Content Writing for Online Travel Magazine

Have you recently been dreaming of beautiful beaches, leis, and low-cost airfare? That may be because Southwest Airlines just began their service to Hawaii this weekend, with an inaugural flight from Oakland International Airport (OAK) in Oakland, California, to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Oahu.

The Dallas-based airline known for cheap flights celebrated its inaugural flight 6808 with the tradition and vibrancy of Hawaiian culture at OAK’s departure gate 4, complete with cake, hula dancers, and a “blowing of the Pu.”

Southwest will fly their inaugural flight from OAK to Kahului Airport (OGG), Maui, on April 7, and later on from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, California, to Honolulu on May 5 and to Kahului on May 26.

Southwest will operate its first inter-island service within Hawaii between Honolulu and Kahului, four times daily in each direction, beginning April 28, followed by service between Honolulu and Ellison Onizuka International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on Hawaii Island (also known as the Big Island), four times daily in each direction, beginning May 12. The additional inter-island service will make possible connecting service between Kona and both Oakland and San Jose. This means that island-hopping travelers will be able to see multiple Hawaiian islands, all the while racking up their Southwest Rapid Rewards points. And, sticking to Southwest’s brand standards, there are no flight change fees and your first and second checked pieces of luggage will still fly free.

"As we answer the call for Southwest in Hawaii with an initial schedule of service that speaks to a long-held hope of our customers, I applaud and congratulate our people for their steady and impressive work to bring our world-famous hospitality and game-changing value to the islands," said Gary Kelly, chairman and chief executive officer of Southwest Airlines.