Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen holds a press conference at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines are canceling select neighbor island flights due to an FAA directive, prioritizing routes essential to smaller communities. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Department of Transportat

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has requested a full waiver from the air traffic reduction at all Hawaiʻi airports. If it’s granted, the state says it will pay for the essential staff needed to maintain full flight schedules.

The Trump administration has tried to blame Democrats for the shutdown in public videos at airports, but several major air hubs, including Hawaiʻi, have refused to air the videos, calling it a violation of the Hatch Act that limits certain political activities by federal employees to ensure government programs are administered in a nonpartisan way.

Hawaiian Airlines expects to cancel 36 to 40 flights each day through Sunday, as the Hawaii Department of Transportation pleas with the federal government for a full waiver for the state. The letter cites four critical reasons for exemption.

LOS ANGELES >> Sandra Pleites has been looking forward to visiting her sister for months, trading in the crisp New Jersey weather for a sun-soaked trip with her kids to San Diego.

The Dallas-based airline secured approval to open a lounge at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. Southwest hasn't officially announced whether it will go through with opening a lounge, but CEO Bob Jordan has indicated that the airline is deeply considering the move.