Do I Need a Passport to Visit Hawai‘i? Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

If you have never been to Hawai’i, it is likely to be on your bucket list of the top ten places you want to visit. And, if you have been here, it is probable that you plan to return as soon as you can. Indeed, Hawai’i is one of those special places in the world that visitors return to time and time again.

Located nearly 3,000 miles from the west coast of the U.S., Hawai’i attained statehood in 1959. From that point forward the Aloha State has been treated the same as California, Florida, New York, or any other U.S. state. But obviously, it is a long way from the mainland and consists of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Given its remote location, many people question if proof of citizenship documentation is required to visit Hawai’i.

For U.S. citizens arriving from the mainland, Alaska, or American territories.

A U.S. passport or visa is not required for U.S. citizens traveling to Hawai’i from any of the other 49 states, or the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa (Pago Pago), the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This holds true only if the originating flight from another U.S. state or territory is direct to Honolulu or another Hawaiian island without any en route stops in another country.

For permanent residents of the U.S. who are traveling to Hawai’i from the mainland, Alaska, or American territories.

The same rules as above apply to permanent residents of the U.S., including holders of unexpired green cards (officially Form I-551), or persons with a Permanent Resident Card. Travelers to Hawai’i are treated no differently than a permanent resident who is driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas or New York to Philadelphia. All travel is considered to be within the United States or its territories.

What documentation do I need for domestic travel to Hawai’i?

Flying to Hawai’i from another U.S. state or territory is considered a domestic flight, so you will need valid government issued photo identification to board your flights. This can be a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued personal identification card often provided to non-drivers, Global Entry ID, your passport, U.S. Department of Defense identification card, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe identification card, or one of several others specified on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website.

I’m traveling with my dependent children. Do they also need government issued ID to fly to Hawai’i?

Now that’s a great question! And the good news is that children under 18 do not have to show a government form of ID if they are traveling with an adult who has their required personal identification. However, it is always a good idea to have some form of ID for everyone in your travel party just in case an emergency arises. A school ID card, copy of a birth certificate, or medical insurance card will suffice.

Can I pre-clear U.S. Customs & Immigration in Canada before my flight to Hawai’i?

Indeed, you can. U.S. Customs and Border Control facilities are available in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Canadian travelers and permanent residents can fly non-stop to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island as if they are taking a domestic flight. Since these are international flights between Canada and the United States, a valid passport is required to be presented at the pre-clearance checkpoint in Canada.

To further expedite your travels, an enhanced Mobile Passport Control program is being installed at the above airports where travelers originating in Canada can submit their passport and travel itinerary details in advance via an application that is downloaded to their mobile phone. Traveler details are then saved for future use on any U.S./Canada transborder flights.

The days of having to first fly to Honolulu from Canada to enter the U.S. are in the past. Additionally, there is no longer the necessity of switching terminals at Honolulu to take another short flight to the neighbor islands.

Air service to Hawai’i from multiple Canadian cities is offered by Air Canada and WestJet.

Non-U.S. residents and returning U. S. citizens DO need a passport to travel to Hawai’i.

There are no direct flights to Hawai’i from Mexico or Europe, but there is no shortage of service between Asia and the South Pacific to the Aloha State. A valid passport is a necessity for flights to Honolulu, the entry point for all international flights with the exception of those from Canada. The following foreign flag carriers currently offer flights:

Air New Zealand from Auckland

All Nippon Airways (ANA) from Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka

Asiana Airlines from Seoul

Fiji Airlines from Fiji

Japan Airlines (JAL) from Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka

Jetstar from Melbourne and Sydney

Korean Air from Seoul

Philippine Airlines from Manila

Qantas from Sydney

ZIPAIR from Tokyo

What is this REAL ID I keep hearing about?

With the deadline requiring a REAL ID or other accepted form of identification in order to be cleared by TSA fast approaching on May 7, 2025, pay particular attention to this vital information.

Travelers 18 and older, after this date, must possess a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or personal state identification card from their home state, or another form of acceptable identification such as a Global Entry card, or passport.

A REAL ID compliant card can be obtained at your local DMV office and will resemble a standard driver’s license with an American flag at the top. The REAL ID or similar documentation will be required to board all U.S. domestic flights. International travel will still require a passport.

From May 7, 2025 – May 4, 2027, travelers presenting themselves at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID will be issued a warning that they must obtain the new identification as soon as possible. From the full implementation date, May 4, 2027, and beyond, travelers will be denied entrance to the boarding gates by TSA.

Since flights to Hawai’i from the U.S. mainland, Alaska, and territories are considered domestic flights, a REAL ID will be needed by all U.S. citizens and permanent residents in order to travel by air.