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LIHPHLI

Lihue Airport

Lihue, US

Airportist Score

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Lihue Airport

Lihue, United States · North America

Kauai’s only scheduled passenger field: one single-level hall, USDA at the ticket counter, one Hawaiian snack lounge that does not take Priority Pass, and a $2 bus that does not run on Sunday.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.2
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.8
Ground access6.4
Reliability7.2
Lounges4.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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LIHPHLIMinor

Lihue Airport

Lihue, United States · North America

Kauai’s only scheduled passenger field: one single-level hall, USDA at the ticket counter, one Hawaiian snack lounge that does not take Priority Pass, and a $2 bus that does not run on Sunday.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.2
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.8
Ground access6.4
Reliability7.2
Lounges4.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare LIH with another airport

Typical security
10 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
10 min to Līhuʻe / 30–40 min to Poipu
Uber / Lyft TNC curb
Cheapest to city
Kauaʻi Bus 100 / 200
$2 mainline / $5 day pass · 5–10 min to Līhuʻe Courthouse when a trip exists
Lounge
1
On time
86%
of departures
Terminals
1
single-level Kawakami Terminal (8 gates)

9 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

HPVPrinceville Airport
Hanalei
28 km
PAKPort Allen Airport
Hanapepe
28 km
BKHBarking Sands Airport
Kekaha
46 km
HDHDillingham Airfield
Mokuleia
125 km

HPVPrinceville Airport
Hanalei
28 km
PAKPort Allen Airport
Hanapepe
28 km
BKHBarking Sands Airport
Kekaha
46 km
HDHDillingham Airfield
Mokuleia
125 km

LIHGuide

LIHGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

USDA at the counter

Open the bag before you walk to TSA

Mainland checked bags are inspected at the airline counters — you are standing there. Carry-ons are opened again at TSA.

Official HDOT departures page. This is Kahului-style, not Kona’s after-acceptance screen. Empty the bottle at TSA.

One hall, eight gates

Stay on the ground floor

Official HDOT: one single-level terminal with eight gates and level-entry loading bridges. There is no second departure hall.

Ticket counters, USDA, TSA, bags, and the curb are the same level. Do not hunt Terminal 2 or Gates 11–14.

Eat on the official hours

Ai Ono opens at 05:30

Official sit-down is Ai Ono Café 05:30–20:30. Starbucks 05:30–21:30. Hours still track the flight bank.

Stinger Ray’s 10:00–21:00 and Mea Inu 10:00–22:00. The HMS Host kiosk opens with flights only.

One snack lounge

Premier Club is Hawaiian-only

Hawaiian lists a Premier Club at Lihue. Priority Pass does not work here. No day pass, no Plumeria Lounge, no Sky Club.

Access is Atmos status plus Huakaʻi, or first/business on Hawaiian or Alaska. Paid Premier Club memberships ended 1 Jan 2025.

Live conditions

Right now at LIH

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Kauai origin-and-destination trips with 2+ hours and a bag to USDA-inspect
Hawaiian / Alaska first-class or Atmos + Huakaʻi travelers who can use the Premier Club
Drivers who will walk across to the rental booths rather than a Poipu taxi

Watch out for

Assuming Priority Pass, a Plumeria Lounge, or airport Wi-Fi exists (official HDOT still says no Wi-Fi; live PP has no LIH pin)
Planning a Sunday Kauaʻi Bus — official printed schedules have no Sunday service
Treating Barking Sands (BKH/PHBK), Port Allen (PAK), or Princeville (HPV) as this airport
Circling the curb during the May 2026–March 2027 crosswalk work instead of using the cell-phone lot

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.2

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.8

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

6.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.2

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

4.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

3.8M

Terminals

1 single-level Kawakami Terminal (8 gates)

On-time departures

86%

Typical security

10 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for LIH.

Updated Sep 9, 2026

Kauai’s only scheduled passenger airport. Official HDOT year-end file: 3,754,658 passengers in calendar 2025 (+2% vs 2024).
One single-level Kawakami Terminal, eight gates, level-entry loading bridges. Official HDOT: no elevators or escalators required.
USDA inspects mainland checked bags at the airline counters (you are present). Carry-ons are opened at TSA. Different from Kona’s after-acceptance screening.
Hawaiian Premier Club is the only lounge Hawaiian lists here. Live Priority Pass USA has Honolulu and Kahului, not Lihue. HDOT has no airline-lounges page.
Official HDOT internet page still says the airport does not currently offer Wi-Fi. Treat “LIH Public WiFi” blogs as unverified.
No rail. Kauaʻi Bus Routes 100/200 stop in the median — $2 mainline, no Sunday service. Rentals are across the street, not a CONRAC tram.

23 official sources

https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/airport-info/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/flights/airlines/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/flights/ticketing-check-in/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/flights/tsa-checkpoint-hours/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/flights/agriculture-inspection/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/flights/arrivals-baggage-claim/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/shop-dine/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/services-amenities/internet-services/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/services-amenities/persons-with-disabilities/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/parking/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-area/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/taxicab/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/car-rentals/
https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/kauai-bus/
https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Transportation/Bus-Fares
https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Transportation/Bus-Schedules
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/files/2026/02/DOT-Air-Statistics-CY-2021-through-Dec-2025.pdf
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/crosswalk-and-traffic-signal-improvements-to-begin-at-lihu%ca%bbe-airport/
https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/content/our-services/products-and-programs/lounges/overview
https://hawaiianair.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3319
https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/united-states-of-america
https://www.airnav.com/airport/PHLI

Full guide

Explore the LIH guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Lihue Airport and the Kauai Island city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / Lyft TNC curbCheapest: Kauaʻi Bus 100 / 200
View Getting There
Lounges
1 lounge with access rules, hours, and verdicts.
Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Empty the bottle at TSA, then refill at the airside restroom fillers — HDOT does not map them; traveler reports (Sleeping in Airports) confirm refill stations exist in the holdrooms.
13 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Hawaiian Premier Club
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
4 spots2 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 10:20 HST

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 25, 20:20 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

🌦️24°C / 75°F