By Elois da Costa 
If you have been asking yourself how much are round trip plane tickets to Hawaii, here is the short answer for 2026: prices range from around $300 to $1,200 per person depending on where you are flying from, the time of year, and how far in advance you book. West Coast travelers have the biggest advantage, while East Coasters need to plan more carefully and budget more generously. The good news is that deals are absolutely still out there, and this guide will show you exactly how to find them.
What Is the Average Cost of a Round Trip to Hawaii Right Now?
Flight prices to Hawaii are not one-size-fits-all. Your starting city matters more than almost anything else when you are trying to figure out how much are round trip plane tickets to Hawaii for your specific situation.
According to current data from Expedia’s Hawaii flight search, round trip tickets start as low as $93 for deals in quieter travel windows, though real-world prices for most travelers look quite different.
Here is a practical breakdown by region for 2026:
West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle): This is where the best deals live. Round trip economy fares from West Coast cities to Honolulu or Maui can sometimes be found under $400 in quieter periods, but prices of $500 to $800 per person are very common. If you are in California, you are in the best possible position for an affordable Hawaii trip.
Midwest (Chicago, Denver, Dallas): The distance adds up. Flights from the Midwest cost about $810 per person round trip on average. That said, being flexible with dates and connecting through a hub can bring that number down significantly.
East Coast (New York, Boston, Miami): From the East Coast, you are looking at around $800 to $1,000 on average. Nonstop flights from cities like Newark or Atlanta are convenient but tend to carry a price premium. Connecting through a West Coast hub is almost always cheaper.
International travelers: If you are traveling to Hawaii from somewhere outside of the United States, the average cost of round trip airfare is about $1,120 per person.
Which Airlines Fly to Hawaii?
Several major carriers operate flights to Hawaii year-round, and knowing your options is key to finding the best fare.
Alaska Airlines serves Honolulu, Kona, Maui, and Kauai with consistent schedules. After merging with Hawaiian Airlines, the combined network offers strong West Coast coverage. Southwest Airlines is especially popular with budget-conscious families because it includes two free checked bags, which can save a family of four between $140 and $280 on a round trip compared to airlines that charge bag fees.
Delta, United, and American Airlines are your best bets if you want a nonstop option from the East Coast. Delta flights to Hawaii cover Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Kona, with options to earn SkyMiles on qualifying fares.
As of early 2026, there are 28 operators available to search when looking for flights to Hawaii. Using a comparison tool like Google Flights to see all your options in one place is one of the fastest ways to narrow down costs.
When Is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii?
Timing your trip is one of the most powerful levers you have when it comes to price. The cheapest times to fly to Hawaii are often in the spring or fall, when vacation demand is typically lower. More specifically, late April through early June and September through mid-November tend to offer the best value for both flights and hotels.
July has the highest demand for flights to Hawaii, with a 16% price increase on average. Summer, spring break, Christmas, and New Year’s are the windows where prices spike the hardest and availability tightens the fastest. If your schedule is at all flexible, avoiding those windows alone can save you hundreds of dollars.
The day of the week you fly also matters more than most people realize. Tuesday and Wednesday departures still save 10 to 20 percent over Friday and Saturday flights. That is one of the easiest adjustments you can make with zero extra effort.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
This is one of the most common questions travelers have, and the answer is clearer than you might expect. Domestic flights booked 28 days or more before departure are typically 24% cheaper than those booked last minute. For most travelers, booking six to eight weeks out hits the sweet spot between fare availability and price.
If you are planning a summer or holiday trip, the window shrinks. If you plan to fly around holidays, you will want to book your flights as early as possible. For peak summer travel, booking three to four months in advance is a smart move, especially if you have a family or need multiple seats together.
If summer Hawaii is on your calendar, the next four to six weeks are your best window to book. Fares are not getting cheaper the longer you wait.
Practical Tips to Score a Better Deal
Beyond timing, there are several specific strategies that consistently help travelers find lower fares.
Set price alerts. Google Flights and Hopper both let you track specific routes and notify you when prices drop. This takes two minutes to set up and can easily save you $100 or more.
Try connecting flights. One-stop itineraries through secondary hubs like Phoenix, Denver, or Las Vegas sometimes beat nonstops by $100 to $200, especially from the East Coast. The layover adds three to four hours but the savings can be significant for a family.
Consider red-eye departures. Red-eye flights from the West Coast are consistently $40 to $80 cheaper than daytime departures. You lose a few hours of sleep but gain a full day in Hawaii.
Book the cheapest day of the week. A Sunday can be the cheapest time to book a flight to Hawaii Island. On average, you could save between 6% and 13% by booking on a Sunday instead of a Friday, which is the most expensive day to make a reservation.
Use points and miles. If you have been collecting credit card rewards, now is a great time to redeem them. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer at a one-to-one ratio to Southwest, United, and Hawaiian or Alaska Airlines. A round trip from the West Coast on Southwest costs roughly 15,000 to 25,000 points per person. A single sign-up bonus on a travel rewards card can often cover two tickets entirely.
Fly into Honolulu first. The most flight options and the most competitive prices generally go to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu. If you are headed to Maui or Kauai, you can sometimes find a cheaper overall itinerary by flying into Honolulu and catching a short inter-island hop from there.
What About Inter-Island Flights?
If your Hawaii trip involves visiting more than one island, factor in the cost of getting between them. Inter-island flights are running $80 to $160 each way on Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest. Prices spike during holidays and weekends, just like mainland fares.
One smart workaround is the open-jaw booking: fly into one island and out of another. Most airlines price this the same as a standard round trip, and it eliminates one inter-island flight entirely. For example, fly into Honolulu and depart from Maui, and you get to experience two islands without paying for an extra connecting flight.
What Does a Realistic Hawaii Flight Budget Look Like?
For a couple planning a trip right now, here are honest numbers to work with:
If you are on the West Coast and travel during shoulder season, you could realistically land a round trip for $400 to $600 per person with some planning. For a couple from the West Coast, total flight costs run $500 to $900.
From the Midwest or East Coast, a realistic per-person budget for round trip airfare is $700 to $1,000. From the Midwest and East Coast, typical roundtrip fares often run between $700 and $1,200 in standard economy, with peaks well above that around holidays.
The bottom line: how much are round trip plane tickets to Hawaii depends heavily on your starting city, your travel dates, and how early you start looking. But no matter where you are flying from, deals exist if you are willing to be a little flexible and strategic. Use fare alerts, avoid peak travel windows when possible, and do not sleep on the value of booking even just four to six weeks out. Hawaii is absolutely worth the flight, and with the right approach, it does not have to drain your budget before you even set foot on the sand.