What you might not think of in relation to Hawaii is an airport lounge experience so underwhelming that it leaves even frequent flyers raising their eyebrows. Enter the Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club lounge in Lihue, or as many critics would call it, a possible contender for the worst airport lounge in the world.
Another lounge comes to BOH editors’ minds as similarly disappointing—the South African Airways lounge in Windhoek, Namibia. But then this is Kauai’s Garden Island we’re talking about. When picturing Kauai, travelers envision lush Na Pali landscapes, epic hikes, and serene beaches—not an airport lounge that leaves visitors shaking their heads.
For an airline celebrated for its generally charming service and unique touches of Aloha, it’s surprising how far off the mark this lounge lands. Is it justifiable to call it among the worst, or does the sheer disappointment many experience exaggerate its faults?
Based on Beat of Hawaii editors’ observations, decades of travel experience, including countless lounge experiences, and user reviews from multiple sources online, this lounge might not just be bad; it could be somewhat uniquely bad. But even within its flaws, could there be a hint of a silver lining?
A space in need of life.
Lounge design can define the tone of your upgraded travel, but in Lihue, the Premier Club feels more like an afterthought than an asset. The layout offers little more than old furniture packed into a small, boxy, dingy and uninspiring room. Instead, you get sterile, banged-up walls and harsh fluorescent lighting, giving it an institutional vibe more akin to a waiting room that’s actually worse than that of the local Kauai DMV.
The lounge’s capacity, or lack thereof, is a recurring issue. Regular flyers mention how finding somewhere to sit can feel like an Olympic sport during peak flight hours. For a so-called premium experience, just for starters, the lack of space doesn’t just disappoint; it downright frustrates. As others have remarked, the lounge seems snatched out of a bygone era of air travel and plunked unrefined into today’s far busier island hub.
To give it some due credit, the lounge can be a quieter refuge during non-peak hours. Travelers catching the first flights of the day may find this space moderately helpful in escaping. Those flying mid-morning might snag a moment of calm before the crowds arrive. While the seating is basic, it’s still preferable to crowded industrial seating or standing room only in the terminal on busy days.
In all fairness, there’s very little to work with at Lihue, an airport desperately needing renovation after passing security.
Comfort and amenities take a back seat.
At Lihue, the seating barely meets the basic criteria of functionality. The cushions? They’ve seen far worse days. Cleanliness? Questionable at best. And electrical outlets? Consider yourself lucky to find one without crawling under furniture.
The lounge does at least provide complimentary beverages, which can appeal to those hoping to avoid inflated airport café prices. It’s one modest benefit the lounge can claim for those interested in grabbing water or soda.
Overcrowding and planning woes.
How does such a small space become so overwhelmed? That question baffles anyone who’s spent more than ten minutes here during an interisland transfer rush hour. With flights often bunched together, the lounge fills to its limited capacity in no time.
When visitors camp out to avoid terminal chaos, the phrase “elbow room” suddenly becomes a distant dream. It could even leave you wanting for an airline economy seat. This issue doesn’t improve during delays, which happen more frequently than travelers would like to admit on interisland routes.
Here’s what makes it all the more jarring. With Kauai being a bucket list destination for many, the lounge could serve as an extension of the relaxed, rejuvenating stay people experience here. Instead, it feels like being ejected from paradise a few hours early. It also doesn’t align with Hawaiian Airlines’ broader vision of how Hawaii travel should feel.
The biggest misses for Hawaiian Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines has traditionally held an excellent reputation for its inflight service. Complimentary “meals,” even in economy, above-average entertainment offerings, and thoughtful crew interactions show that the airline can deliver when it chooses to. That’s precisely why the Premier Club lounge in Lihue feels like a misstep. It doesn’t match the high expectations set by the airline brand.
Hawaiian has built an image of unique Aloha hospitality, yet the Lihue lounge provides none. Imagine just a few Hawaiian flourishes, like local snacks or island-inspired decor. Those touches could easily offset the lounge’s shortcomings in size and facilities. Instead, it sits idle, void of creativity or effort. Travelers notice the disconnect.
