Is Huakaʻi by Hawaiian or Southwest ʻOhana Rewards better for interisland flights?

Southwest ʻOhana Rewards is usually better for bags and fast free flights, with two free checked bags and a free one-way after four flights. Huakaʻi by Hawaiian is better for schedule and reach, with about 150 daily flights and points that also work on Alaska and oneworld.

How many points is a free interisland flight?

A free one-way interisland award starts at 4,000 points with Southwest ʻOhana Rewards and 4,500 points with Huakaʻi by Hawaiian through Atmos Rewards.

How many interisland flights do you need to earn a free one?

About four with Southwest, since you earn a guaranteed 1,000 points per one-way against a 4,000-point award. With Huakaʻi it takes roughly nine flights today at 500 points each, or about six once the 2026 interisland bonus is live.

Do both programs give free checked bags interisland?

Yes. Southwest ʻOhana Rewards gives Hawaiʻi residents two free checked bags on interisland flights, and Huakaʻi by Hawaiian gives one free checked bag on Neighbor Island flights. Both include sports equipment within size and weight limits.

Can you join both Huakaʻi and Southwest ʻOhana Rewards?

Yes. Both are free, resident-only programs, and there is no rule against enrolling in both. Many locals join both and use whichever fits each trip.

Which Hawaiian islands do these programs fly to?

Both fly jets to Honolulu, Kahului, Līhuʻe, Kona, and Hilo. Neither serves Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi, which are served by Mokulele Airlines instead.

Free Newsletter · From Honolulu

Insider Hawaiʻi Travel Tips, Straight to Your Inbox

Hand-picked deals, points & miles strategy, and Hawaiʻi-specific tips you won't find anywhere else — free, written from Honolulu by Scottie.

Insider Hawaiʻi Travel Tips, Straight to Your Inbox

Ready to Turn Your Credit Cards Into Free Travel?

HAWAII REWARD TRAVEL