The best ways to travel to Hawaii with points and miles

The Aloha State offers something for everyone, from the bustling city of Honolulu on Oahu to the tranquil black sand beaches of the Big Island, the lush rainforests of Kauai, and Maui’s volcanic Haleakala National Park. Of course, such a dreamy destination doesn’t come cheap, and Hawaii has earned a reputation for being almost as expensive as it is beautiful.

Fortunately, some smart reward strategies can help you plan your dream. hawaiian vacation without spending a lot of money, whether that means booking flights with airline miles, redeeming points for hotel rooms, maximizing rewards on your purchases, or all of the above.

If Hawaii is on your 2026 travel wish list, read on to learn the best ways to save money on your travel with points and miles.

Related: Hawaii Storm Update: What to Do If You’re Planning a Trip to the Islands

Best Ways to Book Flights to Hawaii Using Points and Miles

With so many islands, Hawaii has four main islands and over 100 smaller ones: which airport should I fly to?

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in the state capital offers the most options. This is a good approach if you want to visit multiple islands, because you can spend some time on Oahu before taking a short-haul flight to another island.

On the other hand, if you want to base yourself in Maui, Kauai, or Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), several major U.S. airlines offer direct flights from the West Coast to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG), Kauai’s Lihue Airport (LIH), and Kona International Airport (KOA).

Unsurprisingly, the cheapest flights to Hawaii depart from west coast hubs. In some cases, you may not pay much more in miles to fly from an airport further east; In others, you may want to look for a positioning flight.

Now, let’s dive into the best ways to redeem miles for flights to Hawaii.

Book partner flights through Atmos Rewards

The first airline that comes to mind for a trip to the Aloha State is Hawaiian Airlines, part of Alaska Airlines. Atmos Rewards program.

Based in Alaska prize tableHawaiian Airlines flights from the West Coast to Hawaii start at 10,000 or 12,500 points each way in economy, depending on airports and the distance between them, plus minimal taxes and fees.

But Hawaiian Airlines isn’t the only partner where Alaska offers great award fares. You can also find some good deals on American Airlines flights, like this nonstop from Los Angeles to Kauai for 35,000 Atmos Rewards points and $19 first class.

Booking this exact same flight through American Airlines would cost you much more: 22,000 AAdvantage miles in economy or 55,000 in first class.

TO earn more Atmos Rewards pointsconsider one of these cards:

Or maybe you want to add a Bilt credit card to your wallet, since Bilt Points transfer it to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

Related: How to Save Hundreds on Flights with the Alaska and Hawaii Companion Fare

Redeem Rapid Rewards Points from Southwest Airlines

Southwest offers direct flights to HNL, OGG, LIH and KOA from several California airports and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The airline also plans to launch a new route from Las Vegas to Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the Big Island in August.

Since Southwest Rapid Rewards was implemented variable prize priceIt’s harder to predict how many points you’ll need for an award flight. Southwest Low Fare Calendar This is usually the best way to check your options and determine the best rates.

For example, you can fly nonstop from Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) to Honolulu on Choice fare class (one step above basic economy) for just 16,500 Rapid Rewards points and $5.60 each way.

The following co-branded cards can help you earn Rapid Rewards points faster while also offering travel benefits such as free checked baggage, seat selection and even additional legroom improvements:

Alternatively, you may prefer a card that earns Bilt points or Chase Ultimate Rewards Pointswhich are transferred to Southwest in a 1:1 ratio.

Related: How to get and use the Southwest Companion Pass

Book United Airlines flights with Avianca Lifemiles

United Mileage Plus has some reasonable trade-ins to Hawaii for less than 25,000 miles one-way in economy, and you can save more if you have a united credit card. But you can usually find better deals on United flights if you book through Avianca Lifemiles.

Take this flight from San Francisco to Maui for example. The Avianca price is only 15,000 miles and $17 each way. Meanwhile, United charges 24,000 miles and $5.60 for the same nonstop flight, or 22,500 miles for a connecting flight on a partner airline.

You can save thousands of miles by booking through Avianca, without paying much more in taxes and fees.

Even better, Avianca miles are incredibly easy to earn because Lifemiles is a 1:1 transfer partner of several major credit card programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi Thank You Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards. Here are some of our favorite cards to earn these valuable transferable rewards:

Thanks to Avianca’s alliance with Cardless, travelers based in the United States can also earn Lifemiles in one of two co-branded credit cards.

Related: Award chart of sweet spots that can save you money on domestic flights

Redeem Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta may not have as many hubs on the West Coast as other airlines on this list, but you can still find good deals, especially if you have a credit card with the Takeoff Benefit 15offering 15% savings on award flights operated by Delta.

Since Delta does not publish an award chart, fares can vary widely. I recommend using Seats.aero or the calendar search feature on Delta’s site to find the lowest prices.

For example, Delta has good availability on this direct flight from Seattle to Honolulu for just 16,300 SkyMiles one-way (19,200 miles without cardholder discount).

The following credit cards not only give you 15% off award flights, but they can also help you earn SkyMiles quickly:

Related: Which Delta credit card is right for you?

Best Points Hotels in Hawaii

Beyond the powder-soft sand and endless sun, another thing Hawaii has going for it is a plethora of point hotels. No matter what type of rewards you have at your disposal, there will almost certainly be something you can redeem them for.

I like to start my search with Rooms.aerowhere I can see (most of) my options on each island and search for my preferred hotel loyalty program. Here are some properties I found where you can get the most value for your points.

Point Hotels on Oahu

Maui Point Hotels

Point Hotels in Kauai

Point Hotels in Hawaii

• Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, autograph collection: Every room has a private terrace (and is priced to match) at this luxurious Big Island resort. With rates starting at around $1,200 or 94,000 points per night, you can get great value for your Marriott points here.
• Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo: This DoubleTree by Hilton offers the brand’s famous welcome cookies, plus views of the Mauna Kea volcano, snorkel gear rentals and more. You can book it for as little as $240 or 50,000 points per night.

For more inspiration, check out our roundups The best hotels on Oahu. and the The Most Family-Friendly Resorts in Hawaii.

Related: Why you need a credit card with your favorite hotel loyalty program

Credit cards to bring to Hawaii

Even if you book your flights and accommodations with points and miles, you’re bound to have additional expenses during your trip to Hawaii. For anything you pay with cash, make sure you use the right credit card to maximize your rewards. I would suggest:

With the right card, you can enjoy that after-dinner shave ice or beachfront massage knowing you’re getting that much closer to your next free vacation.

In a nutshell

It’s no secret that Hawaii is an expensive destination. But points and miles can help put a Hawaii getaway within reach of budget-conscious travelers, whether you’re planning your first redemption or contemplate first-class flights and premier beachfront resorts (or both).

There are many ways to book flights and hotels with points and miles, especially if you have a credit card that earns transferable rewards at your disposal. Before transferring your points, be sure to confirm award availability on the airline or hotel website and check our list of credit card transfer bonuses to see if you can get an even better deal.