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November 26, 2019
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December 2, 2019Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on December 16, 2020
Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye Airport (HNL/PHNL – Hickam Air Base in the northwest of this field runs with HIK/PHIK to be exact) is the gateway to the Hawaiian islands and especially handles a lot of Asian and Australian services so rather the intercontinental hub for Hawaii. Having said that it is therefore not the only destination on the island group for US-flights. But therefore HNL has also many services within the island group to Lihue, Big Island, Maui or other ones: passenger and cargo services.
Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye Airport‘s former name was Honolulu Intl Airport, but was always located 5km west of Oahu‘s capital‘s city centre where it was opened in 1927. This airport is very important in many ways: Cargo, Military and Passenger. Also very interesting and good is the fact that Boeing mostly uses Honolulu as stop and refuel station for their B737s being delivered to Asia. That’s why you will always be able to see some nice and brandnew Boeing aircraft enroute west.m All in all HNL airport handles 20 million passenger per year, 531.000 tons per year and several military trainings in addition to all the military transports, fighters and bombers passing thru the airport.
Sadly, spotting is everything else then easy and the number of good locations is limited because of the geographical location. The southernmost runway 08R/26L is almost completly sourrunded by water and at the western end there is the huge Hickam Air Force Base, which is a part of the airport as they share the runways. The military flights (mainly F-22, KC-135 and C-17) are of course a nice side effect.
Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Martin Rogosz, Niclas Karich and M. Najberg. Last visit: February 2019
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 04R/22L | 2743m x 46m – Asphalt |
| 04L/22R | 2119m x 46m – Asphalt |
| 08R/26L | 3658m x 61m – Asphalt |
| 08L/26R | 3749m x 46m – Asphalt |
| 08W/26W | 1524m – Water |
| 04W/22W | 914m – Water |
| Terminals | |
| The airport has one terminal serving all traffic, which is divided into several parts and arms. | Gates 6-23: all carriers and all various routes Gates 24-61: Hawaiian and daughter carrier(US mainland, islandhoppers and international routes) |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed and recommended. |
| Car/Public Transport | Highly recommended as spots quite far seperated and public transport quite poor. |
| Restrooms | Around the airport only in the hotels/shopping centres. |
| Drinks/Food | Around the airport only in the hotels/shopping centres. |
| Hotels | Different hotels are located around the airport and many more in the city or along the beaches around here. |
| Season | Best during the winter as the weather is more stable and comfortable – in addition the light is nicer. |
| Security | Spotting in the United States is not always tolerated. There have been several reports from fellow spotters that they were checked by police. Especially in the area west of HNL airport, police is very present due to the close military base. Please be also aware, that the police is quite strict in terms of road safety. If you are standing roadside to take photos, police may ask you to leave as you can be considered a distraction for motorists. Some citizens and police officers may react rude to our hobby as they suspect terrorism when photos of airplanes are taken, so we already had reports that inhabitants threated us to call the police if we wouldn‘t leave. Always remain calm and polite and stay in your car when a police officer has stopped you to check on you. Do not leave your car unless you are told to do so! The spots described in this guide are believed to be safe but check the MISC box for further info. Spotterguide.net is not liable for any misbehavior towards the police! Regarding Honolulu Airport directly we found some advise: 1) You may be subject to questioning, or an identification check by either deputies from the Hawai‘i State Sheriff’s Department (the governing law enforcement agency of HNL), or by airport police officers from Securitas, the private security firm that also guards HNL, especially if they see you with any kind of camera in any locations offering views onto airplanes – especially if you are able to see parts of the military base from there. Please be courteous, and cooperative with them, and comply. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General | Very typical and common Usage is the following: landings on runway 26L and 04R — departures from runway 26R. However military aircraft and freighters flying on behalf of USAF (Atlas Air, Kalitta or ATI) almost never take runway 04R for landings though as the base is closer to runway 26L. |
