Two Different Caravan Experiences Between the Hawaiian Islands (Trip Report)

We had arrived in Honolulu, and now it was time for the five of us to get small. Our flights on Mokulele (technically operated by Southern Airways Express using the Mokulele brand) were on 9-seat Cessna Grand Caravans. We could have fit 40 of those in the 777 I had arrived on and still had 4 seats left over, so this was quite the change.

Mokulele flies from Honolulu’s Terminal 3 which is just a trailer. The wiki wiki shuttle was surprisingly waiting for us, so three of us got on. Two others decided they wanted to walk for some reason. It was only about a 5-minute ride in a nicely-air conditioned bus to the terminal.

We got in line to check in, but there was nobody there. We just waited for probably about 15 minutes before someone showed up to start getting the line moving again. Once we got to the front, we had to each pay $20 to check a bag since anything above a backpack won’t fit as a carry-on.

This was a slow process, but as we stood there, I noticed something. I had to laugh at what was propping up the computer.

It took a long time to get everyone set, because they weighed not only the checked bag but our carry-ons and each of us as well. Once done, we went to the lounge.

There really was a lounge, but it’s a boarding lounge with a vending machine and some window units for air conditioning. It was either sit there or go outside to the picnic tables. This sad place was cool enough to make it appealing.

We did eventually go outside when we thought it was time to board. The sign said boarding had begun, later changing to “final call,” but nothing was actually happening. We asked the agent and she said they probably needed another 20 minutes or so for pre-flight paperwork, or something like that. What we saw was a pilot going back and forth more than once, looking under the hood at the engine. So, we did not have high hopes. While we waited out the delay, some of our group went to the food truck and had potstickers and egg rolls.

Fortunately, the stated delay was about right. They finally called us to board, and I was told to sit in the second row. It was very confusing, because the agent told us row numbers, but then as we boarded, one of the pilots told us seat numbers.

These numbers in no way correlated to the numbers above the seats. So there was confusion until the pilot sitting up front got us straightened out.

Mokulele 630 (operated by Southern Airways Express)
September 4, 2024

We had a nearly full load, but this aircraft was in the configuration that has a bench in the back behind the door. One person in our group had that to himself, and he did not enjoy the experience.

We had a short taxi to the middle of the runway where we turned in and took off quickly.

Below us on the left we had fantastic views of Waikiki and Diamond Head. We had to climb up to 7,000 feet for the crossing over the water.

It doesn’t take long to get to the western edge of Molokai, but our views were obscured. Ahead of us was a long and thickish layer of clouds. It appeared to be clear both to the left and the right. So when we descended into the cloud directly, it was something of a surprise.

The ride in the cloud was pretty rough. There was rain and it felt a little like a kiddie roller coaster. In a couple of minutes, however, we were below it and it went back to normal bouncing. I have absolutely no idea why they didn’t just go around the cloud, but I did wonder if it was a training exercise. After all, these were both captains operating the flight. One looked like he’d been there for a long time while the other looked young.

Not long after, we dropped down on to the runway and taxied in.

It took all of two minutes to get off the airplane, and then we waited another minute or two for our bags to be put out on the shelf.

With that, it was time to go out and have an epic few days of hiking.

When we woke up on the day of our return back to Honolulu, the weather looked great with just the usual scattered puffy clouds. After dropping off the rental car about an hour before departure, we headed over to check in. This time they only weighed our checked bags, and we had a lot of time to kill.

I walked outside to feel the breeze and saw the sign for a snack bar. Turns out, that’s just a sign. The inside looks like a prisoner interrogation room.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long. The entire plane had checked in and the pilots were there with the airplane. So, they called us for boarding very early. I was in row 1 this time.

Mokulele 949 (operated by Southern Airways Express)
September 8, 2024

This particular airplane was in a different configuration. It had no seating behind the door, but the front row had a single seat on one side with a school bus-style seat for two on the other. The seat on the left had less legroom so I just grabbed that one since I’m on the shorter side for our group.

With everyone boarded up and seated, they did a safety briefing, and we just got out of there. We started moving 20 minutes early, which was just great.

We climbed north into the calm morning sky, before turning right and heading back south. I waved goodbye to Kaunakakai.

A quick right turn and we were making our way west to Oʻahu.

We stayed at altitude for just a couple minutes, and then we started descending. Ahead there was a narrow line of clouds with some breaks in it. I figured we’d just go through one of the breaks, but no, the pilots pointed the nose down and we went right under it. This is the kind of flying I usually expect with Mokulele.

After a right turn, we came in over the reef runway and then lined up for landing.

We landed about halfway down the 7,000 foot runway and still had plenty of room to spare. We circled around on the taxiway and blocked in a half an hour early.

I said something about the early arrival to my friends in the same row, and the first officer turned around and said jokingly “sorry for the inconvenience.”

The baggage claim in Honolulu was even more primitive than Molokai. It was a cart.

At that point, two people headed over to the overseas terminal 2 for their flights home. The other two had redeyes, so they came with me to the Royal Hawaiian where I would be staying for two nights. It was my first time staying at the historic hotel, and I loved every minute of it. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to finding quiet in Waikiki, and the history just talks to you.

If there were any hiccups on my flights so far, they were nothing compared to what was to come on my flight home on Hawaiian. But that will have to wait for another day.