Lihue Airport

Nice small airport we felt very safe and it was extremely easy to get our rental car. Be prepared to wait for the trolley to take you to the rental car area, but that was a very easy experience all in all.

The main airport in Kauai. This airport is pretty small so if you need to fly international or back to the mainland, you’ll definitely have time to go through the agricultural inspection. In the main area, there are food, one bar, restaurants, a grab, and go, shops, and even Starbucks. Just know before checking into your flight, you must go through agricultural inspection. Even when going into your gate, you must go through another inspection to check your carry-on items for prohibited items. I like how quick and easy this airport is. If you decide you need to get a rental, you must take a shuttle, which is across the street. Enjoy your vacation!

I found that staff was very friendly , true to hawaiian hospitality culture. We were there over the holidays so it was busy but staff was very helpful to help everyone get through the lines quickly and efficiently. The car rental center is just across the street , regular shuttles operate for rental car customers. Overall a nice small airport , easy to get in and out. Lihue city center , shopping areas (costco, target, walmart) everything is very close by, a very quick drive from the airport. Helipad for island tours is right around the corner.

Really nice airport that’s partially open air. We were able to move through quickly. It was an enjoyable time. If you could have one at an airport, I think people will find it refreshing that it’s smaller. Our flight left on time and there were plenty of announcements, letting us know when the boarding laws and all that good stuff. The employees were very nice. You could hardly tell they were airport employees Because I mean, let’s face it who wants to work at an airport dealing with fussy travelers and screaming kids I would definitely use this airport again, but the island of Kawai is kind of an old person island. Most of the people here like it slow. I might come back here when I’m old and decrepit and want to do things, but like I said, the airport in Lihue is serviceable and an overall nice experience for even the most crotchety travelers. The carpet and tile all seemed to be in good shape. Lots of the windows are hazed, but that’s to be expected from an airport so close to the ocean. Have safe travels and Enjoy!

Flying in to LIH was gorgeous! The up-close mountain views and lush greenery really gets you excited to start your vacation or welcomes you home. Lihue's airport is similar in design to Hilo's, with an inline layout and car rental desks located just across the way. But, the car rental desks here were abandoned, forcing you to catch shuttle buses to off-property sites. No big deal. The open-air main terminal includes 2 restaurants, a traditional bar, Starbucks, newsstand and a flower shop. Security was a breeze. It's the passengers who make things difficult and hold up the process. Do you really need jewelry to go through TSA? Put them in your bag for crying out loud!? The waiting rooms are enclosed with adequate seating and great ocean views to boot. OVERALL: Minimal crowds, easy to maneuver through.

Lihue Airport is small, clean, and well-organized. It offers convenient amenities like souvenirs, food options, and a Starbucks. The airport is just 20 minutes from our hotel and very close to the rental car facility, making arrivals and departures smooth and hassle-free.

Beautiful, small airport. Friendly staff and has quality shops.

Check in with kiosks for bag tags. Covered open air walkway between gates. Smell the plumeria as you get off your flight! Clean restrooms, plenty of seating. A Starbucks and a restaurant along with a nice but pricey gift shop. Also a small shop with snacks and drinks.

Love this airport. Friendly agents curbside, easy check in and bag drop ( for Hawaiian anyway), and some shopping! Fun Halloween pumpkin contest today too! Food is expensive though; almost $20 for a chicken Teri plate lunch.

Whether you're flying IN... Or Whether you're flying OUT... The Life at Lihue Airport (LIH) is as chill as the Hawaiian people themselves. I'll admit.... I am MUCH HAPPIER when I fly into Lihue. Why you ask? Flying into LIH means that I am on Vacation! That's right! Officially on Island Time and it's just a matter of time before I am sitting pool side with a Mai Tai in my hand, soaking up the sun, watching my kids enjoy their vacation. And just how I feel when landing in Lihue, everyone else around me; de-boarding the plane, heading towards baggage claim, or off to get their rental car is just as excited as me and my family to do the exact same. I love this airport because it reminds me so much of the Burbank Airport in Southern California. Small, easy to navigate, and a breeze when going through security. Unfortunately, we usually fly in and out of LAX which is always a nightmare. The airport has one main terminal, divided into two concourses and it's a dream to fly in and out of. -Easy curb side drop off. -Easy access to shuttles to take you to the rental car area. -Smooth and efficient Airport security to get you to your gate. There are a few food options if you want to grab a bite before your flight, including a Starbucks if you need a little boost. For those traveling back to the Mainland or Internationally after your trip is over, you will have to send your luggage through an additional agricultural security check which looks for fruit, etc. Fresh Pineapples, Coconuts and USDA approved Papayas are allowed from the island, but all other fruit is prohibited so tell your kid to finish up their cutie before hitting the checkpoint. And although it's always sad leaving the Island, the Lihue airport always helps me appreciate the great memories that I made with my family during our trip and that we we can return to make more next time. From the Mainland... Mahalo for now.

