Hilo is getting its first mainland nonstop flight in three years. Southwest Airlines announced a new Las Vegas (LAS) to Hilo (ITO) route launching August 6, 2026, with three flights per week. The last mainland nonstop to Hilo disappeared in 2023 when United pulled its LAX-ITO seasonal service.
For anyone planning a Big Island trip that focuses on Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, or the Hamakua Coast, this changes the calculus. Until now, reaching Hilo from the mainland meant connecting through Honolulu or flying into Kona and driving two hours across the island.
