Hawaii Sues EPA Over Rejection of Maui Air Quality Plan Tied to Haleakalā
Hawaii’s Attorney General and environmental groups filed federal court challenges after the EPA partially rejected the state’s 2024 Regional Haze Plan, which would have reduced pollution affecting Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks. The plan had called for retiring older Hawaiian Electric power plants on Maui and the Big Island. Hawaii filed a petition in […]
Hawaiian Airlines to Replace 717s with Boeing 737-800s for Inter-Island Flights
Alaska Airlines has announced that Hawaiian Airlines will transition its neighbor island fleet from Boeing 717s to 737-800s starting in 2028. The new aircraft will offer more premium seating, Starlink Wi-Fi, and increased cargo capacity including surfboard storage. Hawaiian Airlines will replace its retiring Boeing 717 fleet with 737-800s for inter-island service, with the transition […]
Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Serve Seattle–Maui Route This Holiday Season
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, now in Alaska Airlines livery but retaining its original Hawaiian Airlines interior, is scheduled to operate daily Seattle–Kahului roundtrips during Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday windows. The aircraft assignments cover November 20–30 and December 17–January 4, subject to change. One daily Seattle-Kahului flight will be operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner during […]
Three Airlines Compete for Federal Lanai Air Service Contract Starting Sept. 1
The U.S. Department of Transportation is reviewing bids from Mokulele Airlines, Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air to provide federally subsidized essential air service to Lanai. The new contract term begins September 1, 2026. Mokulele Airlines, the current sole commercial carrier to Lanai, is defending its contract against two challengers: Hawaii-based Pacific Air Charters and […]
Southwest Cuts Honolulu–Maui Flights 50%, Adds Kauai and Kona Nonstops
Southwest Airlines has updated its Hawaii schedule through April 2027, halving interisland flights between Honolulu and Maui while adding weekend nonstop service from San Diego to Kauai and Kona. The Honolulu-to-Maui reduction is the most significant change affecting Maui visitor access. Southwest is cutting Honolulu-to-Maui daily flights from 8 to 4 in each direction, reducing […]
Travel + Leisure Expands Maui Timeshare Footprint in $343M Acquisition
Travel + Leisure is acquiring two vacation ownership companies for $343 million, adding 23 resorts including properties on Maui and securing inventory in what the company calls a hard-to-build market. The deals add over 100,000 existing timeshare owners to its portfolio. Travel + Leisure is paying $343 million upfront (roughly $263 million net) to acquire […]
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 […]
Hawaiian Airlines Ends Free Meals on Most Mainland Routes Starting July
Hawaiian Airlines will stop serving complimentary meals on most Hawaii-mainland flights starting July 1, replacing them with a paid pre-order program featuring Maui chef-designed dishes. Passengers can purchase meals ranging from $10.99-$16.99 through advance ordering. Free economy meals end July 1 on most Hawaii-continental US routes, replaced by paid pre-order system. Maui chef Sheldon Simeon […]