Last week, Hawaiian Airlines held the inaugural flights aboard its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane, a moment six years in the making. The plane was named “Kapuahi” after a star that holds cultural and navigational significance to the Polynesian wayfinders, some of the first people to make this voyage across the Pacific.
The inaugural Dreamliner flights departed from Honolulu for San Francisco, then returned the next day. For the next month or so, Kapuahi will fly between the Bay Area and Hawaii's capital once a day before adding routes to Los Angeles and Phoenix. By the end of this year, the carrier is scheduled to add two more Dreamliners to its fleet.
I flew on Hawaiian's second Dreamliner flight from SFO to HNL and there was much to celebrate as passengers and employees ushered in the airline's new flagship aircraft; live Hawaiian music and hula welcomed us at the gate, and leis were handed out as we boarded. But it's what's inside the plane that will make the biggest difference for travelers, thanks to the completely redesigned cabins and brand-new business class product, the Leihōkū Suites.
Below, details of Hawaiian's new premium economy and business class products, as well as Apartment 1929, the airline's exclusive lounge you'll want to gain access to for one last taste of the islands before leaving paradise.
The airport experience
For a hands-off, curb-to-airport-door experience, travelers can now purchase Hawaiian Airlines' new Premium Airport Service at the Honolulu airport. This service starts at $500 for two people; travelers can call or email the airline directly to book the service, which is not included in any ticket class.
For departures, this starts with a handler greeting you at the terminal or rental car facility. They will then carry your bags, expedite you through security (it's even faster than Clear or TSA PreCheck), and escort you to Apartment 1929, the exclusive new lounge only available to Premium Airport Service customers.
Capped at just 24 guests, the indoor-outdoor space feels like the oversized living room of a very well-to-do friend. As soon as the door shuts, the airport chatter is silenced and the smell of gardenia hits your nose—impressive on its own—but even more so when you round the corner and see the well-decorated lounge and grassy exterior space that lets you sneak in one last ray of sunshine before boarding your flight.
Apartment 1929 guests enjoy a three-course meal (a concierge emailed me about a week in advance to take my order), and drinks are on offer from a beverage menu curated by Bar Leather Apron, a cocktail bar in Honolulu. When you're ready to board (with the option to be the first on the aircraft), you'll be driven on a golf cart over to the gate.
Just next to Apartment 1929 is Hawaiian Airlines' more classic Plumeria Lounge, reserved for Business Class guests, East Coast First Class guests, and Pualani Platinums flying internationally. A level below is the Premier Club, which is open more widely to North America and Neighbor Island First Class guests, Pualani Gold & Platinum Elites, and Premier Club members.
Onboard comforts
On the way to Honolulu, I was seated in the first row of the premium economy, or Extra Comfort, cabin. I had more than enough leg room, especially as I was in a bulkhead seat. While this meant I had to store my personal item for takeoff and landing, I still had access to a pull-up entertainment system and fold-out table for meals. The seats were comfortable, and the extra-large windows helped the space feel a little more open than on older or smaller planes. If you're considering upgrading from the Main Cabin, but not all the way to Business Class, I'd say it's absolutely worth it for any flights over, say, four hours, to give yourself some extra breathing room.
On the return flight, I experienced the highly-anticipated Leihōkū Suites. There are 34 of these lie-flat seats onboard, making it the largest business class cabin in Hawaiian's fleet and the first to have sliding doors, allowing for a nice level of privacy. The suites, set up in a 1-2-1 configuration, with the option to combine the middle two for companions or families, offer plenty of space to spread out and get comfortable—I'm 5'6" and had a good half a foot of extra leg room when the seat was fully extended. A pillow and blanket was provided, though no pajamas. (Of note when booking the Leihōkū Suites: Hawaiian has historically referred to its front cabin as first class on domestic flights and as business class on international flights.)
The 18" entertainment system is loaded up with new release movies, rewatch-favorite TV shows like Friends and Gilmore Girls, popular current shows like Abbott Elementary, and Hawaii-made music videos and documentaries on Hana Hou! TV. Along with personal charging outlets, a wireless cell phone charging station is conveniently placed next to the headrest.
Throughout the plane, those large windows are configured to different lighting modes throughout the flight, meant to delineate between dining, sleeping, and wake-up times. (Early in the flight these can be adjusted individually by the person in the window seat, but at some point a central programming takes over.)
Onboard WiFi is not yet enabled, unfortunately, though the hope is to get it up and running by the end of the year or early next. Hawaiian Airlines is in the process of rolling out Starlink internet across its A231 and A330 planes first.
Dreamliner design
In designing the plane's interiors, executive vice president and chief marketing officer Avi Mannis says the brand channeled on-the-ground hospitality spaces, particularly new hotel design in Hawaii, and aimed to evoke a sense of place. Following suit with much of Hawaiian design, the plane tells a story, Mannis says: one of Polynesian wayfinding, or navigation. Fiber optics in the ceiling simulate a starry night, wood-like slats in the airplane's entryway are inspired by canoes, and boxy, geometric silhouettes are softened to present a wave-like feel throughout the plane.
It is in fact a beautiful aircraft. When I first boarded, my eyes were immediately drawn to the dome in the entryway; it's a standard feature on 737s, but in this one, there are leaf designs etched into it.
In between attempts to snooze, take a look around at your surroundings: When not in night mode, the simulated cabin sky depicts soft daylight or soothing sunrises and sunsets. Different lavatories feature different patterned wallpapers (and excellent-smelling coconut hand soap), and the light-up bathroom icons were custom-made to include a Hawaiian shirt and dress. These small, thoughtful details aren't necessary, but they do add some fun and whimsy to the start (or end) of your vacation.
In-flight dining
The airline's in-flight meal program is run by husband-and-wife duo Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of Honolulu's M-W Restaurant. The chef couple works with other Hawaiian-based restaurants and chefs to develop menus on a rotating basis; when I flew, Jason Yamaguchi's menu included a delicious curried braised brisket, papaya salad, and warm taro roll. Soon to join the Featured Chef club: Keaka Lee from Kapa Hale.
When seating in the Leihōkū Suites, I was offered a welcome drink of guava juice, a mai-tai from Kō Hana (an agricole rum distillery in the Honolulu area), or sparkling wine; meal service came with even more alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. In Extra Comfort, the meal was a chicken sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich; while less noteworthy than the full dinner on my return flight, it was still a solid meal—and free, a rare treat on domestic airlines these days.
Routes
Travelers heading to or from Honolulu via San Francisco can travel on the plane's daily service through May 14; a second 787-9 will begin dedicated service between Honolulu-Los Angeles on May 14 and Honolulu-Phoenix on May 15.
Back in 2018, the airline announced plans to purchase 10 Boeing 787-9 aircrafts; while the first was expected to go into service in 2021, pandemic and aircraft delays extended the timeframe. Over time, the airline plans to use some of the 300-seat 787s for long-haul routes from Hawaii to New York, Sydney, and Japan.
The takeaway
Hawaiian Airlines passengers are predominantly leisure travelers, so it's fitting that the team designed this plane, and the onboard experience, to feel like the start of your vacation rather than just the means to get there. Warm staff greetings, Hawaiian music playing in some of the bathrooms, the starry night sky, and the plane's general ambiance help achieve that goal, while the Leihōkū Suites offer an especially luxurious way to kick off or close out your trip.
