Hawaiian Airlines "Blast From The Past!"

Time for another HNL Rarebirds "Blast from the Past". Above, is a Hawaiian Airlines DC-3 flying over Kāne‘ohe Bay in the late 1940's. The windward side of O‘ahu is as beautiful then, as it is today. And the DC-3 is as beautiful as ever.

Time For An "HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past"

Honolulu International Airport has seen some significant growth over the past 50 years. With the imminent construction for the new Mauka Concourse Terminal on the site of the current Inter-Island Commuter Terminal it's time to take a brief look back 50 years.

This is what Honolulu Airport looked liked in 1960 at the old John Rodgers Terminal on Lagoon Drive. All major terminal operations were relocated to the current HNL Terminal complex and the airport was renamed Honolulu International Airport on August 22, 1962.

The new John Rodgers Terminal provided more efficient loading and boarding of the new jets that were now flying to the Hawaiian Islands. With continued growth the terminal soon became obsolete itself and required a major expansion.

With the arrival of the Boeing 747, HNL went through a further expansion in 1970. As shown here in 1971, the new Diamond Head and Ewa Terminals were completed and were now accommodating hundreds of passengers at a time. The State's tourist boom was now well on its way.

For the year 2011, Honolulu International Airport had 262,000 aircraft movements and served 18 million passengers. A far cry from 1960 when just 1.5 million passengers moved through HNL.

Be sure to click on the images for a more detailed look at the facilites and the aircraft that served Honolulu International.


Over the next decade, or so, HNL will undergo another transformation which will add more gates, infrastructural improvements, and a re-configuration of the existing concourses.

An HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past: The China Clipper - 75 Years Later

75 years ago today on the morning of November 23rd 1935, Pan American Airways and their Martin M-130 named the "China Clipper" arrived at Pearl Harbor after a 20 hour and 33 minute flight completing the first leg of Pan American's Trans-Pacific flight from Alameda California. Piloted by Captain Edwin C. Musick and a crew of six, the flying boat officially started Air Mail service to the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific. This eventually led the way to what was to become passenger service later in 1936. The rest as they say, is "History".

A True "Blast From the Past" 74 Years Ago - The China Clipper Arrives

It was 74 years ago today that the China Clipper arrived at Honolulu. The China Clipper under the command of Captain Edwin C. Musick landed at Pearl Harbor after an 17 hour flight from Alameda California.

Time For A Real Old "HNL Rare Birds Blast From The Past"

The Martin M-130 of Pan American Airways was one of three M-130 flying boats acquired to fly the new Pacific routes in 1935. Along with the China Clipper and the Hawaii Clipper, the Philippine Clipper (NC14715) shown here at her base in Pearl Harbor is prepped for her flight to Midway, Wake Island, Guam and Manila. These Clippers were a technological dream and built up the romanticism that was prevalent in the golden age of trans-Pacific travel.

It's been a while since we have had an "HNL Blast From The Past"

Aloha Airlines took delivery of its first BAC-111 on April 16, 1966. Flying from London, the aircraft set two world records enroute to Honolulu. The BAC-111's served Aloha until the summer of 1969 when they were withdrawn in favor of the new Boeing 737 "Funbirds".

Mainliner Kona

United's Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Mainliner Kona departing for the mainland from the John Rodgers Airport on Lagoon Drive in the mid- 50's. What I love about this photo are the spectators viewing the Stratcruiser's departure. A true "Blast From the Past". United named various Stratocruisers with Hawaii names. Mainliner Hana Maui, Mainliner Hawaii, and Mainliner Waipahu after the birthplace of United's chariman William A. "Pat" Patterson. Click for larger image.

This Week's Blast From the Past

HNL had a wonderful open air concourse just above the central gates and garden area fronting the old control tower. From this viewing deck, passengers and visitors to the airport could spend the time watching aircraft arriving and departing. It was a great location to get that first view of a loved one, or the last chance to literally wave goodbye as passengers climbed the stairs onto their Pan Am 707, United DC-8, BOAC VC-10 or a Western 707. In the photo are two Pan American 707's, one of which is N408PA Clipper Morning Star. In the distance you see a BOAC 707 taxiing as well as a Japan Airlines DC-8 climbing off of runway 8. Click the image for a larger size.

Another HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past

A fine mix of 747’s, DC-8’s and DC-10’s surrounding the Diamond Head terminal in the mid 1970’s. You don’t see stairs being used for 747’s and DC-10’s these days let alone in the area seen here. Two of United’s aircraft do not yet have the "stars and bars" livery on their fuselage. The Japan Airlines 747 is likely inbound from LAX and continuing on to Tokyo. Visible also is the tail of a Korean Air 747. Photo credit State of Hawaii Archives

Another HNL Blast From The Past

This time, a rare view of the John Rodgers airport and what is now called the south ramp. Four Pan Am 707s, a United DC-8, an Aloha DC-3 and two F-27's grace the ramp in front of the original iconic Honolulu Tower emblazoned with the word Aloha. This photo is circa 1960 - 1962.

A Little Qantas Retro: HNL's first 707

At Honolulu's old John Rodgers Airport on Lagoon Drive, residents line up to tour a Qantas jetliner after the Boeing 707 set a new record on its inaugural flight to Honolulu on June 30, 1959. The flight, which opened commercial jet travel to Hawaii, triggered an explosion in tourism, which remains the islands' No. 1 industry. Photo credit HA State Archives