What the Hawaiian Airlines credit card is and who issues it

The Hawaiian Airlines credit card is a co-branded card issued by Bank of Hawaii in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. It earns points on every purchase you make, and those points convert to miles you can use for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards on Hawaiian Airlines.

Bank of Hawaii is the card issuer — they set the terms, manage your account, and handle billing. Hawaiian Airlines runs the rewards program that determines what your points are worth and how you redeem them. The card itself comes in two versions: a personal card and a business card, each with different annual fees and earning rates.

This is not a debit card or a prepaid card. It is a standard credit card that reports to the three major credit bureaus, affects your credit score, and requires you to pay a monthly bill. The rewards are a secondary feature; the primary function is credit.

Key Takeaways

  • The Hawaiian Airlines card earns points on purchases that convert to Hawaiian Airlines miles, but the earning rate and annual fee differ between the personal and business versions.
  • You pay an annual fee to hold the card, and that fee is not waived in the first year — you owe it whether you use the card or not.
  • Sign-up bonuses typically offer a large number of miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months, but the bonus terms change periodically.
  • Points expire if your account is closed or inactive for a set period, so the card only makes financial sense if you plan to use it regularly or redeem miles within a reasonable timeframe.
  • The card's value depends entirely on whether you fly Hawaiian Airlines frequently enough to use the miles before they expire or close the account.

Annual fees and what they cover

The personal Hawaiian Airlines card charges an annual fee that varies but typically falls in the $75 to $100 range. The business version usually costs more. Bank of Hawaii does not waive this fee in the first year — you pay it as soon as the card is activated, regardless of whether you use it.

The annual fee does not include any travel credits, statement credits, or automatic perks that offset the cost. You get the ability to earn miles and access to the rewards program, but no automatic benefit that reduces the fee itself. This means the card only makes financial sense if the miles you earn and redeem are worth more than the annual fee you pay.

If you close the account before the annual fee posts, you may be able to avoid it — but this depends on Bank of Hawaii's specific policies and timing. Contact them directly before your first anniversary to understand the exact window for cancellation without paying the renewal fee.

How points are earned and what they are worth

The personal card typically earns a base rate of 1 point per dollar spent on most purchases, with bonus earning on specific categories like dining or gas. The business card often earns a higher base rate. These points are not the same as Hawaiian Airlines miles — they are a separate currency that converts to miles at a set ratio, usually 1 point equals 1 mile.

The real value of a mile depends on how you redeem it. A Hawaiian Airlines mile is worth different amounts depending on whether you use it for a short interisland flight or a longer route, and whether you book during peak or off-peak travel periods. Miles are typically worth between 0.5 and 1.5 cents each when redeemed for flights, though this varies widely.

To determine whether the card makes sense for you, calculate how many miles you would earn in a year based on your typical spending, convert that to dollars using the average redemption value, and subtract the annual fee. If the result is positive, the card may be worth holding. If it is negative or close to zero, the annual fee is eating up your rewards.

Sign-up bonuses and how they work

New cardholders typically receive a sign-up bonus of miles after they spend a certain amount within a set timeframe — usually three to six months. The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so the offer you see today may not be the same next month.

The sign-up bonus is paid once, after you meet the spending requirement. It does not renew each year. This bonus is often the largest single reward you will receive from the card, so it should factor into your decision about whether to open the account.

To use a sign-up bonus effectively, plan your spending before you explore. If you can naturally spend the required amount in the timeframe given, the bonus adds real value. If you would have to artificially inflate your spending or put purchases on the card that you would normally pay for differently, the bonus does not save you money — it costs you money through interest or changed spending habits.

How redemption works and when miles expire

Miles are redeemed through the Hawaiian Airlines website or by calling their reservations line. You log into your frequent flyer account, search for available flights, and book using miles instead of cash. The number of miles required depends on the route, the time of year, and seat availability — there is no fixed price.

Miles expire if your account is inactive for a certain period or if you close the account entirely. The exact expiration policy is set by Hawaiian Airlines, not Bank of Hawaii, so check the current terms on the Hawaiian Airlines website. If your miles expire, they are gone — there is no way to recover them.

This expiration rule means the card only makes sense if you plan to use your miles within a reasonable timeframe. If you earn miles but never book a flight, or if you accumulate miles slowly and let them sit for years, you risk losing them entirely. Factor this into your decision about whether to open the account.

Comparing the personal and business versions

The personal card and business card have different annual fees, earning rates, and sign-up bonuses. The business card typically charges a higher annual fee but may earn a higher base rate on purchases. The business version also reports to business credit bureaus, which affects your business credit score rather than your personal one.

Choose the personal card if you are an individual who wants to earn miles on personal spending. Choose the business card only if you own a business, have significant business expenses, and want those expenses to earn miles toward your personal Hawaiian Airlines account. Using a business card for personal expenses can create accounting and tax complications, so do not open a business card straightforward because it has a higher earning rate.

Both versions have the same core limitation: the annual fee only makes sense if you fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly enough to use the miles. If you rarely fly Hawaiian Airlines, neither version is worth the cost.

When this card makes financial sense

The Hawaiian Airlines card makes sense if you meet all three of these conditions: you fly Hawaiian Airlines at least a few times per year, you spend enough on the card to earn miles worth more than the annual fee, and you redeem your miles before they expire.

The card does not make sense if you fly Hawaiian Airlines rarely, if you live far from Hawaii and only visit occasionally, or if you prefer to pay for flights with cash rather than accumulate miles. It also does not make sense if you would carry a balance on the card and pay interest — the interest charges would quickly exceed any rewards value.

If you are considering this card, calculate your expected annual miles earnings, estimate their redemption value, and subtract the annual fee. If the number is significantly positive — say, $100 or more — the card is worth exploring. If it is close to zero or negative, the annual fee is not justified by your expected usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn miles on this card if I do not fly Hawaiian Airlines?

Yes — you earn miles on every purchase you make with the card, regardless of whether you fly. However, those miles are only useful if you eventually redeem them for Hawaiian Airlines flights or other Hawaiian Airlines rewards. If you never plan to fly Hawaiian Airlines, the miles have no value, and the annual fee is wasted.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles do not automatically disappear when you close the card — they remain in your Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer account as long as that account stays active. However, if your frequent flyer account becomes inactive for a certain period, the miles will expire. Check Hawaiian Airlines' current policy on account inactivity to understand the exact timeline.

Can I transfer miles to another airline or person?

Hawaiian Airlines miles cannot be transferred to other airlines. You may be able to transfer miles to another person's Hawaiian Airlines account, but the rules and any associated fees are set by Hawaiian Airlines, not Bank of Hawaii. Contact Hawaiian Airlines directly to learn whether transfers are allowed and what they cost.

Is there a way to avoid the annual fee?

Bank of Hawaii does not waive the annual fee in the first year or any subsequent year. Your only option to avoid the fee is to close the account before the renewal date. Some cardholders close and reopen the card periodically to capture sign-up bonuses without paying multiple annual fees, but this strategy requires careful timing and may affect your credit score.

What credit score do I need to open this card?

Bank of Hawaii does not publicly state a minimum credit score requirement. Generally, co-branded airline cards require good to excellent credit — typically a score of 670 or higher — but the exact requirement varies. Check your credit score before you explore, and contact Bank of Hawaii if you want to know whether you are likely to be approved.