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SFO destination photo
HNL destination photo

SFOHNL

Our Recommendation
9.2

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers the quintessential arrival experience into Hawaii, featuring unparalleled views of Diamond Head and the Waikiki coastline, alongside iconic San Francisco landmarks upon departure.

Left Side Highlights
9.2
🌉

San Francisco Skyline

A breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline immediately following takeoff from SFO.

🏝️

Diamond Head

The most iconic volcanic crater in Hawaii, appearing on the left side during the final descent into Honolulu.

🏖️

Waikiki Beach

Aerial views of the famous beach and turquoise waters as the plane lines up for the Reef Runway.

🏙️

Honolulu Harbor

Watch the bustling maritime activity and the urban landscape of Hawaii's capital city just before landing.

Book a window seat on the left side for the 'money shot' of Diamond Head. For morning flights, this side also avoids the harsh afternoon sun glare over the Pacific. Keep your camera ready within 10 minutes of takeoff and 20 minutes before landing to capture the most scenic phases of the flight.

Right Side Highlights
6.8
🌊

California Coastline

Views of the rugged Pacific coast and the Santa Cruz mountains as the aircraft climbs to cruising altitude.

⚓

Pearl Harbor

As the plane banks toward the runway, the right side often sees the historic USS Arizona Memorial and Ford Island.

☁️

Pacific Cloudscapes

Spectacular formations of trade wind clouds and the vast, deep blue expanse of the open ocean.

🌅

Sunset Horizons

On late afternoon flights, the right side provides a front-row seat to the sun setting over the western horizon.

The right side is ideal for travelers who want to see Pearl Harbor on the final approach. However, be aware that afternoon flights heading west will face significant sun glare on this side, which can make it harder to see out the window. Choose this side if your priority is the historical landscape of the military base.

Top Activities in Honolulu
Route Information

Distance: 3,857 km (2,397 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 4 hrs 32 min

Departure: SFO (37.61899948120117, -122.375)

Arrival: HNL (21.32062, -157.924228)

Route Type: Domestic

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