HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – From crowded airports to packed grocery stores, the Thanksgiving rush is already in full swing across Hawaii.
At Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, many travelers said arriving early is helping them navigate long lines and avoid delays.
Families are taking extra steps to ensure their flights go smoothly, including checking in online, weighing luggage carefully, and arriving hours before departure.
“We learned this is basically the biggest travel day ever,” said traveler Felipe Gonzalez. “So we prepared making sure we don’t run into long lines or big crowds.”
Traveler Jason Pearlman said arriving early made all the difference. “We were expecting it to be a zoo, that’s what we kept hearing. So we showed up early and honestly, we got right through,” he said.
While airports buzzed with activity, grocery stores were just as busy. Shoppers scrambled for last-minute Thanksgiving essentials, from turkeys and stuffing to desserts.
“Just the turkey, the stuffings for the turkey … and basically the desserts for Thanksgiving,” said shopper Brent Afituk.
Officials say the day before Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest travel days of the year, with both air and ground transportation seeing a significant uptick.
Airlines encouraged travelers to monitor flight updates, arrive early, and remain patient during the holiday rush.
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