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Lagoon Drive - 08R/26 movements + nearby taxiways and ramp + 04L/R Arrivals
| WHERE | The most famous spotting location in Honolulu is located just at the southern end of the Lagoon Drive. If you start at the northern end of the Lagoon Drive, where the street crossed the Queen Liliuokalani Freeway, you have to follow the road into south-western direction for about 4km. After you passed a lot of hangars and halls, you should see a stored (former Aloha) Maddog on your right. 400m after this point you’ll enter a parking space. Park your car somewhere nearby and climb the little concrete walls just infront of the fence. |
| WHAT | All activities on Runway 08R/26L as well as Freighters and most of the GAT Traffic taxiing to Runway 08R before departure. Arrivals onto runway 04R and 04L can be seen from here, too. |
| TIME | The times of light/backlit is very difficult to discribe here, because in the summer months the sun climbs to the northern side! Light on runway 08R/26L is only okay from Mid-March till September and in these months in the early morning hours or the late evening hours. In June it’s much more different! Light on runway 04R/L is okay from sunrise till 4:30pm in the winter months and in the summer months from sunrise till 1pm. In June it’s different! For aircraft taxiing to runway 08R for departure (like the MD11 or B732 on my example pictures) the light will be okay from sunrise till around 9am in the winter and in the summer till around 11:45am. In June it’s different! |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, no shops/restrooms. If it’s sunny, sunscreen may be necessary – the sun is very strong there! Ladder not needed, you can use the little concrete walls at the moments (Update: July 2015). Heat haze is a big problem here on the runway during the day. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-300mm B733 runway 04R arrival = 225mm / Runway 26L B788 departure = 130mm / MD11 taxiing infront = 90mm |
Position yourself on the concrete block behind the small grasses here:
View from the concrete block:
Palekona street - Business apron
| WHERE | Shortly before you reach Lagoon Drive’s end, you get to a four way crossing, where the mentioned Drive meets “Palekona street”. Tunr right there, take this street till its end, make a slight right turn and exit the street immediately to the left onto a dirty parking area. Park your car there and search your favourite position there – either on the car’s top or at the fence directly. |
| WHAT | Aircraft parked infront on the business area or also the ones parking on the close sports/GA apron. If there is some free space infront, you also have great view onto 04R/22L and 04L/22L runways. |
| TIME | Aircraft parked on the cargo apron infront, taxiing along the area here or the ones on runway 04R/22L and 04L/22R. |
| MISC. | Ladder not 100% needed as you can also shot thru the fence wholes or over the fence when standing on your car’s top. But be sure to stay away far enough from the fence. You can also try to stand on the top of the two boxes next to the parking here, maybe standing on them also works – never tried yet. Nothing around here apart from this. Heat haze is a big problem here on the runway during the day. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm B737 BBJ = 25mm / Gulfstream = 35mm / B732 on runway = 185mm |
Iako Pl - Cargo Apron
| WHERE | This spot is located at the end of “Iako Pl”, which can be entered from Lagoon Drive easily. Once entered first mentioned street, just drive till its end and stop with your car in the turning pad where you can search your favourite position. |
| WHAT | Aircraft parked on the cargo apron infront, taxiing along the area here or the ones on runway 04R/22L and 04L/22R. |
| TIME | Winter: Sunrise till late midday. / Summer: Sunrise is the best, sun rises high afterwards. After late morning the light is bad from here. |
| MISC. | Ladder not 100% needed as you can also shot thru the fence wholes or over the fence when standing on your car’s top. But be sure to stay away far enough from the fence. Nothing around here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm B732 on runway = 180mm / total B727 = 40mm |
Makani Kai Air - Apron + 04L/22R and 04R/22L movements
| WHERE | From Lagoon Drive take the exit into “Kaulele Pl” and drive till its end all the way up. Now you’ll end up at Makani Kai Air and Blue Hawaiian Helicopter facilities, where you can search a nice fence part in between from where you can spot. This parking area offers views into several directions, so your position can vary and the spot is no exact location… |