“This could be any airport in any city in the world.” Not a good thing to say about a lounge at the gateway to Hawaii’s Garden Isle.” –Comment left on Beat of Hawaii
Practical tips for travelers.
If you find yourself at Lihue Airport and qualify for lounge access, don’t plan on it being a highlight of your visit. Instead, take advantage of other options in the terminal.
Starbucks has runway views and window seating but can also fill up quickly. Another alternative? Enjoy Kauai’s outdoors for as long as possible before heading to the airport.
A scenic roadside stop for coffee or snacks beats sitting in a lackluster lounge any day. It’s a better memory to carry than another sitting session in a beige-walled purgatory.
Visitors’ reactions to the lounge are telling.
The reaction of travelers who enter the lounge for the first time often borders on disbelief. Beat of Hawaii editors regularly witness visitors walking through the lounge doors, eyes wide and mouths agape, visibly stunned.
Some turn around immediately, unable to mask their disappointment. Others pause, shake their heads, and share quiet, bewildered glances or comments.
If first impressions matter, the Lihue lounge consistently leaves travelers mortified. It’s an unforgettable scene—though perhaps not in the way Hawaiian Airlines or parent Alaska Airlines intended.
How can it improve?
It won’t take groundbreaking innovation to fix this experience. Adding a touch of island-inspired design and improving and modernizing seating would go a long way in softening its current rough edges. A moderate but thoughtful refreshment overhaul is essential. These are not pipe dreams; they are industry-standard improvements that similar-sized venues have implemented without requiring a bottomless budget.
This lounge is generally not staffed and has never been, primarily because it’s small. An employee checks in often to ensure the beverage area and counters are maintained.
Verdict.
There’s something uniquely disheartening about a bad airport lounge at a dreamy Pacific island gateway like Kauai. When the rest of your travel experience whispers perfection—with the island’s untouched beauty and Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight smiles—that somewhat jarring note sticks out all the louder.
While this isn’t definitively the worst lounge globally, it does occupy the lower rungs, especially when benchmarked against what travelers expect in Hawaii in 2025.
We’d love to hear if you think Lihue should keep its unofficial title or if another lounge deserves the crown. Please share your stories in the comments below.
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Hawai’i is Not a world class destination.
Lounges in America, especially priority pass ones in general are just let downs. I visited a lounge in Boston once around dinner time, and all they had was soup and rice, For Dinner! Lounges are really only worth it if they have free booze and Premier Clubs don’t, which the should, it really doesn’t cost that much to buy some packs of beer to thank your most loyal customers.
Aloha!
You certainly captured the “blah” atmosphere of our Lihue “lounge”. I do use it just because I like the quiet. HA needs to update all their lounges including the two in HNL if for no other reason than to give travelers the impression that HA wants their passengers to use HA more often.
Nailed it!
In Maui airport. located across from Gate 15. Just look for the line up. lol.
Kind of funny but have been flying to and from Lih for 15 years and never noticed this place, where is it?
It’s right across Gate 5. There’s a big poster sign saying Premier Club.
Wife and I were just in Kauai on our 10-day vacation for wife’s 80th and most likely our last trip to the Islands so we did the First Class air and lodging thing. When getting ready for our LIH-HNL-PHX flight in LIH I told her let’s go in the Club as we had some time and get ready for our long day trip home to Northern Arizona. I opened the Club door and did an immediate 180 turn. Wife asked what’s wrong? I just said you will not like this crammed closet so let go get some Mochas and take in the views. Got to HNL and the Club was better but not by much. The Aloha spirit was exceptional in Kauai by the locals and on board the Boeing 787 but not with the Clubs. Hopefully, the new A-H Air will do some improvements in the Clubs in case we can make one more visit if health holds up.
