Kahului Airport is the main airport on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Both inter-island and international flights operate to and from the airport. In addition to commercial flights, Kahului Airport can also be used for private jet charters.
The airport is located near the northern coast of Maui, east of Kahului. This is where the scenic Hana Highway commences, connecting Kahului with Hana to the south. Thus, the airport is the perfect arrival point for anyone who wants to take a Hawaiian road trip.
The whaling town of Lahaina is directly west of Kahului, while Haleakala volcano is in the south of the island. Kapalua Beach is northwest of the airport.
Key Information
Airport Name: Kahului Airport
IATA / ICAO Code: OGG / PHOG
Location: Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
Opening times: The TSA checkpoint is open 5 am to 11.30 pm daily
Terminals: Kahului Airport has one terminal and three runways
Facilities & Other Services
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available at several locations on the airport's second level.
Lounges: There is one Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club lounge at Kahului Airport.
Duty-Free Shopping: DFS operates a duty-free shop that sells luxury goods such as handbags, cosmetics, and fragrances.
Restaurants and Cafes: Kahului Airport offers several dining options, including cafes, fast food outlets, and restaurants serving snacks, burgers, hot dogs, grills, pizza, and a range of American and Hawaiian fare. Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill is named after local resident and former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar.
Currency Exchange: There are ATMs in the ticket lobby, baggage reclaim, and the second-floor rotunda where you can withdraw cash.
Medical Facilities: The airport has 10 Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and the Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Unit provides an emergency medical response 24/7.
Airlines: Around 10 commercial carriers operate flights to and from Kahului Airport. The airport is also used for private jet charters.
About Kahului Airport
Kahului Airport is the main airport on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It offers international and inter-island flights and has been a full-service airport since 1952. Previously, it was used by the U.S. Navy and dates back to 1942.
After protracted negotiations, inspections, and runway strength tests, in 1951, it was finally decided to move operations from Puunene, the existing territorially owned airport, to Kahului. Considerable works were then required before the airport commenced commercial airline operations in June 1952. Improvement work to Maui’s new main airport continued into 1953 and well beyond.
The airport code OGG references Bertram J. Hogg, known as Jimmy Hogg, an aviation pioneer from Kauai. He worked for the company that later became Hawaiian Airlines, and flew all manner of planes up until the late 1960s.
In modern times, Kahului Airport remains Maui’s main airport. It offers commercial and private flights to and from overseas, as well as inter-island flights between the Hawaiian islands. Most flights arriving at Kahului come from Honolulu. The route between the main airports on Oahu and Maui is heavily trafficked and one of the busiest in the U.S.
Like all of Hawaii’s airports and seaports, Kahului is part of a structured system of state government. The Governor of Hawaii has ultimate responsibility for all state airports. Expansion work is currently underway to extend the airport’s range of operations.
Maui Travel Guide
Maui is the second-biggest Hawaiian island. While it’s popular with vacationers, it’s more peaceful than bustling Oahu. Maui offers year-round clear, sunny skies and 30 miles of breathtaking beaches. Sheltered Kapalua offers a crescent-shaped sweep of golden sand and is protected by lava rock formations.
Maui offers the tropical Hawaiian Aloha spirit, water sports, the volcanic Haleakala crater, delicious dining, the historic whaling town of Lahaina, the waterfalls and pools of Ohe’o Gulch, and the panoramic Hana Highway. The island also offers plenty of deluxe hotels and self-catering accommodations for parties of all sizes.
Maui highlights
Haleakala volcano: Also known as the East Maui Volcano, Haleakala is a vast, dormant volcano. At over 10,000 feet tall and making up around three-quarters of the island, it’s the biggest dormant volcano in the world.
Ways to see it include hiking through Haleakala National Park, where you can also see the waterfalls and pools of Ohe’o Gulch. Sunrise and sunset tours are also particularly popular. If you want a bird’s eye view, you can also take a private helicopter flight over the area.
Hana Highway: The Hana Highway hugs the coastline of east Maui. Stretching for almost 65 miles, it’s an incredibly scenic route connecting Kahului to the north and Hana to the southeast. The route includes Hawaii Routes 31, 36, and 360.
This part of Maui is abundant in beautiful beaches, cascading waterfalls, and lush green parkland.
Kapalua beach: Kapalua is in northwestern Maui, and the beach in this area is widely regarded as some of the best in the world. Expect plenty of powdery white sand-lapped crystal-clear water. Teeming with marine life, it’s perfect for snorkeling.
The beach offers good amenities, including sufficient parking, restrooms, and easy access. If you explore underwater, expect to see colorful corals, schools of tropical fish, and perhaps even sea turtles.
Lahaina and whale watching: If you want to delve deeper into Hawaiian history and culture, Lahaina is the place to go. It was an important whaling base during the 19th century, where sailing crews came to rest and replenish their supplies. Christian missionaries settled there in the 1820s.
Sadly, a major fire in 1919 and a series of wildfires in 2023 have damaged Lahaina. However, the town is being rebuilt, and even the historic banyan tree is flourishing once more. Whale-watching trips also remain popular in the area.
Other things to do in Maui: Along with the volcano, whaling town, and Hana Highway, there are many other things to do in Maui. Other lovely beaches include Ho’okipa, Ka'anapali, Napili, and Wailea. You could also tour a pineapple farm, follow the Pipiwai Trail, or head to Wai'anapanapa State Park to see black pebble beaches and stunning coastal views.
Visitors can also enjoy deluxe accommodations, hiking the trails, fine dining based on farm-to-fork produce, touring museums, and sampling water sports.
Maui Climate: Maui’s weather is warm, sunny, windy, and humid. Microclimates exist, and it can be cooler upcountry and drier in the south. The dry summer season runs from May to October. Average highs are around 23°C to 26°C, with about three days of rain per month. It will generally be hotter than this on the coast, particularly in the south, and cooler inland.
The wetter winter season is between November and April and brings slightly cooler temperatures, with highs of around 21°C to 24°C. About five days of rain per month is average during the wet, or winter, season.
For visitors staying on Maui’s coast, the island’s weather is usually hot and humid throughout the year.
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