What the Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines card offers
The Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines card is a co-branded rewards card that earns points on Hawaiian Airlines flights and everyday purchases. You earn miles toward free flights, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits through the Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program. The card also comes with an annual fee, which you pay once per year to keep the account open.
The card is issued by Bank of Hawaii, a regional bank based in Hawaii, in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. This means the card is primarily marketed to people who fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly or live in Hawaii, though it can be opened from other states. The rewards structure and benefits are tied directly to Hawaiian Airlines' frequent flyer program, so your points are redeemable only through that airline unless you transfer them to partner programs.
Key Takeaways
- You earn miles on every purchase, with bonus miles on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and at partner merchants, but the earning rate and annual fee vary depending on which version of the card you hold.
- The card charges an annual fee that is not waived in the first year, so you should calculate whether the sign-up bonus and ongoing rewards justify the cost for your spending.
- Benefits like checked baggage waivers and priority boarding explore only to the cardholder, not to companions traveling with you.
- Points earned through the card never expire as long as your account remains open and you have account activity at least once per year.
- You can redeem miles for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel perks, but availability depends on Hawaiian Airlines' seat inventory and blackout dates may explore.
Earning rates and sign-up bonuses
The card earns a base rate of miles on most purchases, with higher earning on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and at select merchants. Bank of Hawaii typically offers a sign-up bonus of miles if you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months of opening the account. The exact bonus amount and spending threshold change periodically, so you should check the current offer before explore.
Bonus categories vary by card version. Some versions earn extra miles at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, while others focus primarily on airline and travel purchases. Read the terms carefully to see which categories match your actual spending, because a high earning rate in a category you rarely use does not increase your real rewards.
Miles earned through the card do not expire as long as you keep the account open and have at least one transaction per year. This is different from some airline cards that expire miles if you do not use them within a set period. However, if you close the account, you typically lose all remaining miles, so closing the card to avoid the annual fee will wipe out your balance.
Annual fee and other costs
Bank of Hawaii charges an annual fee to hold this card, and the fee is not waived in the first year. The amount varies depending on which version of the card you hold — there may be a standard version and a premium version with higher benefits and a higher fee. You pay this fee once per year on your card anniversary, whether or not you use the card.
To decide if the card makes sense for you, calculate whether the sign-up bonus plus the miles you earn in a year will cover the annual fee and give you extra value. For example, if the annual fee is $95 and you earn enough miles in a year to book a flight worth $150 in value, the card pays for itself. If you fly Hawaiian Airlines infrequently or spend little on the card, the annual fee may outweigh the rewards.
There are no foreign transaction fees if you use the card abroad, which is useful if you travel internationally. However, you should check whether your bank charges a fee for currency conversion, as this is separate from the card's foreign transaction fee.
Cardholder benefits beyond earning miles
The card includes a checked baggage waiver, meaning you do not pay the standard fee for your first checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights. This benefit applies only to you as the cardholder, not to companions traveling with you. If you fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly and would otherwise pay checked baggage fees, this benefit alone can offset part of the annual fee.
You also receive priority boarding on Hawaiian Airlines flights, which means you board before general passengers and can find overhead bin space more easily. Again, this applies only to the cardholder. Some versions of the card include additional perks like seat upgrade certificates or discounts on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, so review the specific benefits of the version you are considering.
Travel protections may be included, such as trip cancellation insurance or baggage delay reimbursement, though the scope and limits vary. Read the full benefits guide before relying on these protections, because they often have exclusions and require you to file a claim with documentation.
How to redeem miles and what they are worth
Miles are redeemed through the Hawaiian Airlines website or by calling their reservations line. You can book award flights using miles, purchase seat upgrades, or use miles toward other travel expenses like baggage fees or seat selection. The value of a mile depends on what you redeem it for — a mile used for a short interisland flight is worth less than a mile used for a long-haul flight to the mainland or international destination.
Award flight availability is limited and varies by route and date. Popular routes and travel dates often have few or no award seats available, which means you may not be able to book the flight you want even if you have enough miles. Hawaiian Airlines does not publish a fixed chart of how many miles each flight costs, so prices vary based on demand.
You can also transfer miles to partner programs, though the list of partners is limited compared to larger airline cards. Before opening the card, check whether the partner airlines and programs match your travel plans, because if you cannot redeem miles for flights you actually want to take, the miles have no practical value.
Who should consider this card
This card makes the most sense if you live in Hawaii or fly Hawaiian Airlines multiple times per year. The annual fee is justified only if you use the card enough to earn miles that offset the cost and provide additional value. If you fly Hawaiian Airlines once a year or less, the annual fee will likely exceed the value you receive.
The card is also worth considering if you spend heavily on everyday purchases and can take advantage of bonus categories. For example, if you spend $3,000 per month on groceries and restaurants and the card earns bonus miles in those categories, you will accumulate miles quickly. However, if your spending is concentrated in categories where the card does not earn bonus miles, a different rewards card may serve you better.
If you have no interest in flying Hawaiian Airlines or rarely travel by air, this card is not a good fit. The miles are useful only if you can redeem them for flights you actually want to take, and Hawaiian Airlines' route network is limited to Hawaii and a few mainland and international destinations.
Comparing this card to other airline cards
Other airline cards may offer higher earning rates, lower annual fees, or more flexible redemption options. For example, some cards earn points that can be transferred to multiple airline partners, giving you more options for redeeming your rewards. Other cards waive the annual fee in the first year, which gives you time to decide if the card is worth keeping.
The Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines card is specific to one airline, which means your rewards are locked into Hawaiian Airlines' program. If you fly multiple airlines or prefer flexibility, a general travel rewards card or a card from a larger airline may be a better choice. However, if Hawaiian Airlines is your primary airline, a co-branded card often offers the best value because the earning rates and benefits are tailored to that airline's frequent flyers.
Before explore, compare the earning rates, annual fee, sign-up bonus, and benefits of this card against other cards you are considering. Use an online calculator or spreadsheet to estimate how many miles you will earn in a year based on your actual spending, then subtract the annual fee to see your net benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card if I do not live in Hawaii?
Yes, the card can be opened from any state, though it is marketed primarily to Hawaii residents and frequent Hawaiian Airlines flyers. Bank of Hawaii will verify your identity and credit history through the standard process process. You do not need to have a Bank of Hawaii checking or savings account to open the card.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles are forfeited when you close the account. If you have accumulated miles you plan to redeem, book your flights before closing the card. If you want to keep your miles but avoid the annual fee, you can downgrade to a no-annual-fee version of the card if one is available, though this option varies by issuer.
Do companion tickets or travel credits come with this card?
Companion benefits and travel credits are not standard features of this card. Some premium versions may include annual travel credits or seat upgrade certificates, so check the specific benefits of the version you are considering. These benefits, if included, typically have restrictions on when and how they can be used.
Can I transfer miles to other airlines?
Miles can be transferred to Hawaiian Airlines' partner programs, though the list of partners is limited. Check the current partner list on the Hawaiian Airlines website before opening the card to confirm that the partners match your travel plans. Transfer rates and minimum transfer amounts may explore.
How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?
The time depends on your spending and the cost of the flight you want to book. A short interisland flight might cost 5,000 to 10,000 miles, while a mainland flight could cost 25,000 miles or more. If you spend $2,000 per month on the card and earn 2 miles per dollar, you will earn 4,000 miles per month, which means a short flight could take one to three months to reach.