Lihue Airport (LIH)

Lihue Airport welcomes visitors to the peaceful and majestic Island of Kauai with its lush tropical setting. Lihue is the primary airport located on the southeast coast of the island, 1.5 miles east of the city of Lihue. Although the airport is not a hub for airline carriers it serves many domestic overseas carriers and interisland carriers as well. One of the unique features of Lihue Airport is that it is open air, a refreshing change when compared with most airports around the globe.

Getting to the airport

Lihue Airport has undergone numerous renovations and expansions for the convenience of travelers even though it has had to bear the brunt of damage from hurricanes. The main terminal, Richard A. Kawakami Terminal, is named after the late speaker of the House of Representatives. Lihue Airport features two runways that are also used by commuter/air taxi and cargo aircraft as well. It also accommodates a helipad. There are three routes that lead to the airport from the island. Vehicular access to the airport is from Ahukini Road. From Wailua, the airport can be accessed from via Kuhio Highway while travelers from Poipu can take the Kamualii Highway which leads to Ahukini Road into the airport.

Parking, ticketing and check-in facilities

For the convenience of passengers, Lihue Airport offers a public parking lot off Mokulele Loop. The area is well equipped with automatic ticket dispensers at the entrance to the parking zones. An attendant will collect your ticket at the exit point. It would be prudent to note the location of your vehicle on the ticket in case you forget where you have parked. Assistance is available at the AMPCO parking office on (808) 245-8716. Lihue Airport is served by Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and go!Mokulele Airlines with connections to Honolulu and Kahului. Delta Airlines and American Airlines operate flights to and from Los Angeles from Lihue while United Airlines offers flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ticketing and check-in facilities for these airlines are available at the Richard A. Kawakami Terminal. The ground level of the terminal leads to the baggage claim and ground transportation area for arriving passengers.

Transportation and shopping

In keeping with the Aloha spirit, there are several Visitor Information booths at Lihue Airport located at the Baggage Claim area and ticket area. The counters are manned by knowledgeable and friendly staff between 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. to address passengers with their travel related issues. Passengers have a variety of transportation options at the airport. Taxis and shuttle services ply between the airport and major locations on the island. The Kaua’I Bus, the County bus service also provides service to the airport. Lihue Airport offers a variety of shopping and dining options in the Main Lobby area. This includes a café with a full service bar, newsstand, coffee shop, flower shop, and boutique.