Hawaii is a popular travel destination for individuals seeking beautiful beaches, lush mountains with crystal blue waterfalls, and a rich culture that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Of course, since you can’t drive to Hawaii, you’ll need the proper documentation to get there via boat or plane. The question many people, especially Americans, ask is whether they can travel to Hawaii with just their driver’s license or if they need more extensive documentation, like a passport.
If you are a United States citizen, you can travel to Hawaii the same way you would travel to any other state in the country. All you need is a valid piece of government identification that adheres to the REAL ID criteria as an authentic document. This includes standard and enhanced driver’s licenses. The only individual that can enter Hawaii without a valid ID is a minor accompanying an adult with a valid ID. Read on to learn more about how you can get to Hawaii and why this is such a popular travel spot.
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Travel to Hawaii: Why It's So Many People's Favorite Place
So you’re thinking about visiting Hawaii? Well, you’re far from the only one. In fact, after New York City, locations in Hawaii are constantly ranked as the second, third, and fourth most popular travel destinations in the United States.
In 2019 alone, the state welcomed over 10 million visitors, the vast majority of which were bound for the islands of Maui, Oahu, and the mainland of Hawaii. But what is it that draws such an astonishing number of people to this string of islands every year?
Hawaii is a favored travel location for countless people because of its stunning natural beauty, laid-back atmosphere, and unique culture.
There is always something to do in the paradise that is Hawaii, but if your goal is to find a safe haven where you can unwind from the overwhelming stress of your everyday life, it can help you with that as well.
The overwhelming reason most tourists and travelers give for their motivation to visit Hawaii is its natural beauty, which is unsurprising, to say the least. With three active volcanoes, five national parks, over 100 beaches, and 1,137 named mountains, Hawaii is nothing short of a natural nirvana for outdoor adventurers and people how simply want to admire nature at its best.
Add the estimated 21,383 species these islands house, and you have a natural wonder after natural wonder at every turn, and a vast majority of these experiences can’t be had anywhere else in the world. The only question is, how do you get there to experience it all?
What Types of Documents are Needed to Travel to Hawaii?
Hawaii is so far from all the other 48 states of America that sometimes it feels like its own separate country. Because of this, many aspiring visitors wonder what documentation they need in order to travel here legally. Thankfully, it isn’t as difficult to get to Hawaii as you might think.
If you aren’t a United States citizen, you’re going to need a valid passport to enter the United States and land in Hawaii. However, if you’re a legal United States citizen, you can get in with something as mundane as a driver’s license. This driver’s license needs to be valid and deemed authentic by REAL ID standards.
“But, what if I don’t have a legal driver’s license?” you might ask. Don’t worry! You can still travel to the lush and sandy islands of Hawaii as long as you have some form of valid identification that’s recognized by the United States government.
This includes:
- Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- S. passport
- S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Remember that if you’re under the age of 18, you don’t need any legal form of documentation to enter the state of Hawaii as long as you are accompanied by an individual over the age of 18 who has a valid form of documentation/identification.
Can I Travel to Hawaii With Just My Driver's License?
A United States citizen can legally travel to the state of Hawaii using a standard or enhanced driver’s license, as long as it is authentic and adheres to the criteria posed by the REAL ID Act. If the aspiring traveler is not a United States citizen, they will need an official passport or alternative form of international travel documentation.
Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Hawaii from the U.S.?
A Visa is a common form of documentation an individual obtains in order to enter a country where they are not considered a legal citizen, the exception being a non-immigrant U.S. Visa. While a Visa is an acceptable form of documentation that would allow an individual to legally travel to Hawaii, it is not required for a United States citizen.
Because Hawaii is an American state, U.S. citizens can travel to it via plane or boat using the most basic forms of identification, such as a driver’s license. However, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security, it is mandatory for U.S. citizens to have an “Electronic System for Travel Authorization” (ESTA), which will confirm an individual’s eligibility to travel.
