Do you need a passport to go to Hawaii?
US citizens don't need a passport for Hawaii, just a REAL ID or other TSA-approved ID. Non-US visitors need the same visa or ESTA as for the mainland.
Updated
Hawaii feels far away, but legally a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu is no different from a flight to Chicago. Your answer depends on your citizenship, so pick the section below that matches you, and keep your trip1 booking confirmation handy for check-in.
If you're a US citizen
Bring the same ID you'd use for any domestic flight. That's a REAL ID compliant license with the star marking, a US passport or passport card, or another TSA-accepted document. Green card holders can fly on their green card.
Children under 18 flying with an adult don't need ID for TSA screening, though airlines may ask for proof of age for lap infants.
There's no passport control or customs on arrival from the mainland. You'll fill in Hawaii's Plants and Animals Declaration Form instead, on paper or digitally depending on your airline. On the way home, your bags go through an agricultural inspection before you board.
If you're not a US citizen
Treat a trip to Hawaii as a trip to the United States. Flying in directly from abroad, for example from Japan, Australia or Canada, you clear US Customs and Border Protection when you land in Honolulu. You need:
- A valid passport.
- An approved ESTA if your country is in the Visa Waiver Program, or a US visitor visa if it isn't. Canadian citizens need neither.
- A return or onward ticket, and an address for your stay. Your trip1 confirmation answers that in one screen.
Important: Get your ESTA approved on the official US government site before you fly. Airlines check it at check-in, and you can't apply for one on arrival.
If you were already admitted to the US on the mainland, the flight to Hawaii is domestic with no second immigration check. Carry your passport as ID, and remember your ESTA or visa admission period keeps running while you're on the islands.
Hotel check-in in Hawaii
Hotels ask for one government-issued photo ID for the person named on the booking. A driver's license is fine for US guests, and a passport is the safe choice for everyone else.
Do you need a passport to go to Hawaii - FAQ
No. Hawaii is a US state, so flights from the mainland are domestic, with no passport control or customs when you land.
Yes, if it's REAL ID compliant. Since 7 May 2025, TSA only accepts licenses with the REAL ID star marking, or another approved ID such as a passport.
Yes. You need a valid passport plus whatever you'd need for the US mainland, which is usually an approved ESTA or a US visa.
No, not for TSA screening if they're under 18 and flying with an adult. Airlines may still ask for proof of age for lap infants.
Not if you fly in from the US mainland. You complete Hawaii's agricultural declaration form instead, while international arrivals clear US customs in Honolulu.