Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, often known as Honolulu International Airport, is Hawaii’s busiest airport. So we’ll focus on the flight schedules to Honolulu, Oahu. If your destination is another airport in the Hawaiian islands, your flight time will be quite similar.
The overall flight time from California to Hawaii varies based on where you depart from in California. A direct flight would obviously get you there faster, so if you are close to one of the California airports and don’t require a connecting flight, it will assist shorten your trip time.
The flight direction also matters; due to prevailing winds, it is faster to return from Hawaii than it is to go there.
Exact Flight Times from California to Hawaii
| Airline | Departing From | Arriving At | Total Flight Time |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Los Angeles (LAX) | Honolulu (HNL) | 6 hours 5 minutes |
| United Airlines | San Francisco (SFO) | Honolulu (HNL) | 5 hours 29 minutes |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Oakland (OAK) | Honolulu (HNL) | 5 hours 40 minutes |
| Alaska Airlines | San Jose (SJC) | Honolulu (HNL) | 6 hours |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Sacramento (SMF) | Honolulu (HNL) | 5 hours 50 minutes |
| Hawaiian Airlines | San Diego (SAN) | Kahului (OGG) | 6 hours 5 minutes |
The travel time from California to Hawaii is between 5 and a half and 6 hours, with the actual time spent in the air dependent on the city in California you depart from.
Flight Times From Hawaii to California
Because of the wind direction, your plane’s average speed on the way back from Hawaii will be greater. That implies a flight from Hawaii to California takes around 30 minutes less time.
| Airline | Departing From | Arriving At | Total Flight Time |
| United Airlines | Kahului (OGG) | San Francisco (SFO) | 4 hours 55 minutes |
| Delta | Honolulu (HNL) | Los Angeles (LAX) | 5 hours 30 minutes |
| Alaska Airlines | Honolulu (HNL) | San Francisco (SFO) | 5 hours 9 minutes |
| Alaska Airlines | Honolulu (HNL) | San Jose (SJC) | 5 hours 19 minutes |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Honolulu (HNL) | Oakland (OAK) | 5 hours 25 minutes |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Honolulu (HNL) | Sacramento (SMF) | 5 hours 15 minutes |
The shortest distance between California and Hawaii is 2,286 miles, which runs between the island of Maui and Point Arena in San Francisco.
As a result, the quickest return route is from Maui’s Kahului Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
If you wish to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the large island, take United Airlines from San Francisco to Kailua-Kona. It will take 5 hours and 28 minutes to go there, and 5 hours and 7 minutes to get back.
The Decision
Hawaii is approximately 2500 miles from California. The trip across the Pacific Ocean is long, but it will fly by with a couple of decent movies.
It is critical to consider not just the flight time but also your entire trip time.
Plan on arriving at the airport 2.5 hours before your flight. If we add 1 hour to get to the airport and 1 hour to get from the airport in Hawaii to your hotel you are looking at a minimum total travel time of around 10 hours to go from California to Hawaii.
By going light and travelling with only carry-on luggage, you can really save some time off your entire journey time. You’ll also save money by not having to pay for checked luggage. Learn how to pack light by reading our packing light suggestions.
Enjoy your Hawaii vacation regardless of how you pack!