Lihue (LIH) Terminal Map & Navigation Guide

Everything you need to navigate Lihue: the official terminal map link, what airlines fly from each concourse, how to move between terminals, and gate-finding tips that save you backtracking. Verify your specific gate on your boarding pass — assignments change.

Folded printable terminal map cover for an airport navigation guide. — A printable terminal map you can fold and carry — concourses, gate ranges, and connections at a glance.

Where can I find the official Lihue terminal map?

The LIH airport authority publishes the most up-to-date map on its official website. Use the link below before you travel so you know the terminal layout and gate locations before you clear security.

Official map

Lihue official terminal map — airport authority website

Maps are updated when terminals are renovated or new concourses open. Terminal 5 at LAX, for example, has been closed since October 2025 for reconstruction — always confirm your terminal from your boarding pass rather than relying on a saved map.

What is in each Lihue terminal?

Here is what each terminal or concourse at LIH handles — which airlines fly from it, the gate range, and key amenities to know before you go.

Richard A. Kawakami Terminal (single terminal, Gates 1–10)

LIH has one open-air terminal building, dedicated in 1988 and named for former Hawaii House Speaker Richard A. Kawakami. Unlike most US airports, much of the terminal is un-walled and outdoors, letting travelers feel the trade winds while moving between check-in, security, and gates. Ground-level ticketing/check-in is split into two lobbies — Lobby A (east) and Lobby B (west) — with each airline at its assigned counter. Gates are numbered non-sequentially by carrier: Hawaiian Airlines primarily uses Gates 3–6 for interisland and mainland flights, Delta/Alaska/Southwest/WestJet use Gates 7–8, and United uses Gates 9–10, with American also operating from the Gate 3–4 area. Gate-hold rooms are air-conditioned even though the connecting corridors are open-air. Arrivals and baggage claim are on the same ground level, split into Baggage Claim A and B, with rental-car shuttle pickup and Visitor Information counters just outside.

View Richard A. Kawakami Terminal (single terminal, Gates 1–10) map

How do I get between terminals at Lihue?

Single-building, single-level terminal — there is no interterminal transit system because ticketing, security, gates, and baggage claim all sit under one open-air roof. Passengers move on foot along covered-but-open walkways between the two check-in lobbies, the central TSA checkpoint, and the gate corridors; walking end-to-end takes only a few minutes.

Timing tip

Always allow 15–30 minutes for any inter-terminal transfer at LIH — wait times for people-movers, buses, or security re-screening add up faster than the physical distance suggests. Build the buffer into your Leave-By time, not your gate arrival time.

How do I find my gate at Lihue?

A few habits that prevent last-minute sprints:

Open your airline app two hours before departure. Gate assignments update in the app before they appear on printed boarding passes and sometimes before terminal displays are updated.
Check departure screens immediately after clearing security. Every terminal at LIH has overhead departure boards near the checkpoint exit — confirming your gate here costs 30 seconds and can save a long detour.
Note which security checkpoint serves your concourse. At multi-concourse airports, entering through the wrong checkpoint can mean exiting security and re-queuing, which adds 20 minutes or more.
International arrivals follow the customs signs first. If you are connecting from an international arrival, clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before looking for your domestic connection gate — the process is one-way.

What is the easiest way to navigate Lihue?

Experienced travellers at LIH use a short checklist every time:

Review the map before leaving home. Open the Lihue official map on your phone while you are still home so the terminal layout is familiar.
Know your terminal before you arrive. At airports with multiple separate buildings (JFK, LAX, DTW, MSP) confirm your terminal from your boarding pass — rideshare and taxi drivers need the correct terminal to drop you at the right curb.
Use automated people-movers instead of walking. At large airports with trains (ATL Plane Train, DFW Skylink, DEN AGTS) a single train ride replaces 20–30 minutes of walking. Look for signs to the train immediately after clearing security.
Follow colour-coded signage. Most airports (TPA Blue/Red, SEA North/South Satellite, PHX T3/T4) use colour or number coding from curbside through gates — picking the right colour zone at check-in means you do not cross the terminal twice.
Check the live TSA wait before you leave. Knowing the current security wait at LIH lets you time your departure so you arrive at the gate relaxed, not sprinting.

Common questions about Lihue maps

Where can I find the official LIH terminal map?

The official Lihue terminal map is on the airport authority website at https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/airport-map/. Maps are updated when new gates or concourses open; always verify your specific gate on your boarding pass.

How do I get between terminals at LIH?

How do I find my gate at LIH?

Because LIH is a small single-terminal airport, allow only 10–15 minutes to walk from curbside check-in to any gate — but the terminal is largely open-air, so expect island humidity and trade winds the moment you leave an air-conditioned gate-hold room. Gates are not in strict numerical order along the corridor, so check the overhead monitors near the central checkpoint rather than assuming gate order. Your boarding pass shows the exact gate. Open your airline app about two hours before departure — gate assignments sometimes change after check-in closes. Look for departure boards throughout the terminal for real-time gate information.

What is the easiest way to navigate LIH?

Use the official interactive map at https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/airport-map/ before you arrive to familiarise yourself with the layout. Because LIH is a small single-terminal airport, allow only 10–15 minutes to walk from curbside check-in to any gate — but the terminal is largely open-air, so expect island humidity and trade winds the moment you leave an air-conditioned gate-hold room. Gates are not in strict numerical order along the corridor, so check the overhead monitors near the central checkpoint rather than assuming gate order.

What is in each LIH terminal?

Richard A. Kawakami Terminal (single terminal, Gates 1–10): LIH has one open-air terminal building, dedicated in 1988 and named for former Hawaii House Speaker Richard A. Kawakami. Unlike most US airports, much of the terminal is un-walled and outdoors, letting travelers feel the trade winds while moving between check-in, security, and gates. Ground-level ticketing/check-in is split into two lobbies — Lobby A (east) and Lobby B (west) — with each airline at its assigned counter. Gates are numbered non-sequentially by carrier: Hawaiian Airlines primarily uses Gates 3–6 for interisland and mainland flights, Delta/Alaska/Southwest/WestJet use Gates 7–8, and United uses Gates 9–10, with American also operating from the Gate 3–4 area. Gate-hold rooms are air-conditioned even though the connecting corridors are open-air. Arrivals and baggage claim are on the same ground level, split into Baggage Claim A and B, with rental-car shuttle pickup and Visitor Information counters just outside.

Leave-By calculator

Know exactly when to leave for LIH

The TSA Wait Times Leave-By calculator folds the live LIH security wait, your drive time, and terminal navigation into one exact time to leave home — so you reach your gate without guessing.

TSA·WAIT·TIMES