There was a time when flying, especially to Hawaii, was far more than transportation. It was a moment of anticipation, a chance to feel the islands before you even arrived.
Hawaii itself also felt different in those years. The islands were less built up, and the pace carried a charm that matched the journey. Visitors remember Waikiki’s International Marketplace as a jumble of banyan trees, tiki lights, and tiny stalls that made every stroll an adventure. Looking back fifty years, both the flights and the islands shared a sense of discovery that is hard to replicate today.
Looking back, three flights remain etched in editor Jeff’s memory as among the last truly great ones.
One was in 1990 on Qantas from Cairns to Honolulu. “I was seated upstairs in first class, with only one other passenger sharing the cabin. The quiet and the space created on the queen of the skies made an atmosphere that felt both rare and luxurious. It was as if the flight itself was a destination, and I did not want it to end.”
“Another came on Continental’s DC-10 from Los Angeles to Honolulu. I was the last to board in economy, and, to my amazement, the gate agent ushered me directly to first class, since economy was completely full. I had paid $79 for the flight. Waiting there were the wide recliners of a different era (lead photo), the kind of seat and service that felt personal and comfortable in a way today’s airline products cannot even approach. They were not even lie-flats. What they offered instead was space, ease, relaxation, and the chance to settle into a Hawaii vacation.”
The third was in September 2023, when Jeff flew on United Airlines from Lihue to Denver in Polaris-like service, called Fauxlaris, which we wrote about separately. It reminded us that even today, when expectations are often lower, a flight can still feel memorable in its own way. In this case, it was our first time flying Polaris on United, and this flight remains the only one from Lihue with a lie-flat bed.
When Hawaii flights felt magical.
For decades, a flight to Hawaii carried its own magic. Widebodies, including the 747, DC-10, and L-1011, brought a sense of ceremony and grandeur. Boarding often came with leis and Hawaiian music, touches that everyone on the flight experienced as the first taste of Aloha.
Even in economy, there was more legroom, a little (or a lot) more space, and service that felt personal. Meals and cocktails came easily, and flight attendants of that era often seemed just as excited about the trip to the islands as the passengers were.
Readers have shared their own memories from that time. MJ remembered frequent United 747 flights during the 1980s, always seated upstairs. “We had lots of miles and always flew in the upper deck 16 seats. The service up there was second to none. They always had Hawaiian cocktails waiting for us and greeted us by name.”
That type of experience was not unusual. Airlines knew better than anyone that the Hawaii market demanded something different, and they delivered.
Patrick recalled a honeymoon flight on United in 1979, traveling from Los Angeles to Honolulu. “The upstairs section at that time was just a lounge. No real seats to speak of. Great flight.”
That upstairs lounge became one of the most remembered features of the jumbo era and remains a symbol of how special those flights once felt.
Even in economy, the larger aircraft once carried a sense of space and discovery. Passengers stretched out a bit more easily, meals came on real trays, and the excitement in the cabin was unmistakable. Travelers met others headed to Hawaii for the first time, and flight attendants often shared in that anticipation. It was not only about the seat. It was about the shared feeling that this journey somehow mattered.
Flying to Hawaii now can feel more routine.
Even in business class, the new first class, lie-flat products may exist, but the warmth, specialness, and excitement often do not.
On narrowbody aircraft, the so-called premium cabin often feels indistinguishable from the rows behind it, with only a little extra space to show for the price.
Meals are more standardized, and one hopes they are at least edible. Drinks are more limited. Service is rushed, and the sense of anticipation has been replaced by cool efficiency.
Comfort has been traded for predictability, and memories rarely extend beyond the moment of arrival.
The difference between then and now is not only about nostalgia.
It is also about what the flight represents. Hawaii is not just another destination, and when airlines treated it as special, passengers noticed. That investment in service carried through to the rest of the trip.
Our look back at the Boeing 747 in Hawaii | Amazing Half-Century showcased how the 747 played a pivotal role in reshaping of Hawaii travel. It made the islands accessible, created a half-century of memories, and left behind a legacy that continues to echo in stories like these.
The comments from that article confirmed that these flights are not just remembered, they remain treasured.
What was your last great Hawaii flight?
Maybe it was Pan Am with civility and class, Hawaiian’s early DC-10s, or the upper deck of a United 747. Perhaps it was a surprise upgrade, or even a simple recliner that felt more like a favorite armchair than an airline seat.
These memories still matter because they show how the journey once framed Hawaii itself. They are stories of service, chance meetings, and the kind of comfort that stays with you long after the flight.
We invite your comments and memories of flying to Hawaii.
