Here’s a rare Hawaii airport retreat, hiding in plain sight. While premium travelers pack into overcrowded lounges—or get turned away entirely—Honolulu’s best-kept airport secret remains wide open. We continue to use it ourselves, and we have done so for years. It’s still surprisingly under the radar: a series of peaceful retreats, garden courtyards, nestled between terminals at Honolulu Airport.
One of the gardens has special significance today. It was named after the senior flight attendant on Aloha Airlines, Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing, who lost her life on April 28, 1988, on Flight 243 from Hilo to Honolulu.
These cultural gardens offer shaded seating, quiet pathways, koi ponds, native plants, and the sound of birds, rather than the sound of boarding announcements. They’re open-air and free for anyone to access—no airline status, day pass, or credit card required. At a time when lounge access has become a growing pain point for Hawaii travelers, these nearly forgotten gems feel like a throwback to old Hawaii airport travel: calm, welcoming, and utterly unexpected.
Where to find the gardens.
The gardens sit in two places. The C. B. Lansing Garden was created in 1995 with the construction of Terminal 1 and is located at the makai end of the terminal’s ground level, near the walkway to Terminal 2. It’s a reminder every time we pass by of her dedication to aviation in the line of duty…