What the Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card is and who it's for
The Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card is a rewards card issued by Barclays Bank that earns points on purchases, with a focus on travel and dining rewards. The card is designed for people who travel frequently or spend regularly at restaurants and want to accumulate points toward free flights, hotel stays, or statement credits.
This card requires you to have established credit — typically a credit score of 670 or higher — and to pass Barclays' underwriting process. If you're rebuilding credit or have no credit history, you won't be approved. The card carries an annual fee, which means you need to use the rewards enough to offset that cost, or the card will cost you money rather than save it.
The card is not a travel card issued by an airline or hotel chain. It's a general rewards card that lets you earn points you can redeem for travel through Barclays' rewards program, or convert to other rewards depending on the card's current terms.
Key Takeaways
- The Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card earns points on purchases and charges an annual fee, so you need to spend enough to make the rewards worth the cost.
- You must have a credit score of roughly 670 or higher and pass Barclays' approval process to get this card.
- Points can typically be redeemed for travel, dining, or statement credits, but the redemption value varies depending on how you use them.
- The card's terms, rewards rates, and annual fee can change, so you should check Barclays' website or your cardholder agreement for current details.
- Carrying a balance on this card costs you interest, which will quickly erase any rewards value, so treat it as a card you pay off in full each month.
How rewards and points work on this card
The Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card earns points on most purchases. The exact earning rate — how many points per dollar you spend — depends on the card's current terms and the category of purchase. Travel and dining typically earn at a higher rate than everyday purchases, but the specific numbers change over time and may differ based on when you opened the account.
Points accumulate in your Barclays rewards account and don't expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. You redeem points through Barclays' online portal, where you can see the current value of each redemption option. A point might be worth different amounts depending on whether you use it for a flight, a hotel stay, a restaurant purchase, or a statement credit.
The redemption value is not fixed. Barclays sets the point cost for each reward, so a flight that costs 25,000 points one month might cost 30,000 points the next month, or a hotel night might be available at a better or worse rate depending on demand and availability.
Annual fee and when it makes financial sense
The Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card charges an annual fee. The exact amount varies depending on the card's current offer, but it's typically in the range of $95 to $150 per year. This fee is charged to your account once a year, usually on your account anniversary or the date Barclays specifies in your cardholder agreement.
To determine whether this card makes sense for you, calculate your annual spending and multiply it by the rewards rate. For example, if you spend $10,000 per year and earn 1.5 points per dollar on average, you earn 15,000 points. If those points are worth $150 in redemptions, the card breaks even with a $150 annual fee. If your spending is lower or your redemption value is less, you lose money.
Some cardholders offset the annual fee through a welcome bonus — a large point grant when you open the account and meet a spending threshold within a set timeframe. Read the current offer carefully to see whether the bonus points are worth more than the annual fee in your first year.
Credit score requirements and approval
Barclays typically approves the Hawaiian Credit Card for people with a credit score of 670 or higher, though the exact threshold can vary. A higher score improves your odds of approval and may result in a higher credit limit. A score below 670 usually results in a denial, though Barclays may occasionally approve borderline scores depending on other factors in your credit report.
When you explore, Barclays pulls your credit report and checks your credit history for late payments, collections, charge-offs, and other negative marks. They also look at how much debt you currently carry and how many recent credit inquiries you have. If you've applied for multiple cards in the past few months, that can hurt your approval odds.
You can check your own credit score for free through services like AnnualCreditReport.com (the official government site) or through your bank or credit card issuer. Knowing your score before you explore helps you decide whether to pursue this card or look for one with lower credit requirements.
Interest rates and the cost of carrying a balance
The Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card charges interest on any balance you don't pay off by the due date. The interest rate — called the Annual Percentage Rate or APR — varies based on your creditworthiness and current market rates. Barclays will tell you the APR range when you explore, and your specific rate after approval.
Carrying a balance is expensive. If you charge $5,000 and pay interest at 18% APR, you'll pay roughly $75 per month in interest alone while the balance sits unpaid. Over a year, that's $900 in interest charges — far more than the annual fee and likely more than any rewards you've earned. The rewards on a credit card only make financial sense if you pay the full balance each month.
If you're currently paying interest on other credit cards, paying off that debt first is usually a better use of your money than opening a new rewards card. Rewards are a bonus for people who already pay their bills in full; they're not a way to make debt cheaper.
How to compare this card to other options
If you're considering the Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card, compare it to other rewards cards with similar annual fees and earning rates. Look at the categories where you spend the most money — if you eat out frequently, a card that earns extra points on dining might be better than one that earns extra points on gas. If you travel often, a card with travel-focused rewards might suit you better.
Also consider whether you want a card with an annual fee at all. Many rewards cards charge no annual fee and earn 1% to 2% cash back on all purchases. The cash back is simpler to use than points, and you don't have to worry about redemption value changing. A no-fee card might earn you less per dollar spent, but if your spending is moderate, the lack of an annual fee could make it the better choice.
Read recent cardholder reviews on independent sites to see what people actually experience with this card — how straightforward the rewards portal is to use, how often redemption values change, and whether the customer service is responsive. Barclays' terms can change, and what works well for one person might frustrate another.
What happens if you close the card or miss a payment
If you close the Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card, your points remain in your account as long as you have at least one other Barclays credit card open. If you close all your Barclays cards, the points may expire or be forfeited depending on Barclays' policy at that time. Before closing the card, redeem any points you want to keep.
Missing a payment on this card has serious consequences. A late payment is reported to the credit bureaus and damages your credit score. If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, Barclays may charge a late fee and increase your APR. A missed payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years, making it harder to get approved for loans, mortgages, or other credit in the future.
If you're struggling to make payments, contact Barclays when ready. They may offer a hardship program or temporary payment plan. Ignoring the problem only makes it worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card internationally?
Yes, the Barclays Hawaiian Credit Card works internationally, but Barclays charges a foreign transaction fee — typically 3% of the purchase amount — when you use it outside the United States. That fee is added to your bill. If you travel frequently outside the US, a card with no foreign transaction fee might save you money.
What's the difference between this card and a cash back card?
A cash back card gives you a percentage of your spending back as cash or a statement credit — straightforward and straightforward. A points card requires you to redeem points through a rewards portal, and the value of each point can change. Points can sometimes be worth more than cash back if you redeem them strategically, but cash back is easier to understand and use.
Do I need to be Hawaiian or live in Hawaii to get this card?
No. The card is named after Hawaii but is available to anyone in the United States who meets Barclays' credit requirements. The name refers to the card's design or rewards program theme, not a geographic restriction.
What if I don't think I'll spend enough to earn back the annual fee?
Don't open the card. A rewards card only makes sense if you'll use the rewards enough to cover the annual fee and come out ahead. If your spending is lower or you're unsure, look for a no-annual-fee rewards card instead, even if the earning rate is slightly lower.
Can I transfer my points to airline or hotel partners?
This depends on Barclays' current program terms. Some versions of rewards cards allow point transfers to airline and hotel partners, while others don't. Check the current cardholder agreement or Barclays' website to see what transfer options are available for this specific card.