The 3 Closest Airports to waikiki beach

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The 3 Closest Airports to Waikiki Beach

Planning a trip to the iconic Waikiki Beach involves figuring out the best way to get there. Knowing the nearest airports can help you choose the most convenient flights and plan your ground transportation. While one major airport serves the vast majority of visitors to Honolulu and Waikiki, there are other airfields in relative proximity.

Here are the three airports closest to Waikiki Beach:

1. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

This is the primary airport for Honolulu and the entire island of Oahu. Located just west of downtown Honolulu, HNL is the closest major airport to Waikiki Beach and the one nearly all visitors will fly into. It handles international, domestic, and inter-island flights.

  • Distance to Waikiki Beach: Approximately 9-10 miles (15-16 km), driving time 20-45 minutes depending heavily on traffic.

  • Address: 300 Rodgers Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96819

  • Pros: Main gateway, extensive flight options, full range of services, relatively close | Cons: Can be very busy, traffic congestion common | Airlines: All major US & many international carriers (Hawaiian, United, Delta, American, Southwest, JAL, Air Canada, Qantas, etc.) | Car Rental: All major companies available on-site.

  • Official Website: https://airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/

  • Phone: (808) 836-6411

  • Rating: Varies, generally 3.5-4.0 / 5 (Typical user rating for a large airport)

2. Kalaeloa Airport (JRF)

Also known as John Rodgers Field, Kalaeloa Airport is located on the southwest side of Oahu, near Kapolei. While geographically the second closest airport on the island to Waikiki (though further than HNL), it primarily serves general aviation and military purposes with very limited or no scheduled commercial passenger service relevant for tourists heading to Waikiki.

  • Distance to Waikiki Beach: Approximately 22 miles (35 km), driving time 35-60 minutes depending on traffic.

  • Address: 91-1001 Saratoga Ave, Kapolei, HI 96707

  • Pros: Much less crowded than HNL, closer to Ko Olina resorts | Cons: Little to no commercial passenger service, very limited amenities, further from Waikiki than HNL | Airlines: Primarily General Aviation; limited/no scheduled commercial service | Car Rental: Limited/None directly on-site.

  • Official Website: https://airports.hawaii.gov/jrf/

  • Phone: (808) 836-6432

  • Rating: N/A for typical commercial travelers

3. Molokai Airport (MKK)

Located on the neighboring island of Molokai, MKK is geographically the next closest airport after those on Oahu. However, reaching Waikiki from MKK requires an additional inter-island flight (usually to HNL) followed by ground transportation, making it impractical as a primary arrival airport for Waikiki.

  • Distance to Waikiki Beach: Approximately 55 miles (88 km) (Air distance to Oahu + ground distance HNL to Waikiki). Requires a ~30 min flight plus ground transport time.

  • Address: 3980 Puupeelua Ave #100, Hoolehua, HI 96729

  • Pros: Gateway to Molokai, small and easy airport | Cons: On a different island requiring an extra flight, very limited amenities/destinations | Airlines: Primarily Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines (inter-island) | Car Rental: Limited options available.

  • Official Website: https://airports.hawaii.gov/mkk/

  • Phone: (808) 567-9660

  • Rating: Varies, generally 3.0-3.5 / 5 (Typical user rating for a small island airport)

Conclusion

For travelers heading to Waikiki Beach, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is unequivocally the closest airport and the closest major airport. While Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) is technically the second closest airfield on Oahu, it lacks the commercial services most visitors need. Molokai Airport (MKK) is geographically the next closest but is on a different island, making HNL the only practical choice for direct access to Waikiki.

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