Lihue Airport — Lihue, Kauai, United States

As the main air gateway to Kauai, known widely as Hawaii's "Garden Isle" for its lush, deeply eroded landscape, LIH handles a mix of interisland hops and direct mainland flights that bring visitors to the island's beaches, the dramatic Na Pali Coast, and Waimea Canyon. The airport sits near Nawiliwili Harbor on the island's southeastern shore, close to Lihue town, the county seat of Kauai. Unlike Oahu's much larger Honolulu hub, Lihue handles a comparatively modest volume of traffic, reflecting Kauai's smaller population and its identity as a quieter, less-developed counterpart to the more heavily touristed islands. Frequent trade winds and passing showers, typical of Kauai's wetter climate, shape flight operations at LIH more than at some of the state's drier airports. Direct flights from several West Coast cities have grown, reducing the need for many visitors to connect through Honolulu.