I just had the opportunity to do a full walk-through of the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner named Kapuahi (N781HA). I recommend watching the video below as I walk through the economy, extra comfort, business class, cockpit, crew sleeping area, and exterior of the aircraft.
I know there has been a lot of discussion about the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner so I hope this answers a lot of questions. I am scheduled to fly in the business class Leihōkū Suites on April 16th, the day after the inaugural flight, to SFO. Then I will be able to do a flight review of the food, and other amenities.
Exterior
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Economy Seats & Cabin
A 3X3X3 configuration that has been getting some frowns from people online so we will have to wait and see how this plays out.
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Extra Comfort Seats
The extra comfort seats on the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 have the same audio jacks, USB-C & A ports as regular economy along with an AC outlet not found with the regular economy seats. So if power in the air is important to you then be sure to pick a seat with this designation.
The extra legroom is key for many travelers and in the video above I point out the rows that offer even more because of their location.
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class Seats & Cabin
The Leihōkū Suites make up the business class section with a fully lie-flat seat and privacy door.
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Cockpit
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Crew Cabin
I almost missed out on this section while snapping pictures of the cockpit but the Captain on board reminded me, I can’t think of when I would have had another opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Things I liked about the new aircraft included the seat numbers in Hawaiian, the wood tone accents, the Leihōkū Suites, and of course the lighting. I would have liked to see a more premium bathroom in the front of the plane and a true economy plus section for long-haul flights.
The first flight is April 15th, 2024 and I am looking forward to the amenity kits by Noho Home, onboard dining options, and onboard entertainment selections. More are coming into Hawaiian’s fleet in 2024 and I look forward to flying them all.
What Is The Name Of Hawaiian Airlines’ First Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
In adherence to a customary practice for each aircraft within Hawaiian’s fleet, specific names with cultural significance are assigned. In the context of the airline’s long-haul, widebody fleet, these designations derive from stars and constellations integral to the traditions of Polynesian navigators. Today, during the welcoming ceremony, the official name of N781HA, designated as Kapuahi, was unveiled. Kapuahi corresponds to a red giant star recognized as Aldebaran in Western astronomy, positioned as the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. Notably, it shares the Pacific sky with Makali’i, a celestial cluster of considerable importance in Hawaiian narratives concerning navigation, wayfinding, and agriculture.
What does Leihōkū Suites Mean?
Leihōkū means “garland of stars” and is the name for the premium or business class cabin suites on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes with Hawaiian Airlines.
Looks like the standard cattle car set up. Very claustrophobic. Business Class is nothing special and the seats look very narrow. Overall, I am not impressed at all.
Looks nice to me. As I recall the 787 series was originally intended to have eight across seating. It’s up to each airline to decide the configuration of each seat. I love the color of the seats and with the colorful mood lighting will make for a different than standard experience. One might truly feel that the Hawaiian experience starts on the airplane.