The main airport in Kauai. This airport is pretty small so if you need to fly international or back to the mainland, you'll definitely have time to go through the agricultural inspection. In the main area, there are food, one bar, restaurants, a grab, and go, shops, and even Starbucks. Just know before checking into your flight, you must go through agricultural inspection. Even when going into your gate, you must go through another inspection to check your carry-on items for prohibited items. I like how quick and easy this airport is. If you decide you need to get a rental, you must take a shuttle, which is across the street. Enjoy your vacation!

Good airport that reflect old Hawaii. - The best banana bread I had on our vacation was from the vending machines here (also sold in some of their shops). They weren't made in Hawaii, they were made in Escondido California and they were amazing. - when looking for your rental car pickup bus, there will be confusion at the pickup area. Focus only on the company branding on the the pickup bus, not where it actually pulls over. Trust me in this.

Teeny tiny cute airport with a relaxed vibe. Humid as expected, and a small array of gift shops with Starbucks is also here. No sunscreen but cute cookies and packages to buy home if you're into it.

A good airport for an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean . There are a few cafés, small grocery spots, and gift shops where you can grab souvenirs or relax with a cup of coffee . No need to arrive too early -- baggage check-in usually doesn't open until about 3 hours before departure (though this can vary by airline). Keep in mind, there are no lounges at this airport.

This airport is stuck in the 1970s. It's in desperate need for updates and repairs. That being said, it is very easy to get in/out and get to your rental cars, etc. So there are pros and cons for the quaint qualities and quirks it has. Thankfully, it's easy to drive in and out of the LIhue area, so you can get to it without much traffic. Plenty of parking spaces as well. Hope they air condition the terminals fully soon!

Cute small airport that moves smoothly through check in. There is no Clear, only Pre-TSA (who is the dummy who let her Global Entry expire by a week? Me.) Took about 15 mins to get through the standard TSA line. Loved seeing the appropriate color on the Fire Engine. (Feels like home )

I could have swore I wrote a review of the Lihue Airport -LIH, but upon looking at the Yelp site, it is no where to be found. Hummmmmmmmm???? Maybe my old age, I "thought" I wrote a review, when I actually did not? Buwahahahahaha! It's been several years since I last flew to Kauai for work. I think the last time I came to Kauai was during the Covid-19 pandemic, as my coworker who normally manages Kauai caught Covid-19, so I had to fly into Kauai help cover for my coworker. Upon arriving at the Lihue Airport - LIH yesterday, I can see not much has changed from the last time I was here, everything appears to be the same as I remembered it to be. The Lihue Airport is not a very big airport, and most of the airport is open-air, with the exception of some of the gate areas which are enclosed with A/C. The car rental area is directly across the street from the airport. If you are taking out a rental car, you need to catch a rental car shuttle (it's free) to get to the rental car location. There are a tiki bar, restauarant, & other businesses within the Lihue Airport, but your choices are very limited for this small airport. Please plan accordingly when coming to the Lihue Airport. I have been here during peak hours were the TSA lines were extremely long & slow. I've also come here (like yesterday) when I went through the TSA line in less than 5 minutes. I guess it all depends on when your flight leaves.........peak hours can be rough. Overall, a charming small town airport. Nice to visit the Garden Isle once in a blue moon.

Nice little airport. Instead of waiting at your gate in one of the stuffy rooms, wait in the open air hallway and feel the breeze. TSA has been very fast each visit when we had early morning or afternoon flights.

