Alaska Air Group has today made a slew of passenger experience announcements, which I’m covering across several posts. The theme is simple, and it includes focusing on the premium experience (as is the standard in the industry nowadays).
In this post, I’d like to focus on the new Hawaiian Airlines Lounge coming to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). This was first announced in early 2025, but more details have now been unveiled, including updated renderings, and a new timeline for the lounge’s opening. Separately, I’ve covered details about the new premium economy cabin, Alaska’s new premium 737 MAX 10s, Hawaiian’s A330 retrofits, and the new Alaska Aurora Lounge Seattle.
Details of Hawaiian Airlines’ new Honolulu lounge
In early 2028, Hawaiian Airlines will be opening a new premium lounge at Honolulu Airport, located at the entrance to the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1. The lounge will be roughly 13,000 square feet, and it’ll have the capacity to handle roughly 200 guests at a time. The lounge will of course cater to both Alaska and Hawaiian customers.
The expectation is that the new Hawaiian Lounge will boast locally inspired food and beverage options, a signature local coffee experience, a full service bar with specialty crafted cocktails, private workspaces, and artwork and installations by local artists.
The airline has released updated renderings of the new lounge, which you can find below.
Hawaiian Airlines’ new lounge is long overdue!
Hawaiian Airlines’ new lounge in Honolulu really can’t open soon enough, as the carrier’s current lounge situation there is kind of a mess. The Plumeria Lounge has to be one of the most underwhelming “flagship” lounges out there. It’s small and consistently overcrowded.
A standard, larger, quality lounge, will massively improve the carrier’s ground experience. For all practical purposes, I would think of this as being along the lines of an Alaska Lounge. Keep in mind Alaska Air Group’s approach to branding going forward — down the road, anything that touches Hawaii will have Hawaiian branding, while everything else will have Alaska branding.
In terms of access, presumably this will be a standard part of the Alaska Lounge network. So I assume it will be open to Alaska Lounge members, long haul premium cabin passengers, etc.
For that matter, currently those on paid first class tickets (with cash or points) that include a segment of 2,000+ miles also get lounge access. So that means everyone in first class (except upgrades) between the mainland and Hawaii would get access to this lounge. It remains to be seen if that policy sticks in the long run, but that’s where things currently stand.
Bottom line
The new Hawaiian Airlines Lounge Honolulu is expected to open in early 2028. The lounge will be roughly 13,000 square feet, and is expected to accommodate around 200 guests at a time. This should represent a massive upgrade over the current Alaska and Hawaiian ground experience in Honolulu.
I’d essentially expect this to be like an Alaska Lounge in terms of amenities and branding, but just with a bit more island flair. Expect barista coffee, cocktails, and more. This is the second most exciting lounge opening at Alaska Air Group, after the Aurora Lounge Seattle, which will open in late 2027.
What do you make of Hawaiian’s new Honolulu lounge plans?
Currently an inter-island F ticket will get you into the lounge, so access on flights of 2000+ miles would be a downgrade. However, the lounge is pretty pitiful right now. So... more limited access to a better lounge... probably good!
I’m curious if those with the AA Executive Card will get access since it currently provides access to the plumeria lounge.
Capacity for 200 seems very low, given that this is Hawaiian's flagship lounge, and the volume of traffic at HNL?
Let's go! Over a decade since I've been through HNL, but I'd consider a return once this opens, especially with upgraded Hawaiian a330s 1-2-1 suites on JFK nonstop.