Hawaiian Airlines Breaks Ground on Honolulu Premium Lounge

Hawaiian Airlines said this month it has started construction on a new premium lounge at Honolulu's airport, holding a traditional Hawaiian blessing to mark the start of the build. The nearly 13,000-square-foot space will sit at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and is scheduled to open in the first half of 2028, according to the airline.

The Honolulu project lands shortly after Alaska Airlines' own new lounge complex in Seattle, a nearly 41,000-square-foot space slated to open in late 2027. Together the two projects represent a push by parent company Alaska Air Group to upgrade the preflight experience at its two international hubs under what it calls its Alaska Accelerate strategy, aimed at building a more global and premium airline group.

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$600 million Hawaii investment plan backs the project

The Honolulu lounge is one piece of a larger commitment the company calls the Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan, which Alaska Air Group says totals more than $600 million directed at improving travel to, from and within the islands. That plan covers modernizing airport facilities, upgrading technology and retrofitting the interiors of Hawaiian Airlines aircraft, the company said.

Alisa Onishi, managing director of Hawaii marketing for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, said the new space is meant to reflect the islands themselves. "Inside our new Hawaiian Airlines Lounge in Honolulu, guests will experience our warm hoʻokipa in an elegant, relaxing space that celebrates Hawaiʻi's culture and natural beauty," Onishi said. "From the design and artwork to the food, amenities and service, every detail will evoke the islands and create a memorable start to the journey."

When it opens, the lounge will accommodate approximately 200 guests at a time, according to the airline. It will join Hawaiian's existing Honolulu lounge footprint, which currently consists of the Plumeria Lounge and six Premier Clubs spread across the islands, and will complement the carrier's recently launched premium Leihōkū cabin experience.

Local coffee, cocktails and island artwork planned for the space

Hawaiian Airlines outlined several features planned for the new lounge:

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• Locally inspired food and beverage offerings
• A signature local coffee program
• A full-service bar with handcrafted cocktails
• Private workspaces alongside shared gathering areas
• Artwork and installations from Hawaiian artists

The airline said the project draws on a mix of local and global design expertise. Architects Hawaii is serving as architect of record, contributing local knowledge of the islands; Gensler is handling hospitality design; and Nordic PCL Construction is leading construction on the ground. Hawaiian Airlines said the team is aiming for a space that feels distinctly tied to Hawaiian culture and hospitality rather than a generic airport lounge.

With construction now underway in Honolulu and Alaska's Seattle complex progressing toward its late-2027 opening, both hubs are on track for new premium lounge space within roughly a year of each other. Further design and amenity details for both projects are expected as the openings approach.