"Greg Mossman" wrote:

"Caveat" wrote in message
.. .

Oahu is the air hub, and most flights are into and out of Honolulu
Airport. There are direct flights from the mainland to Hilo on the Big
Island, as well as Maui, however. Savvy travelers will try to arrange
a trip from the mainland into Hilo, but out of Honolulu. With a
stopover on Maui, they get a nice 3-island circuit tour. Unfortunately
flights to Kauai are usually separate out-and-back trips from
Honolulu. But most of would say that it's worth it :-).

Hilo? Divers would do much better flying direct to Kona. American, United,
and Aloha all have nonstops from the mainland direct to Kona.


That's an option obviously. But the OP said he wanted to see
volcanoes. If it were me, I'd fly into Hilo, tour the National Park,
then go on directly to Kona. They could then fly out of Kona to
whichever island is selected as a second choice.

And you're wrong about Kauai too, of course. United flies there nonstop
from LAX and Oakland.

I said *usually.* And if one wishes to see two islands (as is the case
here), if they flew directly into Lihue from the mainland, that still
would require a separate flight from Kauai to whatever island. The
going and coming options from the mainland often limit choices --
depending upon the starting city, the airline's connection options,
and the added costs of freelancing flights if money is no object.

There are lots of ways to do the connections.