Honolulu Airport uses 3 terminals, but only two buildings meet the true definition of a terminal. The third terminal is more like a small construction cell and contains no services other than check-in counters and a waiting area.
Terminals 1 and 2 are roughly 150 meters apart, and you can conveniently walk between them on the sidewalk in under 3 minutes or take the free shuttle bus.
Terminal 3 is about 600 metres east of Terminal 2 and is best reached by the free shuttle bus.
Shuttle bus There is a shuttle between the terminals about once every 10 minutes from 3:00 to 11:15 pm and the shuttle is free. Stops are always on the ground floor in front of the terminals.
Terminal 1
A medium sized building sometimes referred to as the "Commuter Terminal" used only for flights to the surrounding Hawaiian Islands.
Terminal 1 is used only by Souhtwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The smaller regional airline Mokulele Airlines flies out of Terminal 3.
The building is relatively small and it will be sufficient if you arrive at the airport 75 minutes before your flight.
Terminal 2
Honolulu Airport's main central terminal serves all international flights and all flights to the continental US or Alaska.
Terminal 2 is large and divided into 3 main sections - Concourse C, E, G. Central section E and check-in gates D + F are immediately behind security and it takes less than 5 minutes to walk to the farthest aircraft.
Concourse E and G are on the sides of the terminal, and from the central area you can either use the free Wiki-wiki shuttle buses running every 2-5 minutes (travel time 2-3 minutes) or walk along the pedestrian corridors (walk up to 10 minutes).
The Wiki-Wiki Shuttle buses also run "airside" between Terminals 1 and 2. In practice, you can check in for your departure from Terminal 2 at the smaller and less crowded Terminal 1 and take the bus to your departure gate.
Terminal 2 is a large terminal, so it is best to arrive at least 2 hours in advance for your departure.
Terminal 3
The smallest terminal, Terminal 3 is the size of a small family house and is completely devoid of amenities.
Terminal 3 exclusively serves flights operated by Mokulele Airlines, a small airline that specializes in smaller Hawaiian airports and their connections to Honolulu.
Terminal 3 is accessible by shuttle bus from Terminals 1 (about 10 minutes) and 2 (about 5 minutes).
Airport map
An interactive map of the entire airport and each terminal can be found on the airport's official website: terminalmaps.hawaii.gov
Transfer between flights
Honolulu is a major transfer hub between the continental US and the other Hawaiian Islands, as well as between the US and Asia and Oceania.
The transfer is clearly signposted and relatively simple.
Domestic transfer
For transfers between flights within the US, including between flights from the continental US to the surrounding Hawaiian Islands, you do not go through any security checks and remain inside the transit zone.
Transferring within one terminal is easy and you just need to find the departure gate of the connecting flight on your screen.
To transfer between terminals, follow the "Intra-Airport Transportation System" signage, which will take you to the bus stops Wiki-Wiki Shuttle. These will take you around the airport at intervals of 2-5 minutes.
Do I need to pick up my luggage?
If you have both flights booked on the same reservation, your luggage will be automatically transferred to the next flight and you do not need to pick it up in Honolulu.
Do I have to leave the transit area when transferring to another terminal?
There is no need to leave the transit area when transferring between Terminals 1 and 2. Buses Wiki-Wiki Shuttle also operate on the "airside".
To transfer to Terminal 3, you need to go outside and find another shuttle bus running between all terminals.
International transfer
The procedure for transferring from international flights to domestic flights is effectively the same as for domestic transfers.
The only difference is the need to go through immigration and re-check your baggage. All international flights are always checked in at Terminal 2.
Do I need to collect my luggage?
Yes. Even if you have purchased both flights on the same booking, you must collect your baggage and re-check it when you arrive abroad after passing through immigration.
How long does the immigration check take?
It all depends on the actual number of international arrivals. The usual queue time for passport control is around 60 minutes.
