$141 Find Cheap Flights from Hawaii to California - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Hawaii to California departing on 9/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Useful Info

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$141
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 8% increase in price.
Flight from Honolulu to San Jose

Flights from Hawaii to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Hawaii to California 
samantaFlew with Alaska Airlines
HNL
-
SAN
Jun 2026
the red eye one is perfect to sleep on plane and get there early morning
TomFlew with Alaska Airlines
LIH
-
OAK
Jun 2026
It’s a mess checking in through TSA. Lots of travelers but only 2 machines open to get through. The same goes for car rentals. Lots of renters but only a few desk workers. Plan to arrive early by about 2.5 to 3 hours early in Lihue
GreggFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
HNL
-
OAK
Dec 2025
Be sure to pack food for your flight of 5+ hours.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
KOA
-
SFO
Feb 2026
I flew direct from Kona Airport. It's small, friendly . But on the obverse side loading did take a very long. Take a direct flight to San Francisco; connection is a terrible experience in Honolulu International Airport.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
OGG
-
LAX
Dec 2025
Make sure you check on your flight before going to the airport
VictorFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
HNL
-
SMF
Jan 2026
These flights often delayed so plan at least one day extra. If you must be in Sacramento on time.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
KOA
-
LAX
Nov 2025
Pay to reserve your seat and bring airbuds for the free movies!
MikeFlew with Alaska Airlines
KOA
-
SJC
Jul 2025
Be prepared for your flight by purchasing a meal before departure, and by all means spend the eight bucks for inflight WiFi.
KeithFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
OGG
-
LAX
Jul 2025
Check your seating assignment thoroughly when you check in to ensure it's the seat you paid for. Flights number, planes, seat assignment, departure times can change at moment's notice, so make sure your confirmed flight assignment in 100% correct!!!
LeoFlew with American Airlines
HNL
-
LAX
Jul 2025
Avoid LAX if you can fly into other CA airport. LAX is very confusing. Our gate was adjacent to another that was boarding at the same time. We could not hear our boarding announcements. Almost missed our boarding group. Terminal 4 has multiple floors, the signs were okay, but a 3-D map is needed to fully comprehend your path. Very limited food options and super expensive restaurants with mediocre food (CrownLAX). Avoid LAX if your want a pleasant layover/transfer process.
Verified travelerFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
HNL
-
OAK
May 2025
Make sure you give yourself time, our gate was a long walk down but noticed there was a shuttle option? Because of timing I decided to walk it, I wouldve liked to take a shuttle.
OlgaFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
OGG
-
SJC
May 2025
Get to the airport 1 1/2 to 2 before your flight. Airport to confusing with the process especially if it your first time in Kahului.
CHARLESFlew with American Airlines
OGG
-
LAX
Mar 2025
Allow plenty of time to pass through agriculture and TSA security screening.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
HNL
-
SAN
Dec 2024
Get there a couple hours early. TSA is not the best organized. The security line took us about 50 minutes to an hour.
GeraldFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
HNL
-
SFO
Feb 2025
There is an agricultural inspection of carryon bags at the gate. Don’t try and bring home any pineapples.
Verified travelerFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
KOA
-
SMF
Oct 2024
The gate we were at did not have a designated boarding area. This caused passengers to congregate in the middle of a walkway. The gate agent was clear in telling people to sit until their zone was called, but many did not listen. Whole fruits and vegetables are also not allowed, so don't pack those back to California. Bags were also weighed -- carry-ons could be just 25 pounds or less. This was enforced.
Verified travelerFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
LIH
-
SMF
Oct 2024
Get to the airport early. Long line through security.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
OGG
-
SAN
Jun 2024
The exiting gates and boarding connecting flights are very close, always bring an empty water container that you can fill in the airport filtered water dispensers bring your own favorite food
HeatherFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
HNL
-
LGB
Aug 2024
Easy entry and exit. Easy to get to rental car. Extremely fast exit from airport itself.
RaquelFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
OGG
-
LAX
Jun 2024
Sit last row so no one is behind you and buy cancel noise headphones!
SusanFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
LIH
-
OAK
Aug 2024
That they willlet you check your carry ons the gate sometimes
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
HNL
-
SAN
May 2024
Don't use a small water bottle. Get a big one and fill it prior to boarding so you can keep hydrated better.
Dr. SherrieFlew with United Airlines
HNL
-
LAX
Apr 2024
Pack your own snacks and download your movies and shows in case the WiFi doesn’t work.
AntonellaFlew with Southwest
HNL
-
SMF
Apr 2024
Bring a charge / battery for your phone and your own food.
MichaelFlew with Alaska Airlines
OGG
-
SAN
Mar 2024
Get to the airport extra early for a Hawaii flight.
Verified travelerFlew with Hawaiian Airlines
LIH
-
OAK
May 2024
Bring some food and be prepared for seat changes.
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines
HNL
-
LAX
Jan 2024
Not many places to eat at LAX after 9 pm, sandwiches are 11.99 at the convenience store. Everything else was good at both airports.

