Hawaiian Airlines has officially broken ground on a new premium lounge at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, a nearly 13,000-square-foot space designed to welcome roughly 200 guests when it opens in the first half of 2028. The airline marked the milestone with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, according to Hawaii News Now.
The project, first reported by Hawaii News Now, is part of Alaska Air Group's Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan, which commits more than $600 million to improving travel to, from and within the islands, according to a company announcement. Once complete, the lounge will feature locally inspired food and beverages, a full-service bar, private workspaces, gathering areas and artwork celebrating Hawaiʻi artists, per the same announcement.
Alisa Onishi, managing director of Hawaiʻi marketing for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, said every detail is meant to set a tone for travelers the moment they arrive. “Every detail will evoke the islands and create a memorable start to the journey,” Onishi said, according to Hawaii News Now.
Design Team and Local Amenities
Architects Hawaii, Gensler and Nordic PCL Construction are the design and construction partners behind the build, KHON2 reports. The outlet's reporting also lists a local coffee experience among the planned features, alongside the food, bar and workspace amenities already outlined.
The new space will sit alongside Hawaiian Airlines' existing Plumeria Lounge and the carrier's six Premier Clubs scattered across the islands, expanding rather than replacing those facilities, per KHON2's reporting. The Plumeria Lounge, located in Terminal 1 one floor above the boarding gates and next to the Wiki Wiki Shuttle, currently operates daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Beat of Hawaii, which also reported that day passes there run $40 for general admission, $30 for Pualani Gold members and $25 for Pualani Platinum members.
Conflicting Details on Size and Timeline
The project has not been described consistently across company and media reports. An earlier Alaska Air Group announcement described the planned facility as a 10,600-square-foot lounge, while the company's newer release and groundbreaking coverage put the figure at nearly 13,000 square feet. Opening estimates have also shifted: Hawaii Magazine previously reported the lounge was set to open at the end of 2027, and Beat of Hawaii likewise referenced a 2027 opening in earlier coverage, while the latest company statement now points to the first half of 2028.
Part of a Broader Hawaiʻi Investment Push
The Honolulu lounge is one piece of a larger set of upgrades under the Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi plan, which covers renovations at airports in Honolulu, Līhuʻe, Kahului, Kona and Hilo running from this year through 2029, the company's announcement states. Alaska Air Group is also investing in modernizing airport facilities, upgrading technology and renovating Hawaiian Airlines aircraft interiors as part of the same push, according to the airline.
Among those aircraft changes, Hawaiian Airlines' Honolulu-based Airbus A330 fleet is scheduled for a full interior upgrade starting in 2028, with plans for a Bluetooth-enabled entertainment system, high-definition seatback screens and Starlink Wi-Fi. The broader strategy reflects Alaska Air Group's long-term plans for Hawaiian Airlines' fleet, cabins and airport amenities, Hawaii News Now reported in late September.
A Similar Build Underway in Seattle
Hawaiian Airlines' parent company is pursuing a comparable project on the mainland: Alaska Airlines is developing a nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport featuring a 500-seat Alaska Lounge and a 200-seat Aurora Lounge, set to become the largest lounge at that airport when it opens in late 2027, according to the company's announcement.
