How long is a flight to Hawaii?
The average flight time to Hawaii varies significantly depending on your departure location, destination island, and whether the flight is nonstop or has stops. From the West Coast, nonstop flights can be as short as approximately 5-6 hours, while from the East Coast, they can be around 11-15 hours with stops. Midwest flights to Hawaii generally take about 9-13 hours. Each Hawaiian island also has slightly different average flight times.
The only thing standing between you and your Hawaiian getaway is the flight! But how long is a flight to Hawaii on average?
It depends on where you’re flying from, which island you’re visiting, and whether or not your flight is nonstop. Flights to Hawaii can be as short as 5 hours from the West Coast or as long as 15 hours from the East Coast for a flight with stops.
Keep reading to see how long your Hawaiian flight should take with different flight factors in play!
How Long Is a Flight to Hawaii?
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When you’re impatiently waiting for your trip to paradise, the flight time to Hawaii can be a daunting concept.
The Hawaiian islands sit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, something like 2,400 miles off the coast of California. So how long is a flight to Hawaii and what factors affect your overall flight time?
There are a few things at play here:
- Where you’re flying from
- Which Hawaiian island you’re flying to
- Number of stops on the flight
- Weather and plane conditions
Your flight time to Hawaii will be vastly different if you’re flying nonstop to the Big Island from Los Angeles than if you’re flying out of New York City on a flight to Kauai with 2 stops.
We’ve researched current flight times from major airports in the U.S. to the busiest airports in Hawaii with Google Flights and calculated the average flight times for direct flights and flights with 1-2 stops.
Let’s take a look at how long a flight to Hawaii takes when you’re traveling from different parts of the U.S. on nonstop flights and flights with stops. After that, we’ll tally up the overall average flight times to Hawaii from airports around the contiguous U.S.
How Long Is a Flight to Hawaii from the West Coast?
- Los Angeles to the Big Island: 5 hrs, 53 min (direct); 10 hours (1-2 stops)
- Los Angeles to Maui: 5 hrs, 53 min (direct); 10 hrs, 24 min (1-2 stops)
- Los Angeles to Oahu: 5 hrs, 49 min (direct); 13 hrs, 14 min (1-2 stops)
- Los Angeles to Kauai: 6 hrs, 2 min (direct); 10 hrs, 6 min (1-2 stops)
Average Flight Time From L.A. to the Big Island
Direct flights from the West Coast (Los Angeles International Airport, LAX) to Kona on the Big Island take anywhere from 5 hours and 42 minutes to 6 hours and 2 minutes on average.
The overall average direct flight time from Los Angeles to the Big Island is 5 hours and 53 minutes.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Los Angeles to the Big Island take anywhere from 8 hours and 56 minutes (1 stop) to 11 hours and 4 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time from Los Angeles to the Big Island with 1-2 stops is about 10 hours.
Average Flight Time From L.A. to Maui
Direct flights from Los Angeles to Kahului International Airport (OGG) in Maui take anywhere from 5 hours and 45 minutes to 6 hours and 3 minutes on average.
The overall average direct flight time from Los Angeles to Maui is 5 hours and 53 minutes, which is the same average direct flight time from L.A. to the Big Island.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Los Angeles to Maui take anywhere from 8 hours and 55 minutes (1 stop) to 11 hours and 54 minutes (2 stops) on average.
The overall average flight time from Los Angeles to the Big Island with 1-2 stops is 10 hours and 24 minutes.
Average Flight Time From L.A. to Oahu
Direct flights from Los Angeles to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Oahu take anywhere from 5 hours and 37 minutes to 6 hours on average.
The overall average direct flight time Los Angeles to Oahu is 5 hours and 49 minutes, making it the shortest direct flight time to Hawaii in the contiguous United States.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Los Angeles to Oahu can take anywhere from 11 hours and 45 minutes to 14 hours and 43 minutes on average.
