At the moment, I’m in Guam and will take the Island Hopper tomorrow to Honolulu, HI. It makes five stops from GUM-TKK-PNI-KSA-KWA-MAJ-HNL. It takes about 15 hours in all 
. Depart at 9:00a and arrive at 3:30a the same day .
Here is a mapping of the route.
Have you ever taken this flight? Please leave a comment below.
I flew the island hopper three times a month for five years. For three years (1994–1997) we originated out of Guam and layed over at the Outrigger East, (1998-2000) we originated in Honolulu and layed over at the Guam Hilton. At that time the U.S. chemical weapons disposal site on Johnston Island was still in operation and we stopped there also on Hawaii-Guam portion. We did not stop there going to Hawaii, last leg was Maj-Hnl. We fleew the 727, in 1999 the company tried an experiment (in anticipation of the 737 replacing the 727) and turned Kosrae into a layover (2 1/2 days) with the Honolulu crew bringing the flight into Ksa and the Guam crew continuing on to Guam and vice versa. Best flying in my life!! Thanks, Gerry
I used to fly to all those islands in a C-130 in the 70′s re supplying the Coast Guard Loran Stations. It was fun flying. I was based at Clark AB Phillippines.
Flew to many of these places in a C-141 during the 80s. A few times we even stayed long enough to snorkel though not enough time to dive.
As a dispatcher for Continental Airlines, I was able to ride jump-seat twice on the HNL-GUM on the Island Hopper. The first time was when COA was still flying the B727-100 combi. Frieght was carried in the front of the cabin and the passengers sat in the back. The second trip was on the B727-200-17. This was an all passenger aircraft. The first trip we did a stop a Johnson Island. MPs in a Humvee with a 50 cal parked near the aircraft’s nose to ensure no one got off that should not. We landed in MAJ and the station manager told us the Health Authorities were checking arrivals for “social diseases.” In KWA, the mechanic that we took in in MAJ had to “mallitize” a part of the cargo loading door to get it closed. Landed in KSA to their celebration of their new airport terminal. Learned how nice the “Leah” flower smelled. Upon arrival PNI, a large rain shower was blocking our arrival, so, below 3000MSL we flew around the back side of PNI to fly the ADF approch which about the “missed approach point” leave you looking at a cliff face thats above the aircraft. Arrival in to TKK was uneventful. We landed at GUM about 4:00pm
I tried to once, but was denied boarding in HNL due to an agent not allowing me to ‘jumpseat’.
That’s no fun at all.
We actually got bumped on this trip as well. Story to follow.
Did you try again?
I spent most of 2000-2006 on KWA where I worked in the Aviation department and my wife was a gate agent for COA. We never actually took the whole trip in one bit, but I’ve travelled all segments of it at one time or another. We used to vacation on PNI (stay at the Village!) every so often. A unique route and lots of fun (well, from MAJ to GUM – MAJ to HNL was the standard trans-oceanic slog.)
I’ll never forget the time we were landing at KSA one day, and the local crash/rescue truck pulled out onto the taxiway to watch the landing, promptly broke down, and the aircraft took a 45 min delay waiting for the tow truck to pull it off of the ONLY taxiway.