The smallest and cutest indoor/outdoor airport. There are only 3 baggage claims so you won't get lost here. The car rental shuttles constantly make their rounds and the view from the airport reminds you that you have landed in paradise.

Good experience arriving. Bathrooms were clean. No issues with baggage claim terminal. Small airport, so easy to get around. Clear signs for the car rental area. Simple and smooth transaction.

People who wear jeans in Hawaii - why? Also, Lihue airport needs twice as many bathrooms.

Five stars. A quaint rural airport on the island of Kauai. Much more laid back than HNL and a throwback to the 90's kind of airports. Great to have these still. Love the roosters crowing in the background too.

Eight gates (3-10) with air conditioning and zero bathrooms - bathrooms are outside the gates. When traveling the continental mainland one must clear through the agriculture check. Thankfully Ag will screen right outside the gate. As you've read in previous reviews - it's an open air airport with two gift shops, one Starbucks, a cafe with adjoining bar and another bar right as you clear TSA. Not too many choices here. My gripe is the bathrooms are pretty humid and smelly. Waiting rooms at the gates could also use a renovation as it's outdated with a few interspersed charging "podiums." Hawaiian gate agents are a lot friendlier than other Hawaiian stations. Car rental companies are located across the street from exiting curbside.

This airport reminds me of Maui airport in the age and design of the terminal. In general, Hawaiian islands seem to live in the past, which is not a bad thing.

Well, you can't get lost. . .once you're in this tiny airport, anyway. It took me several visits not to mess up leaving the airport, and I still get messed up coming back in. Signage is poor, and you often can't really tell if you're headed in the right direction. I was last here 5 years and 2 months ago, for my final work trip before COVID-19 shut down the world. Little has changed. Out front they've now got a maze of snaking lines to get through security. There's not much room there, so they've done their best to maximize what space they have. They now have new baggage scanning machines and an enhanced passenger screening machine. Because I have knee implants, I can't go through the regular screening. This is the first time, though, I had to have my bra area manually examined. Usually they check around my knees. They said it was because my shirt had some sparkly things on it. What? This crazy expensive high-tech machine can't handle a bit of sparkles on a shirt? The bathrooms really need help. They have only a few stalls. Of the three sinks, only one had water. The boarding areas are for two gates, and they're too small for one gate. The infrastructure was fine for the volume of traffic years ago, but not anymore.

We landed here on our trip to Kauai and the airport was super easy to get around. It's not a particularly big airport, but the signs to baggage claim and the rental car area make it easy. Some parts of the airport are air conditioned and then others are open air.

Of the four Hawaiian islands I've flown into, Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai, I think this is the smallest. Very informal. Easy arrival& departure. Upon our arrival we followed the signs past baggage claim to rental car shuttle outside the terminal. Upon our departure - * we followed the signs to return the car. * We didn't need to scan our carry on luggage through the agricultural inspection. * We went through TSA to our departure gate. Being that the airport is small there are only two bathroom locations. Was there food? Think so. The best part - two ticket agents performed the Hukilau with passenger participation at our gate.

Nice, simple, open-air airport. For arrivals, follow the signage and you can walk across the street to the car rental shuttles. Signage for exiting and returning is easy to follow. For departures, check in and security are both located completely outside. Just pay attention to signage. Lines can get long but seem to move at a decent pace. Once past TSA, you're more indoors, although we did see a couple birds got in around our gate. Didn't see very many, if any, shops and there were a couple of smaller cafes or restaurants, as well as some "grab and go" snack stations.

Lihue Airport is the only major airport you can fly into in Kauai, and it delivers that classic island vibe. It's small, super airy, and tropical from the moment you arrive. Baggage claim is a breeze, and grabbing your rental car is as simple as crossing the street. But here's a little tip... those rental shuttles? They're will pass you and keep going around if you don't keep an eye out and wave them down or you'll watch them drive by (not kidding). It's a smooth, easy start to your Kauai adventure or just come back home to.

Welcome to a time warp - easily confused for buildings built and maintained in the early 80's, the dark tile, dark wood, and dark everything show just how much the airport has not (and has not needed to) modernize itself. It was interesting, even though it was very clear we were in an airport the vibe was so much more chill and relaxed than I would have expected, but is par for the course for Hawaii. Maintaining our time travel theme, don't expect big stores and lounges and a lot to do. It's simple for a reason. That's not to say you can't get a bottle of water or cup of coffee, but there just isn't the variety you've probably become accustomed to at larger airports. All in all, enjoy your time on the island / be sad you have to leave.

