Comfort in the Skies: Hawaiian Airlines Lounge Access

For many travelers, the airport lounge is a sanctuary – a quiet space to relax, catch up on work, or enjoy refreshments before embarking on a flight. Hawaiian Airlines, with its focus on providing an authentic Aloha experience, offers a network of lounges designed to provide comfort and convenience to its passengers. This network includes The Plumeria Lounge at its Honolulu hub, Premier Club lounges across the Hawaiian Islands, and access to select international partner lounges. Understanding the access rules, amenities, and locations of these facilities can significantly enhance your travel experience, particularly when flying on longer routes.¹⁵

The Plumeria Lounge at Honolulu (HNL): Flagship Comfort

The Plumeria Lounge, situated in Terminal 1 on the 3rd floor of the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, serves as Hawaiian Airlines’ flagship lounge for many of its premium passengers.¹⁶ It’s conveniently located past the TSA security checkpoint, near the Wiki Wiki shuttle pick-up area.¹⁸

Access to The Plumeria Lounge is extended complimentary to several categories of Hawaiian Airlines passengers. These include Business Class guests departing Honolulu for international destinations, and effective April 1, 2025, First Class guests departing Honolulu to North American gateway cities. Pualani Platinum members, along with one guest, also enjoy complimentary access when departing Honolulu on international flights.¹⁷

For other Hawaiian Airlines ticketed passengers, day passes can be purchased at the lounge, subject to availability. General admission is typically $40. Discounted rates are often available for Pualani Gold and Pualani Platinum members; for example, Pualani Gold members might pay $30-$35, and Pualani Platinum members (if not eligible for complimentary access on their specific route) might pay $25-$30.¹⁶ It’s worth noting that some sources show slight variations in these elite day pass prices, so passengers should always verify the current rates with Hawaiian Airlines directly. Additionally, Priority Pass members may access the lounge, though this is subject to capacity constraints.¹⁷ Premier Club members holding one-time access passes for The Plumeria Lounge can also use them here.¹⁸

The Plumeria Lounge aims to provide a comfortable pre-flight environment. Amenities include a selection of hot food, complimentary beer and wine, a dedicated customer service agent for lounge guests, high-speed Wi-Fi, and ample AC and USB charging outlets. Restroom facilities are also available within the lounge.¹⁷ The snack offerings often feature delightful Hawaiian treats, such as Honolulu Cookie Company shortbread and Mele Macs macadamia nuts.¹⁷ The lounge’s ambiance has been described as an “oasis of beige” – functional and clean, with various seating types including counter seating, tables, booths, and armchairs.¹⁷ The decor also incorporates plumeria-themed artwork by local photographer Rae Huo, adding a touch of island artistry.¹⁹

House rules for The Plumeria Lounge include an age restriction: guests must be 21 years or older for solo entry due to the service of alcoholic beverages; those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult on the same itinerary. Pets are not permitted, and smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is prohibited.¹⁶ The multi-tiered access strategy for The Plumeria Lounge—balancing complimentary entry for high-value customers with paid options for others and third-party programs like Priority Pass—reflects an effort to maximize lounge utilization while ensuring a quality experience for its premium flyers.

Premier Club Lounges: Comfort Across the Islands

Hawaiian Airlines has also operated a network of Premier Club lounges, primarily catering to inter-island travelers, North America First Class passengers, and its elite Pualani members. While new Premier Club memberships are no longer available for purchase or renewal as of January 1, 2025 ²¹, these lounges remain accessible to existing members and other eligible passengers. This change in membership availability strongly suggests a future transition for Hawaiian’s domestic lounge offerings, likely to be influenced by the ongoing integration with Alaska Airlines and its established “Alaska Lounge” network. The long-term plan for these Hawaiian-branded Premier Clubs is an area that loyal Hawaiian flyers will be watching closely.

These Premier Club facilities are located at key airports throughout the Hawaiian Islands:

• Honolulu, Oahu (HNL): Located in Terminal 1, on the 2nd Floor, near Gate A18.²⁰
• Kahului, Maui (OGG): There are two locations: the North lounge is across from Gate 17, and the South lounge is across from Gate 15.²⁰
• Lihue, Kauai (LIH): Situated near Gate 5.²⁰
• Kona, Hawaii Island (KOA): Found next to Gate 10.²⁰
• Hilo, Hawaii Island (ITO): Located below Gate 6.²⁰

Access to Premier Club lounges is granted to North America and Neighbor Island First Class guests, Pualani Platinum and Gold members, and, of course, existing Premier Club members. All must be departing on a Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight.²⁰ Passengers arriving on a Hawaiian Airlines flight can only use the Premier Club if they are connecting to another Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight; First Class passengers making such a connection must also hold a First Class seat on their onward connecting flight to be eligible for lounge access upon arrival.²²

Amenities in the Premier Club lounges typically include “Pau Hana” snacks, coffee, tea, soda, and juice. Guests can also benefit from the assistance of a dedicated customer service agent, utilize the complimentary Wi-Fi, and find AC and USB outlets for charging devices.²⁰ It’s important to note that restroom facilities are available only in the Honolulu (HNL) Premier Club lounge.²² The presence of these lounges across the Neighbor Islands underscores their importance for the high volume of inter-island traffic and for serving frequent flyers within Hawaii.