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years ago i was Director of Aviation for PDX. We had one Pan Am flight a day (Boeing 707)From PDx to SEATAC thence on to its destination. We had many different airlines serving PDX at that time. Whenever the PAM crew was going to … or coming their flight to and from the PAn AM gate ….. everyone would always notice the crew kind of….marched in formation to and from looking so professional and sharp compared to others. Today, Lui fthansa, Air New Zealand flight crews stil look so professional and sharp like thos old Pan Am flight crews!. Bll S
It was actually a flight back from Hawaii. It was nearly empty. There were 5 of us traveling and could each have our own row to lay down and sleep. (It was a large plane). And nobody was spraying hairspray or doing nails
Oddly enough it was On Hawaiian Airlines. At the time we were frequent visitors to Maui and had never flown the namesake airline. From the moment we stepped aboard PDX-OGG (wide body) we felt the aloha spirit everywhere – Hawaiian music, the aloha uniforms, Hawaiian language greetings, Hawaiian TV shows, I swear they sprayed plumeria scent throughout the cabins. A mai-tai awaited Every traveler. The food, we swore, was sourced from Hawaii. We, and I mean everyone onboard, were treated like ohana. We told all our friends “you have to do this!” The magic lasted only another couple of years before all that stopped and Hawaiian lost their mojo. But it was great while it lasted. Sigh.
I flew from Houston to Honolulu sometime in the 1980s, I think on United. It was a widebody plane, the crew wore aloha shirts or muumuus, and they played Hawaiian music during boarding. About half-way through the flight the cabin was filled with the smell of baking cookies. Then we were served freshly-baked chocolate-chip-macadamia nut cookies. How they managed that, I’ll never know. In about 2008, I flew on Alaska non-stop from Vancouver, Canada (where I live) to Honolulu. In the seat-back pocket was a card laying out when various things would happen on the flight, “if everything goes as planned” – drinks and snacks after about 60 minutes, meals for purchase 2.5 hours into the flight, etc. That was a wonderful touch that I wish all airlines would do. Best of all, about 30 minutes before our descent into HNL, they served us free mai-tais! I’ll never forget that.
My last “great” flights to Hawaii were aboard Continental 747s. They had actual cocktail lounges in the coach section. In 1972, my buddy and I were 17 years old and met some cougars in the onboard lounge. We had a memorable week in Waikiki following that flight.
In 1973 I returned with my girlfriend and a group of friends. We had another awesome, roundtrip flight on Continental.
Since then, the flights have simply been a means to get to and from Hawaii. Now I live in Maui and mostly fly those stinky, grueling, single-aisle cattle-car planes to and from the mainland.
Earlier this year, we flew Hawaiian to Auckland, and back from Sydney. Those were some of the better flights I’ve been on in the last decade.
Last great flight to HNL was August 2020 during the pandemic. Alaska flight was half empty, little stress, but we did have to wear masks during the flight. Airport was empty, no crowds except for the line to test for symptoms/where are you staying, etc.
Returning on AA HNL to DFW (on the way back to MIA), late night in August 2022. Widebody. My partner and I were offered $99 upgrades to business with lie-flat mini-suites. Couldn’t get center suites so we took back-to-back. Full treatment from AA, welcoming drinks and meals and turndown service offered — the works ! It was my partner’s first experience in Business. Couldn’t have been a better way to finish our trip after experiencing my 5th and his 1st visit to Hawai’i.
My most memorable flight would be on Continental Airlines from San Francisco to Honolulu on a DC-10-10 “pub” flight. That would have been in July of 1987. We were in first class. There were menus (which I still have). Tray tables were large and individual set from a dining service cart with linens, silverware, glasses, salt and pepper and butter dishes. There were appetizers offered individually from a tray. The meal was served in several courses. I still remember my salmon entre. The salmon filet was perfectly cooked and had shrimp on top and a lemon butter sauce. Desert, coffee and liqueurs from the dining service cart. The first class crew could not have been better. Well paced. No rush at all! It was outstanding! Visiting the pub after lunch was really nice too. No other airline offered anything like the pub at the time. I have 3 other great memory Hawaii flights but this has been the best. So far!
I remember The Pub on Continental. I think I must have spent three hours there on the five hour flight from the West coast.
Since 2019, we have been visiting the islands yearly in January for at least a month each trip. We fly from either San Francisco or Los Angeles on Hawaiian Air. During our stay, we visit at least two other islands. This entails 4 to 5 Hawaiian Air flights. We have found all our flights excellent, never encountering any problems. The only hangups we had were at the kiosks, where the machines tell us to “go to a counter/see an agent.” These really need to be addressed and fixed.
A wonderful Virgin America flight shortly before they “merged” with Alaska. It was a truly unique and different experience, unlike most airlines in America. Was upgraded to first class and just felt … “cool”.