Kapalua Airport, where do I start. I have loved this place for all of my life, growing up with the…read moreMokulele Airlines and the 'Ohana by Hawaiian aircraft flying overhead after departing and arriving into this airport have been some of the best memories I have ever had. And I must say, although I love this airport more than most things in life, it does not cloud my judgement of the facility whatsoever.
I first want to mention that this airport has changed a lot over the years, it used to be quite a bustling place with great connections to neighbor islands on several airlines. The facility was always wonderfully clean and efficient, and the services offered were plentiful, with a full TSA security screening station and the ability for passengers traveling onboard the Hawaiian Airlines service to clear TSA and check bags in Kapalua and then have them checked through to the final destination, with no need to recheck bags or go through security once you arrived in your connecting airport. There was even a snack bar and a car rental on airport property at one point. Never mind indoor restrooms and plenty of literature for tourists arriving looking for things to do. It was a great place.
Then, the cuts began. The 'Ohana by Hawaiian service was wonderful, however was abruptly ended and subsequently permanently terminated in 2020, in part due to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Kapalua with no mainline airline service. Even Mokulele Airlines has ended many services out of the airport, such as to Kona, Kahului, Lana'i, and Moloka'i, leaving the twice daily flight to Honolulu as the only option for flying out of Kapalua.
And now, that service is lacking. As the only service into Kapalua Airport, it runs quite inefficiently, sometimes flight cancellations run for weeks on end with no apparent reasons as to why. And, when flying with Mokulele, which is a wonderful company, you are unable to clear security or check bags to a final destination from Kapalua Airport, instead, you must go through security and check bags at your connecting airport.
And now, thanks to the lack of service to the airport, much of it has been vacated. The absence of Hawaiian Airlines on the field has led to the closure of the popular TSA service that allowed passengers to clear security in Kapalua and be good for all of their connecting flights. And, even the snack bar is now gone, leaving no food options in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Even the rental car facility has left. And the only place you can go from this airport is now to Honolulu.
And I do want to clarify, none of these cuts are the airports fault, which is why I still rate it five stars. I simply include the history to demonstrate why things are the way they are today. The facility is wonderfully clean, kept up from the marvelous maintenance team. And the staff are all very friendly, always willing to chat or just pass a smile on. It is truly a magical place. And, the airport continues to be of major importance to the West Maui communities, providing an essential cargo hub into the west side, with FedEx Feeder and FedEx Express operating flights into the airport, and serving as a substantial connecting point for the onward ground connections.
Kapalua Airport is a wonderful airport, and I am confident that they will find a way to add more services and return it to its former glory once again.
Aloha a hui hou, Kapalua Airport.