Whether you are an experienced airport sleeper or new to the game, this sleep guide will give you the essential information to better prepare you for sleeping in Honolulu Airport.
Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Honolulu Airport. If you have a tip to share, write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!
This guide was last updated: 19 July 2022. Read the latest traveller reviews.
Sleeping in Honolulu Airport Overnight
The Honolulu Airport closes every night from 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM. It seems that if you have your boarding pass, you are allowed to remain in a designated area where security patrols until Security checkpoints open in the morning.
Locations & Seating
Most seats here are hard and have armrests, both pre- and inside Security, so finding a comfortable position for sleeping isn’t easy. In the designated pre-Security overnight area, you may luck out and grab 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 in an upright position! You may want to plan on sleeping on the floor, just bring along extra layers for some 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.
Temperature
At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal temperature. Still, you can likely expect the airport to cool down at night, as 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.
Pro-tip: If you chose a spot near any eateries, keep in mind that the staff arrive early and they can get pretty loud in the kitchen.
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.
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.
Hotels
If you prefer to spend money for the privacy and comfort that a hotel provides, you’ll have to leave the airport. There are a few hotels within a 5-minute drive, and airport shuttles are free. A couple offer day rooms. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Honolulu Airport.
Lounges
While Honolulu Airport has several lounges, none offer designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable environment, check out this list of lounges in our Honolulu Airport Guide that you can pay to access.
Security & Safety
With the airport closing nightly from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, you’ll likely have to relocate to a designated area, located pre-Security, on Level 2, Lobby 4. Security guards patrol the area, and generally ask any travellers here for their ID and boarding passes. Many reviewers wrote in to say this contributed to a general feeling of safety, but some said the nearest bathrooms are a bit far. The guards start waking up sleepers around 4:00 AM, as the airport opens and gets busy again.
As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:
- Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
- Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
- Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
- Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!
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