This airport is super small. Doesn't have many amenities. But because there aren't very many flights the flights are boarded quickly and on time which was so nice! It was very clean and so were the restrooms!

If this place would have clear like Honolulu that would be awesome. TSA lines can be super slow especially where there are a lot of main land flights. So make sure you plan extra time. The airport is small and has three bars and restaurants serving about the same food. The Starbucks is solid and fast and there is even a couple small shops.

Nice airport everything outside except the lounge where you wait for your plane. When checking in it's kind of slow You need to check your bag through agriculture first then check it in if your going to check your bag. If it's a carry on the you just carry on.... Everyone here is super friendly..

Lihue is a very dated airport. Try to find an electric outlet and you will not. The good news is that the airport security is relatively quick. There are few amenities and very limited dining options. Rental cars are not on site you need to take a shuttle.

Its small and outdated but i also felt that things you need for a seamless arrival or departure they have all of it. We landed late at night and got our luggage within ten minutes and a cab within 5 . The rental car center is just a stone's throw away and they also have shuttles to and from . The staff who was checking my luggage in was super helpful and friendly . Lines moved fast and security was done within ten minutes. The facilities were clean and well-stocked. They did have a technical issue with TSA which caused a delay for some passengers but I personally didn't encounter it. The boarding gates are not big but so isn't the inter-island crowd .. We did not find a place to sit while we waited for our flight to board and it did feel cramped but since the time period was so short ,it didn't really bother us .

This airport is small compared to others, but the people were so nice as soon as we arrived. The luggage was so fast returned to us. The restrooms are very close to the arrival exit. If you are in a hurry, this is very convenient. The rental car is outside by the corner across the street. All close. I love the experience. Yes, visit this airport if you have the opportunity.

This airport is quite small and the layout is confusing. First, you go through agriculture with your bags that you are checking in, then you get your tickets, but no one directs you to drop off your luggage. After waiting in line for TSA, I was told, "Oh, you can't take that bag." Where's the sign for that? The staff handling the luggage just told me to leave my bags there without any explanation. There was an overwhelming amount of luggage, and I worried about them misplacing mine. The employees seemed more interested in chatting than working quickly to get the bags. Also, the airport is very hot and humid. Overall, my experience coming to Kauai was great despite a negative experience at this airport. PS. Starbucks is expensive ! 4 drinks cost 32$

This is a very small and easily navigable airport, however the checked bag process is confusing and convoluted. First you use the kiosk for the bag, then you show ID to the clerk, then you walk it 50 feet over to the checked bag drop off. If you have a flight back home from this airport and have a checked bag, get here 30 minutes earlier than you plan because the lines get LONG. After we got through the checked bag process, we entered our TSA pre check line which went by pretty fast. It was a little annoying because they let passengers who "accidentally" waited in the pre-check line who weren't actually pre-check cut in line. What's the point of paying and going through the process for pre-check if they let people like this through? My husband and I were a little annoyed. Other than that, this airport is quick and efficient. All the staff here are friendly and helpful. I wish all airports were this efficient.

Small town island airport. Expect traffic when picking up at the two lanes for baggage claim. TSA has max 4 screeners but lately only 3 open. There's a small restaurant, Starbucks, newspaper store and minimart in the main lobby. Not enough restrooms or water refill stations.

Loved the views! Everyone on the plane and staff members were so friendly. Made my experience enjoyable.

Love the Aloha here from the agriculture security is very friendly and helpful. The ladies at the Hawaiian Airlines desk very professional and helpful. TSA was moving fast and efficiently this morning very little wait time!

Close up shop fast. 31 minutes on hold and then disconnected to change (1) mileage ticket. This is indirectly why Hawaiian was forced to sell out. They suck.

We were excited to land on the beautiful island of Kauai after a long day of travel and for our week-long adventure. It did take a while for our checked luggage to come out. Otherwise, the airport is easily accessible and all the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful.

