Don’t Miss Your Flight Home: This Is How Early You Need to Be at Maui’s Kahului Airport in 2025

Last Updated on January 20, 2025

Your Maui vacation is winding down, and you’re probably feeling the bittersweet mix of relaxation and anticipation for your return home. But before you can sink into your own bed, there’s the hurdle of navigating Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) to get there. 

Maui’s main airport has seen a surge in travelers, making it crucial to arrive early to avoid missing your flight. This guide will help you determine the optimal arrival time, factoring in potential delays and offering insider tips for a smooth departure.

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About Maui’s OGG airport

The island’s main airport is relatively small compared to airports for other major U.S. cities. With just 16 departure gates in the main terminal (and two in the commuter terminal), the risk of losing your way is low.

Still, Kahului Airport hosts plenty of passengers. According to the Hawaii Department of Transportation, more than six million passengers traveled through the airport terminals in 2021, making it the state’s second busiest airport in Hawaii (behind Oahu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport). 

How early should I get to the Maui airport?

As someone who’s flown out of Maui’s Kahului Airport several times per year, it’s likely that you’ll pass through security quickly and settle at your departure gate with lots of time to wait. But every so often, a surge of travelers causes long security lines that snake all the way to the curb. 

Those are the times you’ll feel thankful you arrived at the airport early.

The bottom line? Wait times at OGG airport can spike and dip suddenly, without warning. Get to the airport early to be safe — or risk getting stranded.

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Our recent experience: In early June 2022, we arrived at the OGG airport at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning. We had an 8:00 a.m. flight with Alaska Airlines to Seattle. After going through the agricultural inspection point and dropping off our luggage with the airline (the counter didn’t open until 6:00 a.m.), it took less than 5 minutes for us to pass through security screening using the TSA PreCheck line. The standard security line didn’t appear to have a long wait that morning, either.

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These are the official recommended advance arrival times from some of the airlines that fly into Kahului Airport:  

• Hawaiian Airlines recommends arriving at the check-in lobby at least 2 hours and 30 minutes prior to your flight’s departure. 
• Alaska Airlines generally recommends arriving 1.5 hours to 2 hours prior to departure, the latter if you’re checking luggage or need assistance at the counter.
  
  For flights departing between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Alaska Airlines recommends arriving 3 hours prior to your flight if you’re checking luggage. Plan to arrive 2 hours prior to your fight if you’re carrying on your bags.
  
• Air Canada recommends arriving at the airport 2 hours prior to departure.
• American Airlines recommends arriving at the airport 2 hours prior to departure if flying within the U.S. and 3 hours prior to departure if flying internationally.
• Hawaii Department of Transportation recommends 3 hours for overseas flights, 2 hours for interisland flights.

Other factors to consider:

• Checking Luggage: Add an extra 30 minutes to 1 hour if you’re checking luggage, especially if flying to the U.S. mainland, Alaska, or Guam due to agricultural inspections. 
• Rental Car Return: If returning a rental car, allow an additional 15 to 30 minutes for drop-off and tram travel to the terminal.
• TSA PreCheck and/or Clear: If you have expedited screening through TSA PreCheck or Clear, you might save time since the PreCheck line is often shorter, and Clear gets you to the front of the line. Still, allow for potential delays, especially during peak travel hours.
• Peak Travel Times: Weekends and holidays tend to be busier, so consider arriving even earlier during these periods.  

Step-by-Step Guide to Flying Out of OGG

Don’t risk missing your flight home. Know what steps to take to make it to your gate on time for a smooth journey home.

1. Check into your flight up to 24 hours prior to your flight’s departure. Ideally, check in online through the airline’s website or mobile app. The alternative is to check in at the counter when you reach the terminal.
2. Return your rental car and take the tram to the main terminal. The path from the airport rental car building and the main terminal is walkable, if you prefer not to wait for the tram. 
3. Clear agricultural inspection prior to checking luggage. This step is for checked luggage only. Carry-on bags will be screened after passing through security. Agricultural screening stations are set up in the terminal, which you will pass before reaching your gate. 
   