FAQs for booking flights from Hawaii to California

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Hawaii to California?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Hawaii to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Hawaii to California?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Hawaii to California is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Hawaii to California?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from Hawaii to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Hawaii to California?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from Hawaii to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines fly most frequently to California?

    Hawaii and California are connected by different airlines. The airlines that fly that route the most regularly are United Airlines (275 flights per week), Alaska Airlines (258 flights per week), and Air Canada (178 flights per week).

  • How many airports are there in California?

    There are 29 airports in California. The busiest airport is Los Angeles Airport (LAX), with 40% of all flights arriving there.

  • Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in California?

    Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in California is Ontario Airport (ONT), with an average flight price of $308.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to California?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to California is Thursday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $530. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are $659 on average.

  • What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

    The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the evening, when round-trip flights cost $501 on average. Morning departures are around 21% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $637.

  • What is the cheapest flight to California?

    The cheapest ticket to California from Hawaii found in the last 5 days was to Los Angeles, at $188 round-trip. The most popular route is Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $188.

  • What is the cheapest month to fly from Hawaii to California?

    The cheapest month for flights from Hawaii to California is February, when tickets cost $213 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and July, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $308 and $298 respectively.

  • How far in advance should I book a flight from Hawaii to California?

    To get a below average price on the flight from Hawaii to California, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 19% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 15 weeks before departure.

  • How many cities have direct flights to California?

    From Hawaii, there are direct flights to California from 4 cities. The city with the most direct flights is Honolulu, with 1,155 direct flights each week.

  • How many direct flights to California are there each day?

    There are around 312 direct flights from within Hawaii to California every day. Most flights (36%) depart in the morning.

  • How many direct flights to California are there each week?

    Each week there are around 2,180 direct flights from within Hawaii to California. The most common day for departures is Friday, with 15% of flights taking off on this day.

  • How long is the flight to California?

    An average nonstop flight from Hawaii to California takes 6h 22m, covering a distance of 2523 miles. The shortest route is Kahului (OGG) to Oakland (OAK) with an average flight time of 4h 55m.

  • How many long-haul flights are there to California each week?

    There are not any long-haul (6-12 hour flight duration) or short-haul (up to 3 hour flight duration) flights to California. Instead, there are 2,180 medium-haul flights (3-6 hour flight duration), with the most arriving from Honolulu.

  • What are the most popular destinations in California?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Las Vegas (32% of total searches to California). The next most popular destinations are Los Angeles (21%) and San Francisco (10%). Searches for flights to San Diego (7%), to Long Beach (6%) and to Ontario (5%) are also popular.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Hawaii to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Hawaii to California? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4240 reviews
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

The flight was late. The crew was rude. There was no food. Cramped and uncomfortable. Nothing about this flight was good.

2.0 MediocreIrene, Jun 2026
DEN - SFO
Read more Southwest reviews

The flight was late. The crew was rude. There was no food. Cramped and uncomfortable. Nothing about this flight was good.

It was just okay, no frills, basic transportation with no luxury. No screens on the seats, no water or drinks on a short flight. Full flight but at least it was on time.

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

No gluten free snacks. Seats felt worn or bare bones even though it was a new 737 MAX 8.

Plane was clean and comfortable. Flight attendants and gate staff were professional, friendly and efficient. Boarding and deplaning were orderly and efficient. All in all, the typical excellent Southwest experience.

Not having a five hour delay with little notice! The crew was very kind, though, and just as tired as we passengers were. The flight didn't depart until nearly 1 am...and no reason was ever given.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

Boarding process, crew were good. But the seats were so uncomfortable that was all I could focus on. I literally had to sit forward so that all 3 of us could fit in row. I will try to avoid Southwest in the future for any flights over 60 minutes.

Boarding was quick. The flight itself was good. However, no charging ports for cell phones. Also, the food provided was just a few snacks. For a 5-hr flight, I would expect at least a sandwich.