The last couple of times I flew from here, I have had terrible experiences. In June 2022, the desk for passengers to check in was closed, and a very long line had formed. I was heavily pregnant. I did not have a good time waiting for the desk to open and the line to move. In April 2024, staff at the airport somehow deleted our daughter's boarding pass. They couldn't fix it themselves. They had to call Delta. We were at the check-in desk for an hour with a screaming toddler while they tried to fix it. And the desk workers were being incredibly rude and snarky to each other while they tried to fix the issue. It made me super uncomfortable. In the end, we barely made the flight, but the airport's issues almost caused us to miss it. The whole incident showed a certain level of unprofessionalism and maybe even incompetence.

Lihue International is a small airport which makes it easy to navigate. It does not have clear, but does have a TSA Precheck line which does help. I didn't see all of the eateries and stores they have, but I didn't notice a Tiki Bar right after passing through security. Definitely lacks some seating for how busy it can get.

Small airport. It's a small island I guess that makes sense. Open air everywhere like Kona. Bathrooms were clean. Some rental car companies were on site, didn't need a shuttle so that would be convenient. The luggage came out at a decent time. Eatery choices were very limited, but they did have some so you wouldn't starve at least. There are some good places to eat around the airport, one being Mark's plate lunch. Good place to stop before or after your flight! Have fun on Kauai!

Pretty laid back. Friendly enough, but most definitely "on island time". If you fly Alaska, don't get there too early because the staff is busy and they don't even open until 2 1/2 hours before your flight. Rental car companies all get bad reviews. Bus drivers to rental car are a lil cranky. Mix all of this in with very weary travelers and it can get a bit dicey!

Easy to navigate but VERY rundown. Be sure to put your bags you plan to check through the agricultural scan before you go to the airline to check bags. They put a blue sticker on the bag. There's lots of scanning here. Once you go through security, there's another scan when you get to your gate. Put as much in your checked bags as you can. We had some gifts in our carry one including Hawaiian salt and we got pulled aside for additional inspection. The TSA agent was nice and all was good but it did take quite a while because there were people ahead of us needing a more thorough search. Arrive with plenty of time because people are on island time. We got here 2.5 hours before our departure. Dropped off our rental (which is onsite), multiple inspections and the flag for the salt we ended up with 40 minutes at gate before boarding. There are a few places for snacks past security, but not much. We picked up food before getting to the airport to be safe. No outlets at our gate either.

Quaint little airport that we had a layover while waiting to connect to Honolulu airport. We had about 2 hours to wait but it didn't feel that long at all. There's a couple of bars, cafe, gift shops and restaurants to choose from while waiting for your connecting flight. They even have a massaging area where you can relax while waiting for your next flight.

BE WARNED: There are only 10 people who do Uber/Lyft driving on the entire island of Kaua'i and they stop driving at 10 PM. When our plane had an issue and 8 people had to be rebooked on new flights, it was already after 11 PM on a Saturday night. There were no taxi lines as no flights were coming in or out of the airport and after waiting an hour for a rideshare that nobody ever picked up, the rental car shuttles weren't running either. We almost got stranded in the airport because of the lack of transportation available at night because even the taxi services shut down. If it wasn't for one random airport employee who called her friends and asked if they could help out, we all would have had to sleep in the open air airport. Literally the airport shutdown before midnight where there are no employees there. According to our driver, this happens almost every day with airlines overbooking or having an issue with their planes. This airport needs to have a shuttle to any hotel or at least a 24 hour taxi service number posted. We called around to taxi services on Google and kept getting voicemail boxes. The airport is small and has 3 restaurants that share a single kitchen. Not much to do here so don't come too early.

