HNL Lounges in 2026: Every Lounge at Honolulu Airport, Ranked Honestly

Honolulu Airport (HNL) has five lounges total, but the options are limited compared to most major US hubs. The Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge is the best choice and accepts Priority Pass as well as a $40 walk-in day pass. There is no Amex Centurion Lounge, no Delta Sky Club, and no United Club at HNL. If you are flying through Honolulu and hoping for a premium pre-flight experience, set your expectations accordingly before you arrive. I have been through HNL a handful of times, and the airport rewards travelers who know what to expect and which lounge to head for based on how they are flying.

The good news: getting into the right lounge here costs far less than it would at LAX or SFO, and even the modest options give you a quiet place to sit and decompress before a long transpacific flight. The bad news: if you are expecting the kind of sprawling lounge experience you might find at an international hub, HNL is not that. Here is an honest breakdown of every lounge, who can access it, and what you will actually find inside.

*Images are illustrative and may differ from actual lounges. Lounge hours, policies, and amenities change frequently. Always verify access and day pass availability directly with the lounge before your trip.

HNL Terminal Layout: Know This Before You Go

HNL is a sprawling, older airport with a layout that confuses a lot of first-timers. There are two main terminals plus a smaller inter-island facility. Terminal 1 handles Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest. Terminal 2 is where you will find United, Delta, American, and all international carriers. Most of the lounges are split between these two terminals, and the walk between them post-security is longer than it looks on a map.

The Wiki Wiki Shuttle runs free electric trams and buses between all terminals and concourses. It runs daily and is the fastest way to cover ground, especially if you are connecting between a Hawaiian Airlines domestic leg and an international departure. Budget at least 90 minutes before any domestic departure and two hours before international flights. The airport has improved, but it is still not a slick, compact terminal.

Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge: The Best Option at HNL

The Plumeria Lounge sits on the third floor of Terminal 1 near Gate A18 and is the lounge most travelers with premium credit cards will use at HNL. It accepts Priority Pass, which means cardholders with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X, and similar cards can access it included with their membership. Walk-in day passes are $40.

Hours run daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The space covers around 3,000 square feet and has comfortable seating, dining tables, and a long communal window area overlooking the tarmac. It is pleasant without being impressive.

What the Plumeria Lounge Actually Offers

• Food: Light and limited. Pre-packaged mini sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips, instant noodles, and assorted packaged snacks. Do not arrive hungry expecting a proper meal
• Drinks: Wine, local Hawaiian beer including Maui Brewing options, POG hard seltzer, soft drinks, coffee, and juice. The local beer selection is a genuine bright spot
• Wi-Fi: Free and reliable
• Showers: Not available
• Quiet zones: The seating layout is open-plan, but it rarely gets loud

The honest take: this lounge is adequate, not exceptional. The local beer and the natural light make it a pleasant place to spend an hour. But if you are arriving from a Centurion Lounge at LAX or SFO and expecting something comparable, dial it back. It is more in line with a mid-tier club lounge than a flagship facility.

Access in full: Hawaiian Airlines international business class passengers, Hawaiian or Alaska Airlines elite status members flying same-day international departures, Priority Pass members, and day pass purchasers.

Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club: Status Only

The Premier Club is also in Terminal 1 and is the lounge Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines uses for domestic first class passengers and elite members. It does not accept Priority Pass, and there is no day pass option. If you are flying first class on a domestic Hawaiian or Alaska itinerary and do not have Priority Pass, this is where you end up.

Reviews are uniformly underwhelming. The space is small, the food offering is coffee, water, and packaged snack mix, and there is nothing that distinguishes it from a basic business class lounge. If you have Priority Pass, head to the Plumeria Lounge instead, which is the better experience and also in Terminal 1.

H.I.S. LeaLea Lounge: The Pay-Per-Use Option in Terminal 2

The H.I.S. LeaLea Lounge is located in Terminal 2's Garden Court area and operates as a pay-per-use facility for international travelers. Day passes run approximately $43 plus tax. It does not appear in the Priority Pass network, LoungeKey, or DragonPass directories, so this one you pay for out of pocket.

This lounge caters primarily to Japanese travelers flying on ANA, JAL, or Korean Air and has a corresponding aesthetic. It is a reasonable option if you are departing from Terminal 2 and want somewhere quieter than the main terminal, but it is not a destination lounge by any stretch.

International Lounges in Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is where international flights depart and where you will find the airline-operated lounges for transpacific carriers. These are generally only accessible to business class passengers or elite members of the respective airlines.

• JAL Sakura Lounge: Available to Japan Airlines business class and first class passengers, as well as JAL and oneworld elite members. Hawaiian Airlines joined the oneworld alliance on April 22, 2026, which opens up some reciprocal access possibilities for Atmos Rewards elite members on qualifying JAL itineraries
• ANA Lounge: Located above Gate C4 in Terminal 2. Available to ANA business and first class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members on same-day ANA flights
• American Airlines Admirals Club: Historically operated at HNL, but the status of this lounge post-pandemic has been inconsistent and is not clearly confirmed for 2026. Verify directly with American Airlines before your trip if you are relying on this

None of the international lounges at HNL accept Priority Pass directly. If you are flying ANA or JAL in economy and have a Priority Pass card, you are not getting into those lounges, and the Plumeria Lounge in Terminal 1 requires the Wiki Wiki Shuttle to reach from Terminal 2 concourses.