The overall average flight time from Los Angeles to Oahu with 1-2 stops is 13 hours and 14 minutes, which is the longest average flight duration for flights with stops to Hawaii.
Average Flight Time From L.A. to Kauai
Direct flights from Los Angeles to Lihue Airport (LIH) in Kauai can take somewhere between 5 hours and 58 minutes to 6 hours and 5 minutes on average.
The overall average direct flight time from Los Angeles to Kauai is 6 hours and 2 minutes.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Los Angeles to Kauai take somewhere between 8 hours and 20 minutes (1 stop) to 11 hours and 51 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time from Los Angeles to Kauai with 1-2 stops is about 10 hours and 6 minutes.
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How Long Is a Flight to Hawaii from the Midwest?
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- Chicago to the Big Island: N/A (direct); 13 hrs, 5 min (1-2 stops)
- Chicago to Maui: 9 hrs, 20 min (direct); 12 hrs, 40 min (1-2 stops)
- Chicago to Oahu: 9 hrs, 25 min (direct); 12 hrs, 46 min (1-2 stops)
- Chicago to Kauai: N/A (direct); 12 hrs, 37 min (1-2 stops)
Average Flight Time from Chicago to the Big Island
There are no regularly scheduled direct flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to either of the international airports on the Big Island (KOA and ITO). You’ll have to choose a flight with 1 or 2 stops to fly into the Big Island.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to the Big Island take anywhere between 11 hours and 21 minutes to 14 hours and 49 minutes on average.
Overall, flights from Chicago to the Big Island with 1 or 2 stops take about 13 hours and 5 minutes on average.
Average Flight Time from Chicago to Maui
Direct flights from Chicago’s O’Hare to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) take about 9 hours and 20 minutes on average. We were only able to find 1 direct flight available in our search through United Airlines.
The overall average direct flight time from Chicago to Maui is about 9 hours and 20 minutes.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Maui take somewhere between 11 hours and 17 minutes (1 stop) to 14 hours and 3 minutes (2 stops) on average.
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Maui take about 12 hours and 40 minutes on average.
Average Flight Time from Chicago to Oahu
Direct flights from Chicago to Oahu take around 9 hours and 25 minutes on average. We were only able to locate 1 direct flight to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in our search, available through United airlines.
That makes the overall average direct flight time from Chicago to Oahu about 9 hours and 25 minutes. You may find longer or shorter flights when more direct flights are available.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Oahu take anywhere from 11 hours and 5 minutes (1 stop) to 14 hours and 26 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Oahu is 12 hours and 46 minutes.
Average Flight Time from Chicago to Kauai
There are no regularly scheduled direct flights from Chicago’s O’Hare airport to Kauai’s Lihue Airport at this time. You will need to book a flight with stops to get to Kauai from Chicago.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Kauai take anywhere between 11 hours and 36 minutes (1 stop) to 13 hours and 38 minutes (2 stops) on average.
Overall, the average flight with 1 or 2 stops from Chicago to Kauai takes around 12 hours and 37 minutes.
How Long Is a Flight to Hawaii from the East Coast?
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- New York City to the Big Island: N/A (direct); 14 hrs, 19 min (1-2 stops)
- New York City to Maui: N/A (direct); 14 hours, 24 min (1-2 stops)
- New York City to Oahu: 11 hrs, 15 min (direct); 14 hrs, 34 min (1-2 stops)
- New York City to Kauai: N/A (direct); 14 hrs, 57 min (1-2 stops)
Average Flight Time from New York City to the Big Island
There are no regularly scheduled direct flights from New York City to the Big Island at this time. You’ll have to book a flight with stops to get to the Big Island from any of New York City’s airports.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from New York City to the Big Island take anywhere from 13 hours and 28 minutes to 15 hours and 10 minutes on average.
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from New York City to the Big Island is 14 hours and 19 minutes.