10/22/22 The question before I started the review, "Do you recommend this business?" I mean, what choice do I have, it's the only airport in Kaua'i (and just a few air strips if you own your own plane). If you've ever been to Long Beach airport, this is as close as a comparison. It's small but quite efficient. Perhaps we've gotten very lucky over the years but there's usually a quick turnaround time. If I'm comparing it to LAX, for a tiny airport, it's very efficient. Many years ago, the first time we landed in Kaua'i, I will never forget that feeling/experience--as soon as we came out and walked past the sliding doors....that warm humid air hit me like....well Aloha! Humidity!! LOL. Staff are friendly, easy smiles all around. Today, we got lucky again. We're such fortunate sons of b!+€#3$ hahaha. My husband was dreading the 3 hr lay over in Honolulu because we prefer direct flights. There weren't any when we first booked it months ago. He received a phone call from Hawaiian Airlines offering a direct flight. It's a much later flight & then I dreaded having to wait more but hubby was extra nice & booked us entry into the Premier Club where it's cooler with bigger seats & snacks w/ beverages. There are a few shops & eateries in this airport, there's even a bar (Stinger Ray's). In all the years we've come here, I've never encountered a live band inside the airport, singing Hawaiian themed songs. There are massage chairs along the entrance/exit, I think you pay with a credit card. A newsstand, a souvenir shop, and of course, a Starbucks is conveniently located as soon as you enter/exit. Usually the Agriculture scanning booths are open/operating before you get to your gate but they weren't today until a little bit later. All I could think of was the atemoya I left at the condo-I could've smuggled it in. LoL. Okay, no, I know the reason we're specifically forbidden not to do so. Wishful thinking. It's my first check-into Yelp here but it could've easily been more than 25 times or so. Until next time....

Very sleepy for a Monday compared to other airports. First time here and already loving it! More humid than expected. So if you are traveling in December be prepared! Everything is clean and up to par.

Lihue Airport (LIH) on Kauai was the airport I flew in through and out through when conducting geology field work on the island in 2018. Finding my way around the airport was straightforward with the signage and television screens clearly communicating where different parts of the airport were located and more specific flight information. The car rental area was a close walk from the main airport, which was great when picking up and dropping off the rental car. There were a few food places with prices that were not too exorbitant. Seating in the waiting areas was comfortable. Flight check in and security moved quickly. All workers I interacted with were professional in their conduct.

I love the island but the airport for me was frustrating - I hope the airport gets more training on how to help people that have a lot of medical devices - I have GBM so I use the Optune head gear that is attached and getting through the ticketing and security with some help and dignity would have great but I mostly got unpleasant attitude who look to be sick of their jobs...2 people in TSA were nice but by then I was upset at the airport.

Layover on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii... I arrived at the Honolulu Airport (now known as the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) extra early and got moved up to an earlier flight to Kauai! Yay for Hawaiian Airlines! I got bonus time to spend on The Garden Isle! Lihue Airport is the island's main airport. Some areas have air conditioning and some don't. For example, the baggage claim is open air. The gates have air conditioning. The restroom SHOULD have air conditioning, but it didn't. Yuk! It felt like a sauna. Uhg! Tip: make sure you use the restroom before you go to the gate... Because my gate did not have a restroom and I had to go back out and go through Agricultural Inspection again. Yes... If you are going to the mainland, inspection will check your carry-ons for fruits and vegetables. When I returned to Lihue Airport to catch my flight to Los Angeles, the TSA lines were there, but not long like Maui Airport... Oh - There are interesting pictures lining the walls... Check 'em out! ...and if you rent a car, the rental companies are just a walk across the road. If you catch an Uber, go to the end of the building, past the TSA line for Hawaiian Airlines. Note: Remember that the TSA line for Hawaiian Airlines is at the FAR end of the terminal. I got dropped off in the middle and had to drag my carry-ons in the September humidity... Haha! Anyway, Lihue Airport is alright. It sure beats Kona Airport (now known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport) where it's open air and you have to walk on the runway and up the portable stairs to get to the plane! It's a trip!

The open air space is great. The gates are AC controlled but most likely only cleaned once a week if that. Kauai is not a cheap trip to the local beach money was spent on flights and this airport should reflect that. Bathrooms need to be tended to regularly just not at the start of a day.

When flying to the island of Kauai, this is the airport you fly in to. Very small airport, with open air all around, so if it's hot, you're gonna feel that heat somewhat. Once you pass through security, you're in the main part of the airport. I saw a Starbucks, a Cafe, snack shop, souvenir shop, and restaurant. Only one of each though. Strolling through this airport, since I got here early and had time on my hands, I walked from one end to the other pretty quickly. Lots of pictures and some history of the island were on the walls, interesting reads if you have the time, much better than just staring at your phone. You definitely get the Hawaiian Island feel here as soon as you arrive, baggage claim was quick and easy, and once outside, the street is right there!! Very nice airport!!