| WHAT | Transair apron featuring Shorts, B732s and other freighters. In addition you are also able to spot sports/helicopter aprons used by Makani Kai Air and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters for example. But you can also see 04R/22L and 04L/22R runways from here, so also those movements are spotable. |
| TIME | Depending on the angle an aircraft is parked in but roughly like these times now: Winter: Sunrise till late midday. / Summer: Sunrise is the best, sun rises high afterwards. After late morning the light is bad from here. |
| MISC. | Ladder not 100% needed as you can also shot thru the fence wholes or over the fence when standing on your car’s top. But be sure to stay away far enough from the fence. Nothing around here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-400mm Cessna 208 = 100mm |
Helicopter/Transair - Transair apron
| WHERE | This spot is neither an exact location rather the area along the fence around Magnum Helicopters and Transair apron. That’s why this spot can be found along Lagoon Drive and Iolana Pl as well. |
| WHAT | Transair and Magnum Helicopters apron featuring also some other aircraft sometimes (as a Dc3 for example). |
| TIME | Depending on the angle an aircraft is parked in but roughly like these times now: Winter: Sunrise till late midday. / Summer: Sunrise is the best, sun rises high afterwards. After late morning the light is bad from here. |
| MISC. | Ladder not 100% needed as you can also shot thru the fence wholes or over the fence when standing on your car’s top. But be sure to stay away far enough from the fence. But sometimes a ladder is way better due to all the ground stuff parked here to get over them. Nothing around here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-200mm B732 = 30mm / Short 360 = 100mm |
In addition to THIS nice freighter (meant in “WHAT” above) also those objects:
Eastern side:
Southern side:
Terminal Connection bridges - Ramps
| WHERE | This spot can be found airside after you passed the security check. Then search your favourite connection bridge which mostly connect the main terminal with longhaul handling gates. While being on the way to those gates then you will pass some parts between those facilities where you will have a free view as there are no glasses along the walk. |
| WHAT | Parts of the apron, depending where exactly you are. |
| TIME | Totally depending on the exact bridge part and time of year, but mostly morning or evening are best. In addition summer is better than winter for spotting from here as the sun is not on he southern side. |
| MISC. | This spot is located airside, so after security check and can only be reached with valid boarding pass.
Everything you need is close by inside the terminal. Heat haze can be a problem, especially around running APUs. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-250mm: totally depending on what (close-up, total, …) B772 = 110mm |
Parking garage - Ramp + 08L/26R movements
| WHERE | This spot can be found all around the uper levels of the international parking garage located at the western end of all the facilities (like rental cars or other parking areas) north of the main terminal. So spot is roughly at the northwestern end of terminal area here. Just enter it, go up to the upper floors and search your favourite position along the edge. |
| WHAT | Great overview form here: general aviation ramp to the cargo area to the terminal to the military area. In addition also runway 08L/26R activities. Other runways far away, but can also be seen! |
| TIME | Only useable in summer, but then almost all day. |
| MISC. | Ladder not needed and recommended. Keep a low profile with your camera here as military area is close and spotable. Can be an advance and disadvance here… All other stuff you may need can be found inside the nearby terminal. Heat haze can become a big problem. We recommend to especially get in touch with the airport prior spotting from here in order to let them know that you will come here and that you are no threat. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | XXX as we just link the video, but should be around 100-500mm |
THIS example video was just taken from one of the upper floors of this garage:
Elliott St - NW Ramp
| WHERE | This spot is just located along Elliott street, which runs along the western side of the northwestern ramp of the civil part at HNL. It can be reached well from the bigger N Nimitz Hwy which bumps into Elliott St just north of this spot. Once you got here, just quickly stop with the car by the roadside, take your picture and leave again to avoid problems as spotting here is actually not tolerated.
