As part of a two island stay in HI, I am traveling from KOA to OGG with a connection in HNL. Will Hawaiian Air allow us to standby for an earlier segment from KOA to HNL then fly the booked segment from HNL to OGG? The intent is to get seven hours in HNL or so so the kids can do Ala Moana mall.

Booking this in two segments adds way too much to the cost of the inter-island portion of the trip, particularly when we have four traveling.

I've already booked the mainland-maui part of the trip so I cannot just return to the mainland from HNL.

They will definitely allow you to stand-by for an earlier flight if you have no checked baggage; however, if you have checked baggage, it becomes more complex. Technically, you and your baggage have to travel on the same plane (this is presuming you are terrorist who has packed a bomb and are thus flying on an earlier flight to avoid being on the flight where the bomb explodes). However, in my experience, Hawaiian is not as strict about these sorts of regulations as American or Delta, for instance. They have lots of flights every day, and their flights are a lot like shuttles back and forth between the islands. So they might let you do it.

Great, I figured it would be ok unless there was checked baggage involved. So now the kids have a choice, pack light so we only have carry-on (my preference) and go to the mall, or take their entire wardrobe and don't see the mall.

This may work out after all.

Spokaneman...Upon further cogitation,I want to point out a possible hiccup...The fare between KOA and OGG allows a "connection" in HNL, but not a "stopover".....A stopover occurs when you do not depart the intermediate point within 4 hours.In other words, a stopover can be maximum 4 hours.So it would be my guess that you can go earlier, standby or not, but you will have to pay the additional fare.....Best of luck at any rate.

I think I will do online check in, then just carry my boarding pass to the airport, go standby on an earlier flight. I will still have the "correct" second leg boarding pass. Worst case they will catch it at KOA tell me I can't do it.