Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Policy: A Guide to Checked and Carry-on Allowances and Fees

Founded in 1929, Hawaiian Airlines (HA), is a major leisure carrier from the United States. They operate flights between Hawaiian islands and the US mainland, Asia, and Oceania, offering flights to 30+ destinations.

Hawaiian Airlines' baggage policy is primarily defined by the traveler's destination, fare class, and membership status within the HawaiianMiles or Alaska Mileage Plan programs. While carry-on items are generally complimentary for all passengers, checked baggage fees apply to most domestic and inter-island routes unless specific waivers are met.

Checked bag vs carry-on vs personal item

Packing starts with understanding your bags: 

• Checked baggage is the larger luggage checked into the cargo hold; for Hawaiian Airlines, the maximum standard size is 158 cm / 62 in.   
• Carry-on bags (also referred to as cabin bags) go into the cabin for essentials, subject to the 100ml liquid rule, with a max size of 56 x 36 x 23 cm.   
• The Personal Item is the smallest (like a laptop bag or purse) and must fit under the seat in front of you. 

For safety, remember all spare lithium batteries, power banks, and e-cigarettes must be in your carry-on, while sharp objects must always be placed in checked baggage.

Hawaiian Airlines carry-on allowance

In addition to the carry-on bag, one personal item (such as a purse, laptop bag, briefcase, or small backpack) is permitted free of charge. While there’s no enforced weight limit, the item must be small enough to fit safely under the seat in front of the passenger.

Hawaiian Airlines checked baggage allowance

Hawaiian Airlines primarily operates on the Piece Concept for its checked luggage.

The Piece Concept limits the number of bags you can bring (e.g., 2 bags maximum, each up to 23kg), meaning you cannot consolidate one big bag into two small ones without paying extra. Conversely, the Weight Concept limits the total combined weight of all your bags (e.g., a total of 30 kg across any number of pieces).

Each checked baggage should be no bigger than 62 linear inches (158 cm).

Hawaiian Airlines extra baggage fees

Hawaiian Airlines charges for overweight, oversized, and additional bags with tiered fees that are applied in addition to any standard checked bag fee. All charges are in USD and are applied per piece, per direction.

Overweight and Oversized Fees:

• Overweight (51–70 lbs): Costs $35 for Neighbor Island flights, $100 for North America, and $50–$200 for International routes. Fees double for bags between 71–100 lbs.
• Oversized (63–115 linear inches): Costs $35 for Neighbor Island, $200 for North America, and $150–$200 for International. Bags over 100 lbs or 80 linear inches (on most routes) are generally not accepted.

Additional Bag Fees: 

• If you check more than two bags, the 3rd bag and any subsequent pieces will incur an excess baggage fee. For Neighbor Island flights, this is a flat $50 per bag; for North America, it is $150 per bag.
• For international routes, the fee ranges from $150–$200 depending on the destination.

Hawaiian Airlines special baggage policy

• Sporting Equipment: Sporting gear such as golf clubs, fishing equipment, and bicycles are generally accepted and counted as one piece of standard checked baggage.
• Surfboards/Paddleboards: A single board bag (containing up to two surfboards or one paddleboard) is accepted on North America routes for a fee of $200 USD per direction. On Neighbor Island routes, the fee is $35 USD. Surfboards and equipment may have the oversize fee waived, but the item remains subject to the applicable overweight fee if it exceeds the 50 lbs (23 kg) limit. Surfboards up to 70 lbs (32 kg) are accepted.
• Musical Instruments: Small instruments (e.g., violins) may be carried onboard as the carry-on bag or a personal item if they fit within the size limits. Larger, delicate instruments (e.g., guitars, cellos) must be carried on an extra purchased seat or checked. If checked, they are subject to standard baggage fees, overweight fees, and oversized fees (though size limits are slightly more flexible for instruments, up to 80 linear inches).
• Infant/Child Items: One car seat and one stroller/pushchair are permitted to be checked free of charge for a child or infant traveling with a ticketed passenger in addition to the primary checked baggage allowance.
• Military Baggage: Active-duty U.S. Military personnel and their dependents traveling on official orders are granted a substantial exception: up to five checked bags free of charge, with an increased weight limit of 70 lbs (32 kg) per bag.
• Scuba Equipment: Scuba gear is accepted as checked baggage but must be free of all pressure and tanks must have the valve removed. Standard baggage fees still apply on the items. 

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