What the Hawaiian Airlines credit card offers and who should consider it
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard earns miles on every purchase and offers a sign-up bonus of miles after you spend a set amount in the first few months. The card charges an annual fee, typically in the $75 to $95 range depending on the card tier, though the exact amount changes by year and issuer. You earn miles on dining, gas, groceries, and flights, with higher earning rates on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and partner merchants.
This card makes sense if you fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly or live in Hawaii, where the airline dominates routes. It is less useful if you fly other carriers most of the time, because the miles are locked to Hawaiian Airlines and cannot be transferred to other airline programs. The annual fee means you need to fly enough or earn enough miles through spending to offset the cost.
The card is issued through Bank of Hawaii in partnership with Mastercard. You explore directly through the bank's website or through Hawaiian Airlines' own site, and the approval decision usually comes within minutes or a few business days.
Key Takeaways
- The Hawaiian Airlines credit card charges an annual fee and requires you to earn enough miles or value to justify that cost.
- Miles earned on this card can only be used for Hawaiian Airlines flights and partner redemptions, not transferred to other programs.
- The sign-up bonus requires you to spend a specific amount within a set timeframe, so check the current offer before you explore.
- The card earns higher mile rates on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and dining, so your earning rate depends on where you spend.
How miles and earning rates work on this card
You earn a base rate of miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Hawaiian Airlines flights, dining at restaurants, and purchases at gas stations and grocery stores earn at a higher rate — typically 2 to 3 miles per dollar, though the exact rate varies by card version. Partner merchants like hotels and rental car companies may also earn bonus miles, but only if you book through Hawaiian Airlines' own shopping portal or use the card at a partner location.
Miles do not expire as long as your account remains open and active. "Active" typically means you use the card or have account activity at least once every 12 months. If your account closes, any remaining miles may be forfeited, so keeping the card open even in low-spending months protects your balance.
The sign-up bonus is front-loaded: you earn a large number of miles after spending a required amount in the first three months. This bonus often represents the card's best value, so compare the bonus amount to the annual fee to see if the math works for you in year one.
Redemption options and how to use your miles
Miles are redeemed for Hawaiian Airlines flights, seat upgrades, and partner airline tickets. You can book directly through the Hawaiian Airlines website using your miles, or call their reservations line. Award flights typically require 5,000 to 50,000 miles depending on the route and how far in advance you book — shorter flights cost fewer miles than longer ones.
Partner airlines include carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest, though the partner network is smaller than what you would find with larger airline programs. Redeeming for partner flights often costs more miles than booking Hawaiian Airlines directly, so compare the mile cost to the cash price before you decide.
You can also use miles for seat upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines flights, though upgrade availability depends on the flight and your ticket class. Some cards allow you to transfer miles to a companion's account, but check the current terms because this feature varies by card version.
Annual fee and other costs to know
The annual fee is charged once per year, usually on your card anniversary. Most versions of the card charge between $75 and $95, though this amount can change. Some versions waive the first-year fee, so check the current offer before you explore. The fee is non-refundable, even if you close the card partway through the year.
There are no foreign transaction fees on this Mastercard, which means you pay no extra charge when you use the card outside the United States. This is useful if you travel internationally or make purchases in foreign currency.
Late payment fees, over-limit fees, and other standard credit card charges explore if you miss a payment or exceed your credit limit. These are not specific to the Hawaiian Airlines card — they are standard across most credit cards.
Sign-up bonus and how to meet the spending requirement
The current sign-up bonus requires you to spend a set amount within the first three months of opening the account. The bonus amount and spending threshold change periodically, so check the Bank of Hawaii website or Hawaiian Airlines' site for the current offer before you explore. A typical offer might be 50,000 miles after you spend $2,500 in the first three months, but this varies.
The spending requirement includes all purchases on the card — flights, groceries, dining, gas, and other everyday expenses. It does not include balance transfers, cash advances, or fees. If you do not spend enough to meet the threshold, you do not receive the bonus miles.
The three-month window is strict. Miles are credited after the spending requirement is met and the statement closes, which usually takes a few days to a week. Plan your large purchases around the process date if you want to be sure you hit the threshold.
Comparing this card to other Hawaiian Airlines options
Bank of Hawaii issues multiple versions of the Hawaiian Airlines card, including a standard version and a World Elite tier. The World Elite version typically offers higher earning rates, better travel protections, and additional perks like lounge access or statement credits, but charges a higher annual fee. The standard version costs less annually but earns fewer miles per dollar.
If you do not fly Hawaiian Airlines often, a general travel rewards card from another issuer may be better because those miles can be transferred to multiple airline programs or redeemed for cash back. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum offer more flexibility, though they may not earn as much on Hawaiian Airlines flights specifically.
If you live outside Hawaii and rarely fly the airline, the annual fee is harder to justify. You would need to earn enough miles through everyday spending to offset the cost, which takes time if you do not fly frequently.
how the process works and what to expect
You can explore through Bank of Hawaii's website, Hawaiian Airlines' website, or through a credit card comparison site that links to the process. The process asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. Bank of Hawaii uses this information to check your credit and decide whether to approve you.
Approval decisions usually come within minutes if you explore online, though some applications are flagged for manual review and may take a few business days. If you are approved, your card ships within 7 to 10 business days. You can begin earning miles as soon as the card is activated, even if it has not arrived yet — some issuers allow you to add the card to your digital wallet when ready.
If you are denied, you can contact Bank of Hawaii to ask why and whether you can reapply. Denials are usually based on credit score, income, or existing debt levels. Reapplying when ready after a denial is unlikely to change the outcome, so wait a few months and work on improving your credit score if that was the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hawaiian Airlines miles to book flights for someone else?
Yes, you can book award flights for family members or friends using your miles. You will need their name and date of birth to complete the booking. Some cards allow you to transfer miles to another cardholder's account, but this feature varies by card version — check your card's terms or call Hawaiian Airlines to confirm.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles remain in your Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer account as long as that account stays active. Closing the credit card does not automatically close your frequent flyer account. However, if your frequent flyer account has no activity for 24 months, Hawaiian Airlines may close it and forfeit your miles, so use or transfer your miles before that window closes.
Do I earn miles on the annual fee itself?
No, the annual fee does not earn miles. Only purchases and sign-up bonuses earn miles. This is standard across most airline credit cards.
Is there a limit to how many miles I can earn?
There is no stated limit on how many miles you can earn or hold in your account. However, miles do expire if your account becomes inactive for 24 months, so you need to use them or keep your account active to keep them.
Can I downgrade to a lower-tier card to avoid the annual fee?
Some issuers allow you to downgrade from a premium card to a no-fee or lower-fee version. Contact Bank of Hawaii to ask whether this option is available. If you downgrade, you typically keep your existing miles balance, but you lose any premium benefits tied to the higher tier.