Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is officially a no-smoking facility from cabin to curb, meaning you cannot smoke anywhere inside the terminal buildings. All smoking is restricted to a handful of specific outdoor, landside-only zones, and there are zero airside options once you clear security.

Before Security

Smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas before you pass through TSA. Every spot requires you to be at least 20 feet away from any doorway, window, or ventilation duct. Here are the confirmed locations by terminal:

Terminal 1

• Ground level, next to Pre-Arranged 1, between Terminal 1 and the International Arrivals Building, away from curbside pedestrian traffic.

• Parking Garage 7th floor (not within 20 feet of entryways or elevator/stairwell landings). One traveler report from 2019 notes this upper-deck spot has a covered area with a bench and impressive views of the airport and surrounding landscape.

Terminal 2

• Ground level, Diamond Head Group Tour Area (uncovered, open-air).

• 2nd level roadway median fronting the Ticket Lobbies.

• Parking Garage 5th floor (not within 20 feet of entryways or elevator/stairwell landings). A 2022 traveler report mentions a bench here and notes it is partially covered with good sunset views.

• Uncovered parking lots.

Terminal 3

• Public parking lot against the fence, as marked by posted signs.

After Security

There are no smoking areas, smoking rooms, or smoking lounges past the security checkpoints at HNL. This applies to all three terminals. No airline lounge at HNL is known to offer a smoking room or designated smoking terrace. If you need to smoke during a layover, you must exit the secure area entirely, use one of the outdoor landside spots listed above, and then go through TSA screening again before returning to your gate.

Vaping Rules

Vaping and e-cigarettes are treated the same as tobacco under Hawaii state law at this airport. They are prohibited inside all terminal buildings and subject to the same outdoor-only, 20-foot-clearance rules as cigarettes.

Transit and Layovers

If you are connecting through HNL on an international itinerary, be aware that you must clear U.S. Customs and Immigration before you can access the landside smoking areas. Re-entering the secure area means going through TSA again, so budget extra time, especially if your layover is short.

Bottom Line

Smoke before security only, in one of the clearly marked outdoor zones. Once you are airside, there is no option to smoke anywhere in the airport, paid lounge or otherwise.