Sleeping in Honolulu Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Honolulu Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Honolulu airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Honolulu Airport Overnight

The Honolulu Airport closes every night from 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM. If you have your boarding pass, you can remain in a designated area where security patrols until checkpoints open in the morning.

Locations & Seating

Honolulu Airport Airside seating — Airside Seating. Photo by: SleepingInAirports.net (15 May 2014)

Most seats here are hard and have armrests, both landside and airside, so finding a comfortable position for sleeping isn’t easy. In the designated landside overnight area, you may luck out and find one of the few benches, but only if you arrive early enough. Otherwise, you’ll get a seat, which is fine if you’re good at sleeping upright! You may want to plan on sleeping on the floor; bring extra layers for cushion and warmth to combat the cold ground.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Hotels

If you prefer to spend money for the privacy and comfort of a hotel, you’ll have to leave the airport. A few hotels with free airport shuttles are within a 5-minute drive. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Honolulu Airport.

Lounges

While Honolulu Airport has several lounges, none offer designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Honolulu Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about terminal temperature. Still, you can expect the airport to cool down at night as the air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – The designated overnight area likely stays brightly lit all night. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – The airport is a bit noisy throughout the day, as expected, with many travellers and frequent airport announcements. By night, it does quiet down some, but you’ll likely be in the designated sleeping area, so you can expect ambient noise from other travellers, cleaning crews, and low-volume music. Nothing that some earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can’t solve. The rush of foot traffic or security guards will likely wake you around 4:00 AM.

Food & Drink

With no 24-hour food concessions available, you should stock up on food and water before the eateries close for the night, around 10:00 PM.

Showers

Showers for freshening up are available to members of the U.S. military and their families in the USO Military Lounge, located in Terminal 2. See our Honolulu Airport Guide for details.

Security & Safety

With the airport closing nightly from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, you’ll likely have to relocate to a designated landside area on Level 2, Lobby 4. Security guards patrol the area and may ask travellers here for their ID and boarding passes. Many reviewers said this contributed to a general feeling of safety, but some said the nearest bathrooms are a bit far. The guards start waking sleepers around 4:00 AM, as the airport opens and gets busy again.

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.