+++ DEC 2020: Spot is only limited useable now due to construction works on the airside part so your view is blocked+++ |
| WHAT | All aircraft moving and parking on the northwestern civil ramp at HNL. |
| TIME | Depends on how the aircraft stands/moves and the time of the year you come here. But actually afternoon is best. |
| MISC. | Heat haze may become a problem in summer on long distance shots. KEEP A LOW PROFILE! Just stop here quickly, take your picture and leave again! The police arrives quickly and will sent you away otherwise! Do not cause any issues here! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-100mm |
Carpark - 08L Arrivals
| WHERE | This spot can be found west of the military areas and is located exactly inside the parking area of a little shopping centre. This can be found at the crossing of “Fort Weaver road”/road “76” and road “764”. Just park your car here and enjoy… Spot is also close to several bus stops, but we don’t know if those are still in use – weren’t this once we’ve been there. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 08L. |
| TIME | Only useable in summer, but then almost all day except around noon. |
| MISC. | Heat haze can become a problem, but therefore you can find shadow, food, drinks and restrooms in the shopping facilities nearby. KEEP A LOW PROFILE! Some people were interested in our hobby and impressed, others threatened us to call the police if we don’t get away! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-500mm B744 = 315mm |
Tsunami Center - 08L Arrivals
| WHERE | Not pretty sure, if the position used for the shots is really here, but probably as distance would fit and you have some free space here. So we guess (as the photographer of the example below doesn’t reply) the location used was around the “Pacific Tsunami Warning Center”, which can be found almost at the southern coast of this landscape here. Exact position is north of “Fort Weaver road” in a forest – easy to reach and see. Also some bus stops around here, so also reachable by public transport. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 08L. |
| TIME | In winter all day, in summer just not useable with nice light. |
| MISC. | Nothing around, but therefore parking is easy. Restrooms can probably be found inside the center facilities. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | XXX – but probably 200-400mm |
As we didn’t visit this spot ourselves yet, we can only link Andrew Hunt’s material. He made some nice pictures roughly here – THIS picture can be seen as example regarding angle/view.
9 Comments
Hi! I will be travelling there in Jan 2022. wonder if there are good spots to spot Hickam military traffic>>>??? Any tips would be appreciated!
Is there good spotting from kayaking in the bays or lagoons?
Never heard about this yet, but as Pearl harbor with its military facilities and traffic is directly nearby I think it will very problematic here to get around easily on the water.
-Sev
On item 11 iroquois lagoon beach is available to US citizens as well. This is located on a military installation but the housing there and all beaches are public access. It a little closer to 8L approach.
In addition to your security statement I have had some run ins with the law and airport security. However after several inter actions and finally a considerate LEO he advised me to call the airport manager prior to spotting around HNL. Once you call and state you are a hobbiest photographer they will inform the airport security to leave you alone. Granted follow proper judgment and behave like you are visiting you moms house…! I haven’t been there in a couple of years so not sure if things have changed.
Hi Tally!
Thanks for getting in touch with us.
We left Iroquois point out as extra sot as we wanted to avoid problems caused by people who misbehave there. So we do not wanna force it to be closed for everyone, that is why we left it out. But thanks for heads up, therefore we added a note in the map at the marks there: “In some sources one can read that you can register at the gate to get till the beach. If photography is recommendable is another question… But example might look like this: http://www.planes.cz/cs/photo/1157720/a330-243-n380ha-hawaiian-airlines-hal-ha-honolulu-hnl-phnl”
However, I just added the advice to call airport manager in order to inform the airport security about your hobby plans.
Thanks,
sev
iroquois lagoon beach- is there public parking? On the map is just looks residential. Do you enter through a military checkpoint gate?
You end up at a sort of public parking at the end of Marina Ave gor example. But you have to pass and enter thru a mil checkpoint, yes.
-Severin
theres another spot at the end of 8L at the intersection of Lagoon-Kalewa
Hi Matthew!
Really? Didn’t know it yet. Can you show us how pictures taken there look like?
-Severin