One of the biggest concerns when transiting through Honolulu is the smoothness of the connection process. The United States requires immigration clearance even for transits, and luggage must be collected and rechecked. However, the process was found to be less burdensome than expected.
For returning flights, the use of MPC (Mobile Passport Control) was notably helpful. MPC is an application system available for those entering the U.S. for the second time or more under the ESTA program, enabling the use of a dedicated lane at immigration and simplifying the entry process in Hawaii to just photo identification without the need to scan passports.
▲The ‘Transit Bag Drop’ located past EXIT 2.
Assuming the stay is on the island of Tahiti after a late arrival, it’s recommended to book a hotel close to the airport if the next day involves early morning travel to other islands.
Regarding the return trip, because HA482 from Papeete arrives early in Honolulu, before the ‘Transit Bag Drop’ and the Hawaiian Airlines international check-in counters are open, special arrangements had to be made. Hawaiian Airlines is considering improvements for such logistical challenges, seeing as there’s a significant layover time which could allow for a quick visit to Waikiki or other parts of Honolulu without the hassle of carrying large luggage around.
