The HawaiianMiles Letdown: What Every Local Flyer Needs to Know.

The HawaiianMiles Letdown: What Every Local Flyer Needs to Know.

If you’ve been saving up your HawaiianMiles, you might want to take a closer look before planning that next trip to the mainland or beyond.

In a quiet but significant change, Hawaiian Airlines has dramatically increased the number of miles required for award flights — with some First Class redemptions now costing up to 250,000 miles roundtrip. Even economy award flights have seen sharp increases, with little to no notice given to members.

For travelers from Hawaii who rely on HawaiianMiles as their go-to option, this is frustrating and costly.

What Changed with HawaiianMiles?

Hawaiian Airlines recently adjusted its award pricing behind the scenes. While they previously operated under a more predictable chart or saver-level pricing, the new structure is completely dynamic — meaning prices fluctuate wildly based on demand, season, and route.

What used to be a 40,000–60,000-mile roundtrip to the mainland in economy can now spike to 100,000+ miles. First Class awards that used to hover around 80,000–100,000 miles are now topping 250,000 miles roundtrip in some cases.

There was no official announcement or clear communication to loyalty members. Just stealthy increases that leave many travelers feeling blindsided.

✈️ Here’s an interesting trend: As HawaiianMiles prices creep higher, many Hawaii travelers are finding that Hawaiian Airlines flights are actually cheaper when booked with Alaska Airlines miles. It almost feels like Hawaiian is nudging people toward Alaska’s program, especially since they’re merging. If you're thinking of converting your HawaiianMiles to AlaskaMiles in the future, just be aware: these changes could be strategic.

Why This Matters for Hawaii-Based Travelers

As locals, we already face a unique challenge: we have to fly just to get anywhere outside our island home. Many of us grew up trusting HawaiianMiles as the best option — but that loyalty is now being tested.

With unpredictable pricing and poor value on redemptions, relying solely on HawaiianMiles may no longer be the smartest strategy for those of us looking to stretch our points.

A Better Way to Fly Free from Hawaii

At Hawaii Reward Travel, we teach a different path — one that’s not tied to just one airline or rewards program. The key is using flexible credit card points that can transfer to multiple airline partners, giving you way more control and better value.

Cards that earn points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Capital One Miles allow you to transfer to airlines like United, Alaska, Singapore, Air Canada, and even ANA — which can get you roundtrip flights to the mainland or Japan for a fraction of the points Hawaiian is now charging.

We’ve helped Hawaii-based families book:

• Roundtrip flights to Vegas for 30,000 points

• Business Class to Japan for under 75,000 points

What You Can Do Right Now

✅ Don’t transfer more points into HawaiianMiles without checking redemption rates first.

✅ Think about converting your Hawaiian Miles to Alaska Miles at a 1:1 ratio, they are worth more.

✅ Start earning flexible points that give you more options and better redemptions.

✅ Reach out to us if you want help crafting a personalized strategy. Learn more here

You deserve to travel farther, better, and for less, even from Hawaii. Don't let one airline limit your dreams.