Hawaiian Airlines is marking this year’s Lei Day with a worldwide travel giveaway that could send lucky winners on a trip to Hawaiʻi or another destination across its expanded route network.
The airline has unveiled its new “Aloha Around the World” campaign, a month-long promotion designed to celebrate both Hawaiʻi’s annual May 1 Lei Day tradition and the carrier’s growing international footprint following its recent expansion through the oneworld alliance.
As part of the campaign, travelers in several countries can enter to win round-trip flights for two, giving participants the chance to experience Hawaiʻi’s islands or choose from destinations served across the combined Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines network.
The promotion comes as Hawaiian looks to spotlight its signature island hospitality on a larger global stage, introducing more travelers to the culture and traditions that have long shaped the airline’s brand.
Hawaiian brings Lei Day celebrations to major global cities
To launch the initiative, Hawaiian Airlines staged surprise Lei Day pop-ups in several high-profile international locations, including Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Sydney.
The events featured travelers receiving traditional lei presentations, a symbolic gesture deeply tied to Hawaiʻi’s culture of welcome, celebration, and connection.
The campaign is designed to carry that spirit beyond the islands, with Hawaiian using the activation to showcase how its brand identity is evolving as it reaches new international markets.
Lei Day, celebrated every year on May 1 across Hawaiʻi, honors the cultural tradition of lei making and giving. Hawaiian Airlines has frequently incorporated the celebration into customer-facing campaigns, but this year’s effort is its largest international activation tied to the holiday.
How to enter Hawaiian Airlines’ flight giveaway
The sweepstakes opened May 1 and will remain open through May 31.
Travelers in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan are eligible to participate.
To enter, eligible participants need to:
Follow Hawaiian Airlines’ official Instagram account (or the airline’s Japan-specific account for entrants based in Japan)
Like the designated sweepstakes post
Tag another user for additional entries
The airline says it will award five total prizes, with each winner receiving two round-trip tickets.
Four winning entries will be selected through Hawaiian’s English-language social channels, while one pair of tickets will be awarded through its Japan-focused account.
Why this giveaway matters for travelers
The campaign also reflects a broader shift for Hawaiian Airlines as it works to expand its visibility internationally.
Its deeper alignment with Alaska Airlines and participation in the oneworld alliance gives travelers greater flexibility when booking across both carriers’ networks, opening up more routing options between North America, Asia-Pacific destinations, and Hawaiʻi.
For travelers, the giveaway offers more than a shot at free flights.
It also highlights the increasing connectivity now available through Hawaiian’s partnerships, particularly for passengers looking to combine island vacations with broader multi-destination itineraries.
With summer travel demand expected to remain strong, the promotion arrives at a time when many travelers are actively planning Hawaiʻi trips and searching for airfare deals.
Anyone hoping to enter will need to do so before the end of May, when the month-long Lei Day celebration officially wraps.