ESTAs are used for tourism, business, medical, or transit purposes, and you must apply and qualify for this before you attempt to depart for Hawaii. Travelers should apply for an ESTA at least three days prior to their departure, but most official sources recommend applying for them as soon you have made concrete plans to visit Hawaii.
Traveling While in Hawaii, Boat or Plane?
Because Hawaii is a string of islands, you really only have two options for modes of transportation: boat or plane. Both are perfectly reliable ways to get to Hawaii, but each has its own pros and cons you’ll want to consider before opting for one over the other.
Traveling to Hawaii by boat is the more leisurely option and best suited to vacationers who have ample time to travel to this destination as well as explore it. Traveling by plane is the favored choice for visitors and tourists, as it is the quickest way to get to Hawaii and, more often than not, the cheaper choice.
If you’re still unsure which option would match your budget and trip ambitions best, read on as we discuss the pros and cons of each in a bit more detail.
Traveling to Hawaii by Boat
While the vast majority of modern travelers prefer to board a plane before they board a boat, we encourage you to at least consider this option for your trip to Hawaii, as you might find yourself pleasantly surprised with its advantages.
In order to reach Hawaii via boat, you’ll most likely have to sign up for a cruise since the state is a decent five-day voyage from the Western edge of the United States. This can be a significant pro or con, depending on your travel priorities.
If you’re not pressed for time to reach Hawaii, signing up for a cruise is by far the most comfortable way to get there. Cruises will have all of the accommodations you could possibly ask for, from beds to meals to entertainment and more. Therefore, if you’re on vacation and don’t mind tacking on a few extra travel days, exploring a cruise ship and gazing at the sparkling wonders of the Pacific Ocean is a fantastic way to go.
Of course, because cruise ships can be quite extravagant and have to offer a wide range of accommodations, this approach is usually much pricier than a plane ticket. It also isn’t the ideal choice for visitors who have to get to Hawaii quickly, either for business or because they have a limited amount of time to see as much of the state as possible.
Traveling to Hawaii by Plane
It’s no secret that the biggest advantage of flying to Hawaii is the reduced travel time. Planes are by far the most efficient way to travel nearly anywhere in the world. Even if you’re leaving from Maine, which is arguably the farthest you can get from Hawaii while still being in the United States, your non-stop travel time would be about 9 hours total. That’s substantially quicker than any cruise could achieve.
The downside to this reduced travel time is that you’re sitting in your plane seat for the entire time, which typically isn’t the most comfortable experience unless you’re able to fly first class. So, while flying to Hawaii can absolutely save you time and most likely a decent amount of money, it isn’t as pleasant an experience as lounging in your cruise suite sipping champagne and watching the sun dance off the ocean.
Which Hawaiian Islands That Are the Easiest to Fly Into?
Once you’ve decided you’re going to fly to Hawaii, you’ll need to decide where you plan to land in the state.
Because Hawaii is a series of islands containing numerous mountains, volcanos, and other natural challenges, there are only three major airports you can fly into, with a few smaller airports typically used for island hopping rather than accepting planes from mainland or international airports.
The three major airports are:
- Hilo International Airport on the main island of Hawaii
- Honolulu International Airport / Hickam AFB on the island of O’ahu
- Kona International Airport in Keahole on the main island of Hawaii
If you’re flying from the mainland, most experts recommend flying into the main island of Hawaii because it will have the most flight options, and a majority of popular tourist destinations reside here. However, the island of O’ahu is a close second as it will have less traffic, and flights are usually cheaper landing on this island than the hub of the main island.
Conclusion
Hawaii might seem impossibly far away, especially if you live on the Eastern Coast of the United States, but it’s far easier to travel here than you’d think. Rather than getting a fancy passport or a non-immigrant U.S. visa, you can fly or sail to Hawaii with nothing more than a valid driver’s license. Before you go, make sure you plan to arrive either on the main island of Hawaii or on the island of O’ahu for the cheapest, quickest and easiest flights. Now that you know everything you need to about how to get to Hawaii, start planning the rest of the trip, and enjoy the Aloha State!
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