Average Flight Time from New York City to Maui
There are no direct flights currently on the regular schedule from New York City to Maui at this time. Instead, you’ll need to book a flight with stops to travel to Maui from any of NYC’s airports.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from New York City to Maui take somewhere between 13 hours and 38 minutes (1 stop) and 15 hours and 10 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from New York City to Maui is about 14 hours and 24 minutes.
Average Flight Time from New York City to Oahu
Direct flights from NYC to the Daniel K. Iouye International Airport in Honolulu, Oahu take somewhere between 11 hours and 5 minutes to 11 hours and 25 minutes on average.
The overall average direct flight time from New York City to Oahu is around 11 hours and 15 minutes.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from New York City to Oahu take somewhere between 13 hours and 18 minutes (1 stop) to 15 hours and 49 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from NYC to Oahu is about 14 hours and 34 minutes.
Average Flight Time from New York City to Kauai
There are currently no regularly scheduled direct flights to Kauai from any airports in NYC. This means you’ll have to book a flight with 1-2 stops to get to Kauai from New York City.
Flights with 1 or 2 stops from NYC to Kauai take anywhere from 13 hours and 35 minutes (1 stop) to 16 hours and 19 minutes (2 stops).
The overall average flight time with 1 or 2 stops from NYC to Kauai is around 14 hours and 57 minutes. This makes it one of the longest flights to Hawaii from the U.S.
Overall Average Flight Times to Hawaii
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How long is a flight to Hawaii overall on average? Let’s take a look at the data we’ve gone over for each Hawaiian island.
Big Island Flight Times
Getting to the island of Hawaii, or the Big Island, doesn’t take long at all (less than 6 hours) when you’re flying out from the West Coast. It takes a lot longer coming from the Midwest or East Coast.
Direct
Direct flights from the Big Island aren’t available in many of the nation’s busiest airports. Flights to the Big Island take about 5 hours and 53 minutes on average from L.A. and around 6 hours and 5 minutes from Seattle, WA.
Flights With Stops
Flights with 1-2 stops take anywhere from 10 hours (from L.A.) to 14 hours and 19 minutes (from NYC) on average. Aim for a flight with only 1 stop to shorten your flight time.
Maui Flight Times
Flying to Maui is always quickest (about 6 hours) when you’re coming from an airport on the West Coast, like L.A. or San Francisco. We didn’t find any direct flights to Maui on the East Coast, where it takes about 14.5 hours to fly there with stops.
Direct
It takes about 5 hours and 53 minutes on average to fly direct to Maui from L.A., but about 9 hours and 20 minutes to fly direct to Maui from Chicago. It’s hard to find direct flights to Maui from the East Coast.
Flights With Stops
Flights to Maui with 1-2 stops take anywhere from 10 hours and 24 minutes (from L.A.) to 14 hours and 24 minutes (from NYC). If you can find a flight with just 1 stop, you’ll spend a lot less time on the plane.
Oahu Flight Times
Getting to Oahu is faster when your departure airport is on the West Coast, where it takes less than 6 hours to get there on a direct flight. The flight time is much longer coming from the Midwest (9.5 hours) or East Coast (14.5 hours).
Direct
Direct flights to Oahu take anywhere from 5 hours and 49 minutes (from L.A.) to 11 hours and 15 minutes (from NYC). Chicago’s flight time to Maui is in the middle at around 9 hours and 25 minutes on average.
Flights With Stops
Flying to Oahu with stops can take anywhere from 13 hours and 14 minutes (from L.A.) to 14 hours and 34 minutes (from NYC). This is a huge difference from the direct flight time!
Kauai Flight Times
Kauai is more remote and the furthest Hawaiian island from the contiguous U.S., so it takes longer (about 6-15 hours) to fly here from anywhere in the States.
Direct
Direct flights to Kauai take about 6 hours and 2 minutes on average from L.A, but direct flights aren’t offered from the other airports we analyzed flights from (Chicago and NYC).