What Is Coming: Future Lounges at HNL

Two developments worth tracking if you are planning Hawaii travel further out:

• Alaska Airlines Lounge: Alaska Airlines announced plans to open a new lounge at HNL, part of a broader expansion that also includes San Diego. No confirmed opening date has been published as of April 2026. When it opens, it will be accessible to Alaska Airlines first class passengers, Alaska Lounge members, and holders of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card through Bank of America
• New Hawaiian Airlines Premium Lounge: A 15,000 square foot flagship lounge is under development in Honolulu, with an expected opening in late 2027. This would be a significant upgrade over the current Plumeria Lounge and would serve the combined Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines premium network

Which Credit Cards Get You Into HNL Lounges

The Plumeria Lounge is the only Priority Pass-accessible lounge at HNL, so your strategy is straightforward. Any card with a Priority Pass Select benefit will get you in. The strongest options for Hawaii travel more broadly:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Priority Pass Select included. Earns 8x points via Chase Travel, 4x on direct flights. The $300 annual travel credit partially offsets the $550 annual fee. Good for flights and hotel transfers through World of Hyatt, which has strong Hawaii presence
• Amex Platinum Card: Priority Pass Select included. Earns 5x on flights booked directly or through Amex Travel. No Centurion Lounge at HNL, but you are covered for Priority Pass. Annual fee $695
• Capital One Venture X: Priority Pass included, plus access to Capital One lounges elsewhere. 10,000 bonus miles every anniversary. $300 annual Capital One Travel credit. $395 annual fee, which many find the most balanced for value
• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature: Does not include Priority Pass currently but earns miles on the Alaska/Hawaiian network, which dominates inter-island and Hawaii-mainland routes. Worth pairing with one of the above cards if you fly Hawaii frequently

See our full roundup of travel credit cards with lounge access and the Priority Pass network guide for more detail on which cards offer the best value.

A Few Things to Know Before You Land in Hawaii

Since most people flying through HNL are either going to Hawaii or connecting through it, a few practical notes:

Agricultural Rules on Arrival

Hawaii has strict agricultural inspections at the airport. Fresh fruit, plants, flowers, and unsealed items can be confiscated. If you bought a lei at a mainland airport shop, make sure it is sealed. The USDA inspection checkpoint between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 post-security is not optional.

Sunscreen Rules

Hawaii prohibits the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription. Maui County goes further, permitting only mineral-based sunscreens. If you are bringing sunscreen from home, check the ingredients before you travel. Standard Coppertone and many drugstore brands will not be permitted for sale in Hawaii and may be confiscated if you are carrying a large quantity for resale.

Book Popular Sites in Advance

Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, and the USS Arizona Memorial all require advance reservations in peak season. Walk-up availability at Hanauma Bay in summer is essentially nonexistent. Book before you fly, not after you land.

Inter-Island Flights

If you are connecting to Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island, Hawaiian Airlines (now operating as part of the Alaska Airlines network) runs the busiest inter-island shuttle, with departures roughly every 30 to 60 minutes on the most popular routes. Southwest and Mokulele Airlines also serve inter-island routes, with Mokulele covering smaller airports like Hana (Maui) and Lanai that the bigger carriers skip. Fares start around $39 to $59 booked in advance.

The inter-island flights depart from Terminal 1 concourses, and connections from international arrivals in Terminal 2 require crossing through the agricultural inspection point and riding the Wiki Wiki Shuttle. Build at least 90 minutes for this connection, more if you are checking bags.

The Bottom Line on HNL Lounges

Honolulu is not a world-class lounge airport. If you have Priority Pass, the Plumeria Lounge in Terminal 1 is the clear choice: quiet seating, local beer, decent Wi-Fi, and a $40 day pass if you do not have a card that covers it. The IASS lounge in Terminal 2 accepts Priority Pass but offers beverages only and no food, making it a last resort rather than a destination. Skip it unless you genuinely just need Wi-Fi for 30 minutes.

If you are flying Hawaiian or Alaska Airlines in first class or have elite status, you have access to the Premier Club or Plumeria Lounge depending on your specific itinerary. International carriers including JAL and ANA have their own facilities in Terminal 2 for premium cabin and status passengers.

The lounge picture at HNL should improve meaningfully in the next couple of years with the Alaska Lounge opening and the new Hawaiian Airlines flagship facility expected in late 2027. For now, lower your expectations slightly, enjoy the local Maui Brewing options in the Plumeria Lounge, and remember that you are about to land somewhere with better things to do than sit in an airport lounge anyway.

For more airport-specific lounge guides, see our coverage of LAX lounges, SFO lounges, and the full airport guide library.

Information is reviewed periodically. Lounge hours, day pass pricing, and access policies change frequently. Always verify access requirements directly with the lounge or your credit card issuer before travel.