   Place checked luggage on the conveyer belt at agricultural inspection. Be sure to declare any agricultural items to the inspection agent. The inspection agent will tag your bag once cleared. (Only required if traveling to the U.S. mainland, Alaska, and Guam.)
4. Drop off checked luggage bags at your airline’s customer service counter. If your airline has a dedicated baggage drop line, you could save time by printing your tags at an airline kiosk.
5. Pass through the security screening checkpoint. If your boarding pass has a TSA Precheck designation, use the Precheck line.
6. Clear agricultural screening (if required). If flying domestically to a destination outside of Hawaii, undergo the mandatory  agricultural screening before proceeding to your gate.
7. Relax and recharge. Grab a snack, drink, or souvenirs before heading to your gate.

Insider tips for a stress-free departure from Maui’s OGG airport

• TSA PreCheck and/or Clear. U.S.-based travelers should consider signing up for one or both of these expedited screening tools before your trip. The TSA Precheck line is usually shorter and faster than the standard screening line. And you can take advantage of the Precheck benefits at most U.S. airports, not just at Kahului. 
• Online check-in. Check into your flight before you get to the airport. You’ll be able to print your boarding pass or keep an electronic copy on your mobile device, saving time at the terminal.
• Self-service baggage kiosks. Long lines at the customer service counter? Use the self-serve baggage tag kiosk to tag your own luggage and drop off your bags at your airline’s dedicated drop-off line (which usually moves more quickly). 
• Declare agricultural items. Flying home (to the U.S. mainland, Alaska, or Guam) with pineapples or coconuts? Declare any restricted items at the agricultural inspection to avoid penalties of $100 to $1,000.
• Travel during off-peak hours. If possible avoid flying home on weekends or holidays. We’ve found that the lines are longer on weekend days when compared to weekdays.

Transportation options to and from OGG

• Airport Shuttles: SpeediShuttle operates from the Kahului Airport to destinations around the island, 
• Taxis: Taxis are readily available outside the baggage claim area.
• Rideshares: Uber and Lyft operate on Maui, providing another convenient option.
• Public Transportation: Maui County offers a public bus system, although it’s typically not the most efficient option for travelers with luggage. Public transportation also doesn’t reach all areas of the island.
• Car Rentals: Renting a car is the most efficient way to explore the island, and the airport’s nearby rental car building houses several companies to choose from. 

Search multiple OGG car rental agencies with a few clicks (affiliate link).

Flying out of OGG: Frequently asked questions

What time does the Maui Kahului (OGG) airport open? 

Security screening opens at 5:00 a.m. The airport visitor desk opens at 7:30 a.m. Starbucks Coffee, the eatery that opens earliest, opens at 5:30 a.m.

Also, each airline has its own hours for their customer service counters. For a recent 8:00 a.m. flight, we arrived at the airport at 5:30 a.m. However, the Alaska Airlines service counter didn’t open until 6:00 a.m. for us to drop off our checked luggage.

Does Maui Kahului (OGG) airport have a TSA PreCheck® screening line? 

Yes, OGG airport has a separate screening line for TSA PreCheck passengers. To locate the screening line, follow signage for “All Gates” at the airport departure terminal. Look for the TSA PreCheck flag/signage indicating which security screening line is for PreCheck passengers. Be prepared to show your boarding pass to the security agent stationed at the PreCheck line’s entrance.

To gain entry to the TSA PreCheck line for expedited screening, your boarding pass MUST bear the TSA PreCheck designation. When you book your flight, be sure to provide the airline with your member number. If you don’t have the TSA PreCheck designation on your boarding pass, you will have to go through the standard security screening line.

Can I bring pineapples on the plane home from Maui? 

Yes, you can bring pineapples home. Be sure to declare your items when passing through agricultural screening.

Can I bring my lei on the plane home to the continental U.S. from Maui? 

In some cases, yes. You can bring your lei home if the materials aren’t restricted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Refer to this brochure for guidelines. 

Are there storage lockers at the Maui Kahului (OGG) airport? 

No. For security reasons, there are no luggage storage lockers at the Kahului airport.

However, there are private companies near the Kahului OGG airport that offer luggage storage for travelers — such as Bounce.