Had small delay to replace a airplane tire but overall it. Went well.

Part of the first class package is luggage. We checked our luggage in easily but our luggage should be one of the first bags off when we land. On both flights this was not the case. The lounge in Kauai is awful. Food and drinks were excellent on the flight. Service was attentive. On the flight over we arrived 45 minutes early. Like last time the same thing happened in a previous flight. The problem both times was waiting in the plane for 30 minutes so that a spot to unload could open.

Good flight overall. Lots of bumps during flight but pilot kept searching for smooth air

I wasn’t aware that we needed to supply our own screens for entertainment

I was in economy class and there was plenty of leg room. New interior which was nice and they served various kinds of chips and sodas on the red eye. You couldn't get a bottle of water but they instead served it in a medium paper cup from a reinforced structured paper container, environmental friendly.

Boarding passes could not be received online, even after online check-in. While they appeared on the Alaska.com app, they did not transfer to inbox or messages and were not available at all on the Alaska.com app following the check-in process. There was no choice other than to get boarding passes at the airport counter.

I know airlines have to save money, but a little more legroom would be nice. I’m a small person and I just felt cramped after a few hours. However, I loved everything else! Free Alaska Airlines wifi, free movies, yummy snacks, and the crew was so helpful and accommodating!

I love the flight ✈️ Hawaiian Airlines. All stuffs are fantastic members ♡ sweet hearts and families warm welcome 🙏 I have milage of Hawaiian Airlines members so get points .also I booked kayak agent got cheap price ! I satisfied flight with Hawaiian Airlines ♡ thank you

Good, but because I fly internationally I found the food and service lousy compared to European standards. You should include a regular small mean (and not a lousy sandwich) and ear phones. People who travel from Europe are not aware of limited services.

Look at my previous review I just wrote on this survey. It was awful!

Flight delayed two hours , missed connection flight then connection cancelled- horrible experience with hotel

The checking was disaster, the crew wasn't behave well. It took us two hours to check in, after that thr line at the TSA was long, we barely make the flight. Bad airline

I liked the Starlink WiFi but didn't like how they said they were the only airline to offer a free meal and it turns out to be just a standalone sandwich and then charge for snacks to go with it. Rather have the free snacks like Southwest, but have the option to purchase a decent meal for a 5+ hour flight.

I like Hawaiian, it was great that they had good internet connection across the Pacific Ocean, thanks to Star Link satellites. The seating was comfortable, ( I was in economy ). Maybe I missed it, but I only got offered a beverage once. It was a nonstop flight KOA to SMF. I would take it again next time I go that way.

Previously flown Hawaiian Airlines on similar routes, I found Alaska Airlines to be noticeably more comfortable. The seats on Alaska Airlines provided better support and cushioning, which made a significant difference on the long flight to the islands. When you’re spending 5-6 hours in the air, seat comfort really matters, and Alaska Airlines delivered where it counts. After comparing both carriers, I’ve decided to book with Alaska Airlines for all my future Hawaii trips. The superior seat comfort alone makes it worth choosing Alaska over Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and prioritizing comfort, I’d recommend giving Alaska Airlines a try. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended for Hawaii travel!

The crew was EXTREMELY helpful And sweet and the flight was smooth!

Flying with Hawaiian Airlines is a treat! They have the best crew, food and drinks! I’ve always enjoyed flying with Hawaiian Airlines and will continue to use them!

Amazing all female crew, including the pilot. Great flight attendants and smooth trip. Food was good. Boarding the plane from back to front would have made things significantly smoother. Took forever to wait for people to clear the alley. A little extra leg room would be nice also. Please thank your flight crew!

We decided to take our mom on vacation but we were worried how well she will do on the flight, she's a senior and required special accommodations such as transport chair since she can't stand for long periods. To our surprise my whole family was given priority boarding, my mom was given chair, we were not standing in line and were given seats in good area next to our mom. A+ experience!

I like that you have eliminated plastic cups, bottles and straws. The crew was conscientious about separating the used paper cups from the trash. This change to paper is a great move and makes me want to choose Alaska when I fly.

Excellent flight. On time. Great staff. Clean and crisp cabin.

This was an overnight flight, and in the morning they did know coffee service. How you can throw passengers in a San Francisco airport at 5:40 a.m. in the morning and not giving them Coffee is a crime.

