OGG Passenger Volumes Held Steady During Spring TSA Staffing Crisis
Kahului Airport saw a 1% increase in daily passenger screenings during the spring 2026 TSA funding lapse, even as major mainland airports experienced dramatic declines. OGG averaged 9,430 daily screenings between March and May 2026, outperforming most U.S. airports. OGG ranked 15th among medium-hub airports for resilience during the TSA funding lapse, which ran for […]
Lānaʻi Air Plans Molokai Service, Promising Competition and Lower Fares
Lānaʻi Air is preparing to launch four daily roundtrip flights between Molokai and Honolulu, bringing a second commercial carrier to an underserved island. Residents hope increased competition will reduce high interisland airfares. Lānaʻi Air plans to operate four daily roundtrip Molokai–Honolulu flights using 19-seat Cessna SkyCourier aircraft. Molokai currently has limited commercial air service, leaving […]
Why Hawaii’s Long Flights Amplify Common Airline Conflicts
A pattern of airline disputes — seat complaints, downgrades, mid-flight confrontations — disproportionately escalates on Hawaii routes due to the length and remoteness of the flights. A recent federal ruling against United over misleading window-seat listings brought the issue back into focus. A federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit against United Airlines over seats […]
Three Airlines Vie for Federal Subsidy to Keep Lānaʻi Air Service Running
Hawaii Public Radio reported that three airlines — Mokulele Airlines, Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air — are competing for a U.S. Department of Transportation Essential Air Service subsidy to maintain scheduled flights between Lānaʻi and Maui/Honolulu. The competition follows the expiration of Mokulele’s current two-year EAS contract, which was triggered when the airline said […]
Kahului Airport Earns Level 3 Carbon Accreditation, Eyes 2045 Net-Zero Goal
Hawaii’s Department of Transportation announced that Kahului Airport (OGG) and four other major state airports have achieved Level 3 status under a global carbon management program. The milestone reflects progress toward a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and full net-zero operations by 2045. OGG is one of five Hawaii airports to reach Level 3 under […]
Southwest Flight from Kahului Diverts to Honolulu After Mid-Ocean Emergency
Multiple outlets reported that a Southwest Airlines red-eye flight departing Maui’s Kahului Airport for Las Vegas on July 5 declared an in-flight emergency roughly 90 minutes into the flight and diverted to Honolulu. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 landed safely at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport with no injuries reported among passengers or crew. Southwest […]
Southwest Flight Diverts to Honolulu After Turning Back Over Pacific
A Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Kahului to Las Vegas turned back roughly 90 minutes into the flight and diverted to Honolulu, landing safely with no injuries. The cause has not been confirmed, and the aircraft remained grounded in Honolulu the following day. Southwest Flight 139 departed Kahului (OGG) on July 5 around […]
Kahului Airport Runway Rebuild Narrows to Two Options, Costing Up to $1B
Hawaii’s Department of Transportation has narrowed reconstruction plans for Kahului Airport’s aging main runway to two options — a $604 million temporary runway approach or a nearly $1 billion permanent parallel runway. Both options would begin around 2031 and take approximately four years to complete. Runway 2-20, built in 1942 and the only Maui runway […]
Federal Safety Probe Targets Rental Car Company Operating on Maui
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation in June 2026 into NU Car Rentals over whether vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls were rented to customers. NU Car Rentals operates on Maui, Kauai, and Oahu through an off-airport shuttle model. NHTSA opened investigation AQ26001 on June 9, 2026, examining whether NU Car Rentals rented […]
Hawaiian Airlines Launches Moana-Themed Planes Amid Alaska Merger Changes
Hawaiian Airlines is introducing three new Moana-themed aircraft this summer as the airline continues integrating with Alaska Airlines following their merger. The Disney collaboration comes as Hawaiian’s traditional branding elements have been retired or changed. Three Moana-themed planes are rolling out across Hawaiian’s network including Airbus A321neo, A330, and Boeing 717 aircraft. The airline has […]