Flights With Stops
Flights with stops to Kauai take anywhere from 10 hours and 6 minutes (from L.A.) to 14 hours and 57 minutes (from NYC). The flight from NYC to Kauai is one of the longest Hawaiian flights in the nation.
One longer flight example is a flight to Kauai with 2 stops from Bangor International Airport in Maine, which takes nearly 18 hours.
Things to Consider
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Flying to Hawaii can take as little as 5-6 hours or as many as 14-15. With a long flight ahead of you, check out these travel tips to keep in mind for a more enjoyable trip!
- It’s usually worth it to book a nonstop flight. If an airport near you offers nonstop, direct flights to the Hawaiian island you want to visit, go for it! It’s a lot faster to get to Hawaii when you fly direct. Flights with stops can take twice as long. If you must go with a flight with stops, choose a flight with 1 stop instead of 2.
- Fully charge your devices. If you know you’ll be on the plane for a few hours or more, make sure your devices are fully charged up before you board the plane. You’ll want some distractions on the flight and the ability to communicate and do some research or use your Maps app when you arrive.
- Stretch and get some exercise beforehand. If you’re flying out from the East Coast, you’re in for a long flight where you won’t be able to move around as much as you’d like. Head off discomfort by stretching your muscles and getting a little exercise the day before your flight to keep things limber!
- Bring some reading material. You’ll have your phone, computer, or tablet with you, but all that screen time can make your eyes sore and leave you wanting a break. Make sure to bring along a book or magazine so you’re not stuck doom-scrolling for the entire flight.
- Stay comfy on the flight. A neck pillow and lightweight blanket can be a life-saver on a flight to Hawaii, even if it’s a relatively short one. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you won’t feel constricted in the plane seat.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you started out asking “How long is a flight to Hawaii?”, there’s a good chance you’re also wondering about the following questions. Check out the FAQs to learn more!
How long is a normal flight to Hawaii?
The length of a direct flight to Hawaii is about 5 hours and 49 minutes (L.A. to Hawaii), 9 hours and 20 minutes (Chicago to Hawaii), or 11 hours and 15 minutes (NYC to Hawaii).
The closest Hawaiian island to fly to is the Big Island, but the flight time to reach Maui and Oahu is only a few minutes more. Kauai is the furthest away and takes 10-15 minutes more to reach the island.
How many hours does it take to fly from the US to Hawaii?
It takes anywhere from roughly 6 to 11 hours to fly direct (nonstop) from the US to Hawaii. Flights with 1-2 stops take a lot longer, ranging from 10 to nearly 15 hours.
The fastest flights from the US to Hawaii are from the West Coast, which keeps flights to around 6 hours for all of the main Hawaiian islands.
How many hours is it from California to Hawaii?
It takes about 6 hours to fly to Hawaii from California. Flying to Hawaii from California can take anywhere from 5 hours and 49 minutes (Oahu) to 6 hours and 2 minutes (Kauai) on average.
How long is the flight from LAX to Hawaii?
A flight from Los Angeles’ LAX takes just under 6 hours on average. Reaching the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu takes 5 hours and 49-53 minutes. Kauai is further and takes about 6 hours and 2 minutes from LAX.
How much does it cost to fly to Hawaii for 7 days?
It costs about $1,200 round trip to fly to Hawaii on average. Costs range from $975 to $1,500 per person in economy class for Hawaii flights.
The cost is higher in first class at $3,000-$5,000 per person for a 7-day round trip ticket to Hawaii.
So, How Long Is a Flight to Hawaii?
A flight is your gateway to Hawaii’s idyllic tropical shores, so understanding how long it takes to get there and back is essential when you’re planning your trip.
Whether it takes you 5 hours or 15 to touch down in Hawaii, you’ll be greeted by the warm sunshine, a nice breeze, and ocean views that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Get more ideas on planning your Hawaiian getaway next with the 15 Best Places to Visit in Hawaii and the 25 Best Resorts in Hawaii!