Packed in plane small uncomfortable seats elbow to elbow nobody wants to be in that situation for the money they paid

Horrible service no Wi-Fi connection on both leg of the flight and they are refusing to fix bad service

Flight arrived 30 min early and bag was waiting at the baggage pickup. United Club HNL was one of the nicest in the system

The flight was comfortable with the exit row and great service

1. when we went to check in, our 2 first class seats had been CANCELED and the flight was sold out. This was done without our prior knowledge. It was all we could do to restore one first class seat for my wife and I flew economy. 2, Our flight home was scheduled to leave at 10:30 pm. Due to tsunami warnings, the roads were closed and our flight status was uncertain as to whether it would leave as scheduled. It was announced that it would now leave at 11:20 pm and the roads were now open since the tsunami had come and gone. We made a mad dash to the airport and checked in. Delays were announced at 12:30 pm, 1:30 am, 2:30 am and at 3:30 am it was canceled. Since this was a flight due to natural (tsunami) causes, there was no compensation. We were told to return at 1:00 pm the next day and our baggage would be kept on the plane since the same plane was going to leave at 1:00 pm. We had to return to our hotel for the rest of the night. The same plane did not leave at 1:00 pm and our baggage was gone! All in all, it was a miserable performance by UA. Information was hard to obtain and no one knew what was going on and what was going to happen. Hundreds of passengers slept on the floor, chairs, etc. No food and no water was made available to the passengers. It was a situation where UA could care less what was going on. As a one million mile flyer, I had not experienced anything like this before and it was hugely disappointing!

Boarding was mayhem. Late boarding by 15 minutes because of lack of staff (missing 1 flight attendant. We had to wait for an arrival of another plane before we could board). Flight was a little rough, but cannot blame on airlines.

United out of SFO is having issues with catering so none of our meals were loaded on the plane and no offer of compensation for our tickets purchased was offered.

For the most part united was a good experience, how ever when they came by with the snacks and water, they completely passed by my wife and I. As we were in separate rows. On a 5 hr flight we were not offered water

Mechanical delay > Crew Time out. No communication to passengers. Crew time out was positioned as a surprise (even though it must have been know at the time of boarding that the crew would time out.

Initial flight had an engine overheat - returned to DFW. Had another plane ready, but crew timed out. Had to wait 5h for boarding. Fully boarded and pilot says plane is not flight worthy. Deplane and go to the other end of the terminal. Wait an hour to board third plane because the crew couldn’t leave the second plane because no wheelchairs were brought to remove passengers. Finally take off and there is no catering (in flight service) even in first class. Very much an AA failure.

I was able to check into my flight through the app and online but had issues getting my boarding pass once I arrived to the airport.

I don’t like the music section but I believe it was a cost decision. I changed my flight last minute due to work issues and had to sit way in the back. The seats were way closer together than I would have preferred.

The flight crew was rude. We were in first class and no one even offered water until an hour after we were in the air. Horrible experience

Boarding gate in Honolulu was staffed with a great clerk with a soothing voice despite the flight delay of over an hour. Flight attendants in the plane were all grumpy, not pleasant looking bunch. Their sour attitude showed throughout the flight. Inly able to get a select few movies started. Most of the movie links in the “free entertainment” did not work.

Flight boarded from Gate 39 at OGG, the farthest gate in the terminal. There were no Hawaiian themed amenities for the flight. The first class service was mediocre at best; I received not special welcome or recognition as an executive platinum member of American Advantage program. The flight attendants were more concerned with their cell phones than saying "thank you" to the passengers as we disembarked. Fortunately, the flight arrived at LAX a few minutes early.

RE Food: Wish there was a choice for No Rating. Flew from Honolulu to Los Angeles on a Red-Eye flight (11:00 pm to 7:30 am). Other than a package of cookies with a beverage choice offered soon after take-off, and a beverage choice shortly before landing, no other food choices were offered. Everyone slept or rested for most of the trip. Nothing to rate. RE Entertainment: Everyone was sleeping most of the flight. Only saw one passenger watch about 30 minutes of entertainment on his iPad. I never attempted to access any entertainment options.

Our flight was great we left Kona earlier and got into LAX almost an 1hour earlier as well. LAX AA is in repair so to get out and found our bus to get pick up was a bit confusing.

I can say I will not be taking this airline again any time soon. Seat were uncomfortable and too tight. Lack of chair screen and little overhead space.

Everything you need to know for your flight to California

Cabin class types available on flights to Hawaii

Cabin classes available on flights to Hawaii. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.