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Southwest Airlines to Add Hilo as Fifth Hawaiian Island Destination

Summer Hull
Summer Hull
Senior director of content
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
May 11, 2019
•
2 min read
Southwest Hawaii-21
Southwest Airlines to Add Hilo as Fifth Hawaiian Island Destination
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Just two months ago, Southwest Airlines began operating flights to Hawaii, and the airline is now ready to announce an expansion to a fifth destination within the Aloha State. Joining the destinations of Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Lihue Airport (LIH), Kona International Airport (KOA) and Kahului Airport (OGG) will be Hilo International Airport (ITO).

Currently, Southwest only operates flights from the mainland to HNL (Oahu) and OGG (Maui), but there are intra-island flights connecting those Hawaiian destinations to KOA beginning on May 12. Thus far, there are not public launch dates for Southwest flights to LIH on Kauai, or to the new second destination on the Big Island, ITO.

When Southwest flights to Hawaii first launched, intra-island fares were as low as $29 and can still be found on many dates from $49 or 2,830 Rapid Reward points each way. Use the 30-day calendar view to spot the cheapest dates to island hop.

Related: The Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards

More destinations and more carrier options are good things when it comes to planning a Hawaiian vacation using your miles and points. While we don't yet know when Southwest Airlines flights to Hilo (or Lihue) will launch, it is good to know they are coming. In the meantime, you can get a flavor for Southwest's approach to Hawaii by checking out the review of the first Southwest passenger flight from Honolulu to Oakland.