, leaving planes stuck on the ground, while diversions piled up.

Airlines that are most affected.

The storm’s impact on flight schedules has varied by airline, with some carriers experiencing more severe disruptions. Hawaiian Airlines, the largest interisland operator, had nearly 50 percent of its flights delayed at certain airports. BOH friends reported sitting on planes for hours on Kauai and being unable to depart due to the storm. Southwest Airlines, which also has an expanded interisland and mainland service, also saw a high percentage of cancellations.

Other airlines affected include Alaska, Delta, United, and others, with their mainland and international destinations experiencing significant delays. Cargo operations reported operational challenges, and mail and parcel services were also impacted.

Passenger frustrations mount.

The windstorm has led to prolonged waits, missed connections, and rebooking struggles for travelers. At Honolulu’s airport, long lines formed as passengers scrambled to find alternative flights. Some interisland travelers found themselves stuck overnight, as last-minute availability remained scarce.

One traveler at Kahului Airport described the situation as chaotic, with little airline communication regarding when flights might resume. Other passengers attempting to return to the mainland reported to us multiple rebookings, only to face further delays and cancellations.

How long will the disruptions last?

Wind conditions remain unstable for the next 24 hours, making it difficult for airlines to predict when normal operations will resume. Airport officials have warned travelers to check with airlines before heading to the airport as schedules remain fluid.

Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest have advised affected passengers to explore rebooking options online to avoid long wait times at airport counters.

Airlines have also been issuing weather waivers, allowing changes without penalty.

This isn’t the first time freak Hawaii windstorms have occurred.

Severe weather events have caused similar travel disruptions in Hawaii before. A past severe windstorm occurred on the same day that extreme turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight arriving in Honolulu resulted in mass injuries among passengers and crew. While today’s storm has luckily not led to similar incidents, it serves as a reminder of how quickly conditions over the Hawaiian islands can change.

What travelers should do next.

For those with upcoming flights, the best action is to monitor airline notifications closely and have backup plans. If flights are delayed or canceled, contacting the airline digitally may provide a far faster resolution than waiting in long lines at the airport or on the phone.

With flight schedules still in flux, patience remains crucial as airlines work to recover from today’s travel mess.

Did you get caught in the chaos?

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2 thoughts on “Travel Meltdown: ~400 Hawaii Flights Canceled, Delayed Amid Storm Chaos”

  1. We are going on hour 33 without power. North Sh9re Kauai is a mess. I just heard water went out in Kilauea. Kiuc tells us they need the storm to clear before they can fly helicopter to transmission tower for repair. Verizon started working again this am

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  2. Queue the comments blaming the storm travel delays on the Hawaiian Tourism Authority…
    This is why folks should always purchase travel insurance.

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