International Partner Lounges: Extending Comfort Globally

To enhance the travel experience for its premium cabin passengers on international routes, Hawaiian Airlines collaborates with a selection of partner airlines and airport authorities to provide lounge access at various international gateways.²⁶

The access policy for these partner lounges generally allows entry for select First and Business Class guests flying to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. Additionally, Pualani Platinum members, along with one guest, can typically use these lounges when departing from an international airport on a Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight.²⁶

Key international partner lounge locations include:

• New York (JFK): The Greenwich Lounge, operated by American Airlines, located in Terminal 8, above Gate 12. This is a notable enhancement resulting from Hawaiian’s move to Terminal 8 and its closer alignment with Oneworld partners like American Airlines.²⁶
• Sydney (SYD), Australia: The House, operated by Swissport, found in Terminal 1 (International Departures), near Gate 51.²⁰
• Incheon (ICN), South Korea: The Korean Air Lounge, located on the 4th floor of Terminal 1, near Gate 28.²⁰
• Auckland (AKL), New Zealand: The Strata Lounge, situated on Level 1 Departures.²⁰
• Japan: This includes Lounge Fukuoka at Fukuoka Airport (FUK); JAL Sakura Lounges at Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) airports in Tokyo; and Lounge Kansai at Kansai International Airport (KIX) near Osaka.²⁰

The provision of international partner lounges is a critical aspect of the premium travel experience. However, it’s essential for travelers to be aware of the dynamic nature of airline partnerships, especially in light of Hawaiian Airlines’ merger with Alaska Airlines. For instance, Hawaiian Airlines has announced the termination of its partnerships with Japan Airlines and Korean Air, effective from the end of June 2025 for booking redemptions and access under current agreements.⁸ This will directly affect lounge access at key Asian gateways like Tokyo and Seoul, unless new arrangements are established under the broader Alaska Airlines/Oneworld alliance framework. Conversely, the access to the American Airlines-operated Greenwich Lounge at JFK ²⁶ exemplifies the potential for enhanced benefits as Hawaiian integrates more closely with Oneworld. This transition period will likely see some existing direct partnerships end while new, alliance-based lounge access opportunities emerge.

Hawaiian Airlines Lounge Access Guide

The following table provides a simplified overview of lounge access for Hawaiian Airlines passengers:

Lounge Type	Location(s)	Access Via	Cost (if any)	Guest Policy (Typical)
The Plumeria Lounge	Honolulu (HNL), Terminal 1	Business Class (Int’l), First Class (North America from 4/1/25), Pualani Platinum (Int’l departures), Day Pass, Priority Pass, Premier Club Pass	Free for eligible premium/elite; Day Pass: $40 (General), $30-$35 (Pualani Gold), $25-$30 (Pualani Platinum); Priority Pass subject to terms	Pualani Platinum: 1 guest (Int’l); Day Pass: per person
Premier Club	HNL, OGG (North & South), LIH, KOA, ITO	First Class (NA/Inter-island), Pualani Platinum, Pualani Gold, existing Premier Club Members (all on HA-operated departing flights)	Free for eligible passengers/members	First Class check-in line access for member + 2 guests often cited with Premier Club benefits, specific lounge guest policy may vary by status
Int’l Partner Lounge	JFK, SYD, ICN, AKL, FUK, HND, KIX, NRT (see specific lounge details above)	First/Business Class (to Hawaii), Pualani Platinum (departing internationally on HA)	Free for eligible premium/elite	Pualani Platinum: 1 guest

Note: Access rules and guest policies can vary and are subject to change. Always verify with Hawaiian Airlines for the most current information, especially during the Alaska Airlines merger transition. This table synthesizes information from multiple sources.¹⁶

Conclusion: Relax and Recharge with Aloha

Hawaiian Airlines provides a range of lounge facilities designed to offer passengers a comfortable and relaxing start to their journey. Whether it’s the flagship Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu, the convenient Premier Clubs across the Hawaiian Islands, or partner lounges at international destinations, these spaces offer valuable amenities. As Hawaiian Airlines navigates its integration with Alaska Airlines and prepares for full Oneworld alliance membership, passengers should anticipate an evolution in lounge access policies and availability. It remains crucial to check the specific rules based on your ticket type, elite status, and destination to make the most of these pre-flight havens and truly begin your travel with a touch of aloha.