Kauai Lihue Airport (LIH) Information

(Kauai, Hawaii - HI, USA)

Lihue Airport is the principal air facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Located 2 miles / 3 km east of Lihue town, along the island's south-east coast, the airport handles a decent range of inter-island flights, as well as longer flights to mainland America. Around 2.5 million passengers fly to the airport every year, coming to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii's Garden Island.

A handful of major US carriers provide regular services to Kauai, including American Airlines, United, US Airways, Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. travelers will find frequent flights to Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle with these carriers, while Vancouver is connected by WestJet. Inter-island flights to Honolulu and Kahului are managed by Island Air and go!Mokulele.

The terminal is largely open-air, with helpful tourist information desks situated next to Baggage Claim and a variety of places to eat, grab a snack, or shop for gifts and travel sundries. Taxis and shuttle buses are the main forms of transport, although public Kauai Bus route 70 runs direct from the airport to downtown Lihue. Car hire is also available in Arrivals for independent-minded travelers looking to explore the attractions of Kauai.

Lihue Airport (LIH)

Address: 3901 Mokulele Loop, Lihue, Hawaii (HI), 96766, USA
Tel: +1 808 274 3800
Located close to Hanamaulu and the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, Lihue Airport offers unparalleled access to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, a favourite among nature lovers and those seeking tranquility. A number of popular golf courses are just a short distance away, such as those of Kauai Lagoons, Puakea and Wailua, while both the Kalepa Mountain Forest Reserve and the Wailua River State Park are to the northwest.

Frequent inter-island flights to Honolulu are offered, along with a handful of routes to the American mainland. If your resort doesn't offer a free shuttle pick up, hire a taxi or rent car.

Facilities:

• ATMs are located at the terminal exit
• HMS Host is the airport's sole café, serving a range of breakfast items, sandwiches and drinks
• A newsstand, a flower shop and a Travel Traders gift shop cover last-minute shopping needs
• A Starbucks coffee shop is on hand
• Seven big-name car rental firms are located at the airport including Alamo, Dollar and Avis
• Kauai visitor information kiosks are located outside of Baggage Claim and in the ticketing area
• Ample parking is available next to the terminal, just off the Mokulele Loop

Taxis

Right outside of Baggage Claim, along the curbside, is a taxi rank and kiosks to phone for taxi pick up, if no cabs are around. Most taxi companies use meters for fares, while others have fixed rates for popular destinations, such as Kapaa to the north, and Koloa, Kalaheo and Waimea to the southwest. Your driver should be able to give you an approximate estimate of the fare before you set off.

Cars

Most of America's major car hire firms have offices at Lihue Airport, so there is always a good selection of vehicle makes and models to choose from. The desks of all seven of the car hire companies are found right across the street from Baggage Claim.

Options comprise Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Due to the high taxi fares and lack of extensive public transport, a rental car is the best way to get around the amazing island of Kauai. Of note, the journey from the airport to Lihue takes just ten minutes, via Ahukini Road / State Highway 670.

Book your Hawaii - Kauai Island Car Rental here.

Buses

Kauai Bus is the public bus system on the island of Kauai. Routes cover most of the island, from Kekaha to Hanalei. Two routes stop at the airport, dropping off and picking up passengers directly in front of the terminal, alongside the dividing strip of land.