US Trends

do you need a passport to go to hawaii

You do not need a passport to go to Hawaii if you are a U.S. citizen flying from another place in the United States; it’s treated just like any other domestic trip within the country.

Basic rule

  • U.S. citizens traveling from the mainland U.S. (or another U.S. state/territory) to Hawaii do not need a passport; a valid government‑issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) is enough for airport security.
  • International visitors (non‑U.S. citizens) do need a valid passport to enter the United States, including Hawaii, and may also need a visa or ESTA depending on nationality.
  • U.S. lawful permanent residents can typically use their permanent resident card plus other ID instead of a passport for direct travel from the mainland to Hawaii.

Real ID and timing (important for 2025+)

  • Starting May 7, 2025, adult travelers flying domestically (including to Hawaii) must have a Real ID–compliant license/ID or another acceptable ID (like a passport) to board U.S. domestic flights.
  • You can usually tell a Real ID license by the small star symbol on the card; if your license is not Real ID–compliant, you can still use a valid U.S. passport as your ID at TSA even though the flight is domestic.

When a passport is needed for Hawaii

  • If you start your trip outside the U.S. and enter the country through Hawaii (for example, Tokyo → Honolulu), you must meet normal U.S. entry rules, including a valid passport and any required visa/ESTA.
  • If you travel to Hawaii on a cruise that stops in foreign ports (like Mexico or Canada), the cruise line will usually require a passport for re‑entry to the U.S.
  • Non‑U.S. citizen children generally need their own passports for international travel to Hawaii; U.S. citizen kids can typically use a birth certificate or passport for domestic flights, depending on airline policies.

Quick example

Imagine you live in California and book a nonstop flight Los Angeles → Honolulu:

  • If you are a U.S. citizen with a Real ID driver’s license, you just bring that; no passport is required.
  • If you are a tourist from the UK flying London → Los Angeles → Honolulu, you need your valid passport and, if applicable, visa or ESTA for entry into the U.S., even though one leg is “domestic.”

Meta description (SEO):
Wondering “do you need a passport to go to Hawaii”? For U.S. citizens flying from within the United States, Hawaii is a domestic trip, so no passport is required—just a valid Real ID or other approved ID. International visitors, however, must have a passport and may need a visa or ESTA.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.