Lihue (LIH) to Honolulu (HNL): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly LIH to HNL matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 96% on-time in November 2024 to just 73% in March 2026. Across the full period the route averages 87% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 87%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 7 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 21
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 40m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 102 mi
Best airline from LIH to HNL
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlinesmost reliable | 96% | 3 min | 0.4% | 3,883 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 87% | 7 min | 1.2% | 9,971 |
| Alaska Airlines | 75% | 14 min | 3.0% | 2,452 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from LIH to HNL
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (96% on-time); avoid 1 p.m. departures (78%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 88% | 6 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 90% | 5 min |
| Wednesday | 90% | 5 min |
| Thursday | 86% | 8 min |
| Friday | 83% | 10 min |
| Saturday | 86% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 88% | 7 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft63%
- Airline operations26%
- National airspace system5%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from LIH to HNL delayed?
- 13% of LIH–HNL flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 7 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from LIH to HNL?
- Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 96%, based on 3,883 flights. 3 airlines flew LIH–HNL frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from LIH to HNL?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (96% on-time), while departures around 1 p.m. have the worst (78%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from LIH to HNL?
- The scheduled LIH–HNL flight time averages 40m over 102 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are LIH to HNL flights cancelled?
- 1.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from LIH to HNL?
- March 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 73% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 16,306 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.