Two different caravan experiences between the Hawaiian Islands (travel report) – Cranky Flier

We had arrived in Honolulu and now it was time for the five of us to go small. Our Mokulele flights (technically operated by Southern Airways Express under the Mokulele brand) were in 9-seat Cessna Grand Caravans. We could have fit 40 of them in the 777 I arrived on and there were still 4 seats left, so that was quite a change.

Mokulele flies from Terminal 3 in Honolulu, which is a trailer only. Surprisingly, the Wiki-Wiki shuttle was waiting for us, so the three of us got on. Two others decided to walk for some reason. The journey to the terminal only took about 5 minutes in a well air-conditioned bus.

We queued to check in but there was no one there. We probably only waited about 15 minutes for someone to show up to get the line moving again. When we got to the front, we had to pay $20 each to check a bag because anything over a backpack wouldn’t fit as carry-on luggage.

It was a slow process, but as we stood there I noticed something. I had to laugh at what was supporting the computer.

It took a long time for everyone to get ready because they weighed not only the checked luggage, but also our carry-on luggage and each of us. When we were finished we went to the lounge.

There was actually a lounge, but it’s a boarding lounge with a vending machine and some window units for air conditioning. You could either sit there or go outside to the picnic tables. This sad place was cool enough to make it attractive.

We finally went outside when we thought it was time to board. The sign said boarding had begun, later it became “last call,” but nothing actually happened. We asked the agent and she said they probably needed another 20 minutes or so for pre-flight paperwork or something. What we saw was a pilot walking back and forth looking under the hood at the engine more than once. So we didn’t have high hopes. While we waited for the delay, some of our group went to the food truck and ate potstickers and egg rolls.

Luckily the reported delay was about right. Finally they called us to board and I was told to sit in the second row. It was very confusing because the agent told us the row numbers but when we boarded one of the pilots told us the seat numbers.

These numbers did not correlate in any way with the numbers above the seats. So there was confusion until the pilot, who was sitting in the front, gave us an overview.

Mokulele 630 (operated by Southern Airways Express)
September 4, 2024

From Honolulu
➤ Scheduled departure: 120 p.m
➤ Actual departure: 145p
➤ From the gate: H1
➤ Wheels up: 155p
➤ From the runway: 8L

To Molokai
➤ Wheels Down: 221p
➤ On the catwalk: 5
➤ Scheduled arrival: 205p
➤ Actual Arrival: 223p
➤ At the gate: 1

Airplane
➤ Type: Cessna 208 Grand Caravan
➤ Delivered: 2013
➤ Registered: N549PN, MSN 208B5049
➤ Paint: Blue Flower Tail

Flight
➤ Cabin: Coach in seat 2B or possibly 5
➤ Load: 8/9
➤ Flight time: 26 m

We had almost a full load, but this plane had a bench seat in the back behind the door. One person in our group had this to themselves and did not enjoy the experience.

We had a short taxi to the middle of the runway where we turned in and quickly took off.

Below us on the left we had fantastic views of Waikiki and Diamond Head. We had to climb up to 7,000 feet to cross the water.

It didn’t take long to reach the western edge of Molokai, but our view was obscured. There was a long and thick layer of clouds ahead of us. It seemed clear to both left and right. So when we descended straight into the cloud, it was a bit of a surprise.

The ride in the cloud was pretty rough. It was raining and it felt a bit like a children’s roller coaster. However, after a few minutes we were under it and it started bouncing normally again. I have absolutely no idea why they didn’t just walk around the cloud, but I was wondering if it was a training exercise. After all, it was both captains who carried out the flight. One looked like he had been there a long time while the other looked young.

Not long after, we landed on the runway and taxied in.

It took all of two minutes to get off the plane, and then we waited another minute or two for our bags to be placed on the rack.

With that, it was time to get out and have some epic days of hiking.

When we woke up the day we returned to Honolulu, the weather looked great, with just the usual scattered puffy clouds. After dropping off the rental car about an hour before departure, we headed to check-in. This time they only weighed our checked luggage and we had a lot of time to kill.

I went outside to feel the breeze and saw the sign for a snack bar. It turns out that this is just a sign. The inside looks like an interrogation room for prisoners.

Luckily we didn’t have to wait too long. The entire aircraft was checked in and the pilots were on site with the aircraft. So they called us very early to board. This time I was in row 1.

Mokulele 949 (operated by Southern Airways Express)
September 8, 2024

From Molokai
➤ Scheduled departure: 940a
➤ Actual departure: 920a
➤ From the gate: 1
➤ Wheels up: 924a
➤ From the runway: 5

To Honolulu
➤ Wheels below: 951a
➤ On the runway: 4L
➤ Scheduled arrival: 1024a
➤ Actual arrival: 953a
➤ At the gate: H1

Airplane
➤ Type: Cessna 208 Grand Caravan
➤ Delivered: November 29, 2007
➤ Registered: N129CG, MSN 208B1290
➤ Paint: Generic blue and green stripes

Flight
➤ Cabin: Coach in seat 1A
➤ Loading: 9/9 full
➤ Flight time: 27 m

This particular aircraft had a different configuration. There was no seating behind the door, but the front row had a single seat on one side and a school bus-like seat for two on the other. The seat on the left had less legroom, so I just grabbed that since I sit on the smaller side for our group.

After everyone was boarded up and in their seats, there was a safety briefing and we just came out. We started moving 20 minutes early, which was just great.

We climbed north into the calm morning sky before turning right and heading back south. I waved goodbye to Kaunakakai.

A quick right turn and we headed west to Oahu.

We only stayed at the altitude for a few minutes and then started descending. Ahead of us was a narrow line of clouds with a few gaps. I thought we would just fly through one of the breaks, but no, the pilots pointed the nose down and we went right under it. This is the type of flying I normally expect from Mokulele.

After a right turn we arrived via the reef runway and then lined up to land.

We landed about halfway up the 7,000-foot runway and still had plenty of room left. We circled the taxiway and blocked it half an hour early.

I was telling my friends in the same row about the early arrival, and the first officer turned around and jokingly said, “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Baggage claim in Honolulu was even more primitive than Molokai. It was a cart.

At this point, two people were making their way to Overseas Terminal 2 for their flight home. The other two had red eyes and came with me to the Royal Hawaiian, where I would stay two nights. It was my first stay in the historic hotel and I enjoyed every minute. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to serenity in Waikiki, and the history just speaks to you.

If there were any problems on my previous flights, they were nothing compared to what would happen on my flight home at Hawaiian. But that will have to wait another day.