The Guide to Hawaiian Airlines Wi-Fi

Whether you need to finish last-minute work tasks before a vacation or connect with loved ones after being away, you might be needing an in-flight Wi-Fi signal. However, if you’re flying Hawaiian Airlines to or from the Aloha State, you might be in for a surprise.

Here’s what you need to know about Hawaiian Airlines Wi-Fi and the airlines that offer coverage over the Pacific Ocean.

Does Hawaiian Airlines have Wi-Fi?

Unfortunately, Hawaiian Airlines planes aren’t equipped with Wi-Fi yet, and that includes transpacific and inter-island flights.

However, the carrier has struck a deal with Starlink to provide broadband wireless internet to flyers in the future.

Hawaiian Airlines is planning to equip its Airbus A330, Airbus A321 neo and Boeing 787-9 aircraft with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi run on a satellite network. Hawaiian Airlines internet service will be available on flights between the islands as well as long-distance flights to the mainland U.S., Asia and Oceania.

“When we launch with Starlink we will have the best connectivity experience available in the air,” Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said in 2022. “We waited until technology caught up with our high standards for guest experience, but it will be worth the wait. Our guests can look forward to fast, seamless and free Wi-Fi to complement our award-winning onboard Hawaiian hospitality.”

At this point, it’s unclear exactly when Starlink internet will be available aboard Hawaiian Airlines planes, but it’s supposed to happen sometime this year. Having said that, in-flight entertainment is available for passengers to stream on their personal device through a self-contained in-flight network.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

How to stream in-flight entertainment from a personal device

Even though there’s no Hawaiian Airlines Wi-Fi, you still can stream in-flight entertainment to your personal device in two ways: a mobile app or an internet browser. You can watch new and classic films as well as TV shows on your phone, tablet or laptop.

Hawaiian Airlines app

• Download the Hawaiian Airlines app to your mobile phone or tablet.

• Once aboard, switch your phone to airplane mode and connect to the “Movies on HawaiianAir” network.

• Open the Hawaiian Airlines app, select “More” and then “In-flight entertainment.”

Internet browser

• Connect to the “Movies on Hawaiian” network.

• Open your internet browser and type “www.hawaiianairlineswifi.com.”

• Choose an option and watch.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Which airlines provide Wi-Fi on flights to Hawaii?

The islands of Hawaii are located about 2,400 miles from the mainland U.S., so it’s no wonder that the signal over the Pacific Ocean isn’t that strong.

Below are some of the airlines that offer Wi-Fi on flights to Hawaii. Still, when in doubt about investing in a Wi-Fi pass, ask a flight attendant whether the internet signal is reliable.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers satellite-based Wi-Fi on most aircraft in its fleet, meaning you might have luck getting coverage on your flight to the Aloha State. An in-flight Wi-Fi pass starts at $10 and goes up from there.

To check whether your specific flight offers Wi-Fi, you can check its status by entering the flight number and date of travel on this page.

» Learn more: The Guide to American Airlines Wi-Fi

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines and T-Mobile have been rolling out free in-flight Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members, which is available on about 600 domestic aircraft as of last July.

Full availability on the global fleet is expected by the end of 2024. A pass costs $5 to $19 on aircraft that aren’t yet equipped with free Wi-Fi.

» Learn more: The Guide to Delta Wi-Fi

United Airlines

United Airlines has four in-flight internet providers: Gogo, Panasonic, Thales and Viasat. Aircraft equipped with Panasonic Wi-Fi provides the most coverage, which includes areas over the Pacific Ocean.

The following aircraft are equipped with Panasonic Wi-Fi:

United Wi-Fi on domestic flights costs $8 or 800 miles for MileagePlus members and $10 for passengers who aren’t enrolled in its frequent flyer program.

» Learn more: The Guide to United Wi-Fi

Hawaiian Airlines Wi-Fi recapped

Although Hawaiian Airlines will be launching Starlink wireless service on its aircraft, it’s not available to passengers at the moment.

The only option you have for now is to connect to an in-flight entertainment network and stream content from your personal device. If you want to watch something else, we recommend downloading episodes of your favorite show to watch on the plane.

(Top photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines)