Review: Hawaiian Airlines First Class 717 Maui To Honolulu

My observation from my last Hawaii flight was HNL precheck lane was a mob scene. I think this has to do with the fact there are so many DoD folks on the island but I found that even thought it was long it was among the most efficient precheck lanes I had ever been in as everyone was a pro. On the flip side leaving KOA on a Sunday afternoon to the mainland precheck was empty.

I miss the old Aloha first class.

You missed it: there is indeed a lounge that you could have visited at OGG with your HA F inter-island ticket.

Yes, there is a lounge in OGG for Hawaiian F passengers. Turn left at the Central part of the terminal, and then the lounge is off to your left. It is unstaffed. You simply scan your boarding pass to gain entry, and there are complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and wi-fi and packaged snacks available.

I agree with your other observations. OGG needs serious improvement.

Next time try Mokulele for inter-Island flights. They run Cessna Grand Caravans from the commuter terminal - no TSA security for these flights. And a 1-1 seating configuration!

Another option on Maui instead of OGG for inter-island flights is Ka'anapali airport. Obviously not convenient if you're staying in Wailea, but Hawaiian and Mokulele are both increasing frequencies from JHM

@AdamH:

My sentiments exactly. There are way too many DoD folks on Oahu and with the locals discount (kama'aina) discount at a lot of the resorts around the islands, it's a quick weekend getaway for many, me included. Especially when you consider that all you need nowadays is your DoD ID number and you essentially get Pre-Check automatically. But...it's usually people that know how to read, know how to follow rules (servicemembers), and/or have an actual need for Pre-Check that you actually move a fair bit quicker than a shorter non-Pre-Check line. Same here in San Diego. It's infuriating to see such a long Pre-Check line at first, but then you realize it's deceiving how quickly it moves.

I have also had serious issues with OGG security including TSA PreCheck. Even with PreCheck, they started tearing apart my computer bag wanting me to “explain” every single item in it (including cables, chargers, USB drives, etc.) and generally being quite nasty about it (“that's how WE do security, too bad”). And they didn't repack my bag! Several of them seemed to have a real attitude and to be on a real power trip. It is the only time I filed an official complaint with TSA over their agents.

I'm curious. You're usually quite specific in identifying planes, for example in this post, "JAL 777" and "Hawaiian 767". But the Island Air aircraft was twice referred to as just a "plane" and once as a "prop". Am I reading too much into this? I'd be surprised if you as an avgeek couldn't identify it as a Q400.

I was about to make the same observation - the Q400 is, of course, a Bombardier product made in Canada (hush) and Boeing doesn't like Canada despite their awful ads on TV. (We love you - just not the C100 which will eventually cost us sales on non-existent aircraft (717) in the future.)

On flights this short, you wonder why they don't simply hand out small bottles/cans of beverages to people. Or they could do like Southwest did in the old days, and put a cart with iced cans of soda and small bags of chips in the jetway, so people can take what they want and not even need an in-flight beverage service.

Sad to see a plastic drink in First Class on any flight.
Reminds me of Alaska Air thinking they invented First Class.

1) I'm not sure, but I think that's the back of my head. Was the gentleman reading medical journals on Surface tablet?

2) I'm surprised you have no complaints about the wildlife that seems to roam around OGG. Having a lizard fall on my mom while waiting to check-in several years ago is still a classic story in my family.

Check out the incredible videos by part time pilot at Mokulele Airlines: http://www.swaynemartin.com

@Mark - for real? Hawaiian has about 175 flights a day within the islands. Using glassware for flights that are incredibly short with short turn times would be logistical mess. FWIW, drinks are served in proper glassware for all the other flights, including PDB's. Appreciating the challenges, I think I can handle plastic for 20 minutes.

@Matt
I think you mean the Kapalua airport (JHM). The Ka'anapali airport (HKP) closed in 1986 to make way for the Westin Maui.

I was a kid when the current terminal at OGG opened in 1990 - before that, today's baggage claim building was the ENTIRE terminal, with ticket counters on one wall and boarding via stairs. Because they were integrating the old terminal into the new one, they designed everything to match it architecturally, which meant lots of concrete, smoked glass and steel. Of all the airports in Hawaii, it probably makes the least effort to give a sense of place. If it weren't for a few open-air walkways here and there, you'd think you were in Omaha or Raleigh.

Like the rest of the airports in the state, it's in need of some serious updating. Security lines are out of control all day long, there's very few places to eat and drink, and everything just looks weathered and tired. I was really shocked on my last trip through there, because in my head I still picture it as shiny and new.

@adamr said - “and with the locals discount (kama’aina) discount at a lot of the resorts around the islands”

Really? Are there still Kama’aina discounts for hotels anywhere in the State? If there are any, please share them because I don’t run across them anywhere. And they would make my mattress running a lot more affordable since the majority of my stays are leisure-based and not for work.

Not criticizing you, but I thought the Kama’aina travel discount went away years ago (at least with the hotel/air market). I would’ve saved a bundle while renewing my Globalist status.

Many of the OGG to mainland flights are red eyes. Hanging at that airport waiting to board a delayed flight at 11pm really stinks. Plus everyone is in a bad mood because their vacations are over. But it's all good if I'm in Hawaii! I just love it there!

I like how they had Mai Tais for purchase in the main cabin, but only ONE left in First Class.
No time to walk back to the aft galley, but plenty of time for a credit card pitch.