Honolulu to Abu Dhabi Flights (HNL to AUH): Connections, Journey Time and Arrival Guide

Getting from Honolulu to Abu Dhabi: two directions around the world

There is no nonstop between Honolulu and Abu Dhabi, and because Hawaii sits in the middle of the Pacific you can reach the Gulf by flying either way around the globe. Both work, and which is faster depends on the connection times on your dates.

Westbound through Asia, which is usually the shorter total:

• Via Tokyo: Japan Airlines, ANA, Hawaiian and United fly Honolulu to Tokyo, and Etihad flies Tokyo Narita to Abu Dhabi. On a single ticket this usually pairs Japan Airlines or ANA with Etihad; otherwise it is two bookings.
• Via Seoul: Korean Air and Asiana fly Honolulu to Seoul Incheon, and Etihad flies Incheon to Abu Dhabi.
• Via Manila: Philippine Airlines flies Honolulu to Manila and serves the Gulf; check whether Abu Dhabi is on its schedule for your dates, as Gulf destinations change.

Eastbound through the US mainland:

• Via New York JFK, Washington Dulles, Chicago or Boston with Etihad: Hawaiian, Delta, United or American fly from Honolulu to those cities, and Etihad flies nonstop from each to Abu Dhabi. The Honolulu to East Coast leg alone is 9 to 10 hours, so this is the longer way round.

Qatar Airways via Doha and Emirates via Dubai also work from the mainland, with a short final hop or a road transfer to Abu Dhabi, which is about 90 minutes by car from Dubai.

Journey time and distance

The great-circle distance from HNL to AUH is roughly 8,600 miles (13,800 km). Via Tokyo, expect about 8 hours to Japan and 11 to 12 hours on to Abu Dhabi, for a total of 22 to 26 hours including the connection. Via Seoul the numbers are similar. Via the East Coast, expect 9 to 10 hours to New York or Washington and 12 to 13 hours on to Abu Dhabi, so 24 to 30 hours in total.

Westbound through Asia you cross the International Date Line and arrive in Abu Dhabi two calendar days after leaving Honolulu. Coming home the same way, you land in Hawaii on the same date you left the Gulf or the day after, depending on the connection.

Leaving from Honolulu

Daniel K. Inouye International has one main terminal building. Hawaiian Airlines uses Terminal 1; Japan Airlines, ANA, Korean Air, Asiana, Philippine Airlines, United, Delta and American use Terminal 2. The two are linked by a walkway and a free Wiki Wiki shuttle, so an inter-island connection on Hawaiian to an international departure is possible with time to spare.

Asian departures leave Honolulu mostly in the late morning and early afternoon; mainland red-eyes leave in the evening. Arriving three hours ahead of an international departure is sensible with checked bags. Ride-hail pickups use designated zones, and TheBus serves the airport but limits carry-on size.

Arriving at Zayed International

Abu Dhabi's airport opened its new Terminal A in late 2023, and all Etihad flights and most other international arrivals now use it. It is a large building with long walks from gate to immigration, so allow for that if you have an onward connection. Immigration for US passport holders is a visa on arrival stamped in the passport; e-gates are available for eligible travellers after a first registration. Expect a queue when several long-haul arrivals land together in the early morning.

The airport is about 30 km east of the city centre and the island hotels:

• Taxi: 30 to 40 minutes to the Corniche, downtown or Saadiyat Island. Official airport taxis wait outside arrivals and are metered.
• Ride-hail: Careem and Uber operate, with pickups from signed areas.
• Public bus: route A1 runs to the city centre around the clock and is cheap, though slow with luggage.
• Hotel transfers: most resort hotels on Saadiyat and Yas Island arrange a driver, and Yas Island is closer to the airport than the city is.

When to fly and when to book

Abu Dhabi's season is the opposite of what Hawaii travellers might expect. November to March is the time to visit: warm days, cool evenings and clear skies, with the Formula 1 weekend at Yas Marina in late November or early December pushing hotel rates far up for a week. Late December and New Year are the peak for fares. April and October are hot but tolerable, and the shoulder for prices.

May to September is extreme heat, often above 40 degrees Celsius, and life moves indoors. Fares and hotel rates are at their lowest then, and the malls, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are all air conditioned. Ramadan shifts earlier each year; daytime eating and drinking in public are restricted and restaurants adjust their hours, so check the dates before you book. For winter travel, book three to four months out; summer can be booked a month or two ahead.

Entry requirements and documents

As of recent rules, US passport holders receive a visa on arrival in the UAE for short tourist stays, with a passport valid for at least six months. Rules change, so confirm on the UAE government portal or with the embassy before travel, and check the transit rules for your connecting country, especially if you plan to leave the airport in Tokyo or Seoul.

The UAE restricts some medicines that are common in the US, including certain painkillers and anxiety medications. Carry prescriptions in original packaging with a doctor's letter and check the Ministry of Health's controlled substances list before you pack.

Time zones and jet lag

Abu Dhabi is 14 hours ahead of Honolulu all year; neither place changes its clocks. Through Asia the body clock shifts westward, which most people find slightly easier, and a night in Tokyo or Seoul on the way breaks it into two manageable steps. Through the mainland the shift goes the other way. Either way, expect four or five days before you sleep normally in Abu Dhabi, and plan the first day there around rest and daylight rather than tours.

What travellers on this route get wrong

The first mistake is booking two separate tickets through Tokyo or Seoul with a short connection; a late inbound flight means buying a new Gulf ticket. The second is arriving in July expecting to spend days outdoors, when even the beach is too hot by mid-morning. The third is packing medication without checking the UAE's rules, which are stricter than most travellers expect.