OK, so call me unsophisticated. My wife and I have been coming yearly to Kauai since 2008. We have used the Hawaiian Airlines’ Lihue lounge every year for our departing flight. True, it is nothing special, reminding me of my college dorm room (don’t ask how long ago that was), but is is quiet, AC’d and, at least to us, comfortable. So, maybe we have low expectations. As an aside, we do not like the Hawaiian lounge on the Honolulu airport.
While in flight, Hawaiian Airlines always brings the aloha. The airport experience is entirely another matter. The Premier Lounge concept has always been one of neglect and indifference. It’s not surprising when you consider that Hawaiian sold access for pennies compared to other airlines with far more respectable lounges. I’m hoping Alaska will re-think the entire lounge concept for Hawaiian and institute something that recognizes and rewards the revenue generated by its most premium fliers.
LIH is so small and efficient….going to the lounge is the last thing I do. Just a quick grab for something to drink and off to the gate. It is still a whole lot better than the one in Maui, Kona and Hilo.
This isn’t just an LIH problem. The lounge in Kahului is barely an afterthought. Most living rooms have more room. And most living rooms don’t have 20-25 people jockeying for precious space.
Yeah; we were in there once and never went back. Instead, we spend our last hour on Kauai down the road at Hamura Saimin; a much more pleasant experience!
I wouldn’t use an airport lounge in Hawaii …prefer to sit “outside” anytime. The garden area in Honolulu is my favorite or the Beach Bar at Kahului airport! Anything that has “fresh” air rather than A/C. That’s how Hawaii was when I arrived in 1989 …all open space with trees, plants, benches etc. Much more relaxing than sitting a crammed lounge.
I think there should be one large lounge at the 3 interisland airports (OGG, KOA, & LIH) and all the airlines that use the airport should share it and share the cost. The cost should be calculated by the amount each airlines premiere accrss booking. For example, if Hawaiian has 10 flights on a particular day and has 60 premiere tickets sold then they would would pay cost for 60. The cost could be calculated baised on the maximum capasity of the lounge. It could increase the lounge experience in a gerneral way. The lounge could be managed independently. Just a thought.
Yes it is the worst lounge ever. They are always full. They will text you when room is available. The text never comes half the time. If I do get in, there is water, coffee, airline cookies, and stale corn chips, and thats is it. The person at the desk can be very rude at times. Not worth the hassle.
When my wife and I finally found the entrance, we thought we wondered into the LIH airport police holding cell.
Wow! I have never been, but it does look that way from the picture!
How does the KOA lounge compare to the one at LIH? The one at KOA was always difficult to get into since the scanner was temperamental regarding the bar code read.
The one on Hawaii (Big Island) is the same or worse. In early March 2024, we were there and the lounge was filthy, the trash was overflowing, they ran out of snacks and soft drinks and there were no employees to be found. It was rather repulsive.
The lounge in Kona isn’t much better! Limited seating, a few snacks in a basket, and a softdrink machine is it IF it is even open. Hawaiian has Jonesed the lounge concept for decades especially when you see what the Quantas and JAL/American lounges are like at HNL. It is now time for Alaska to step up and do something across all of Hawaii!
As someone who travels interisland from Kauai weekly, it’s embarrassing that this is the best our island’s airport can offer. A lounge should welcome you, not make you reconsider flying altogether.
Interesting how Hawaiian Airlines nails inflight service yet drops the ball completely on the lounge. It’s like two totally different companies.
The contender for the worst lounge to the HAL LIH lounge is the HAL ITO lounge (under the stairs). The well kept secret is that the door lock does not work so it is a free flow of people.. last time with loud music from a group of teens. Not relaxing and certainly not ‘Premier’.
Just visited this lounge last month. It felt like sitting in my dentist’s waiting room, minus the magazines. Definitely not a highlight of my Kauai vacation.
I agree. We usually just have a drink in Starbucks unless it’s too full to sit in. I tried the lounge once – there may have been a pretzel mix and fountain drinks self-serve. I give +1 for the worst that I have ever been to.
We Fly Hawaiian exclusively. In all my years I never even knew there one on at LIH