Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Honolulu to Newark. The right side wins overall because the Oahu departure views of Diamond Head and the Koolau Range are genuinely spectacular and unique. The landing views of Manhattan are excellent from the left, but the departure scenery from Honolulu is the more memorable and rare experience of the two.

During takeoff from Honolulu International (HNL), sit on the Right side for the best views. HNL typically departs westbound on runway 08R/26L or 04R/22L. On a northeast-bound departure climbing out over the ocean, the right side gives you Diamond Head crater, the Koolau Range spine, and the Windward Coast of Oahu before the island falls away. The left side faces mostly open ocean and the industrial harbor area. Notable sights include: Diamond Head crater, Koolau Range, Kaneohe Bay and Windward Coast, Waikiki beachfront strip.

When landing at Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. EWR approaches from the southwest or northeast depending on winds. On the common ILS approach to runway 22L heading southwest, the left side faces Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the New York Harbor. On runway 04R approaches heading northeast, the left side still captures the Manhattan skyline and Upper Bay. Either way, left is the city side. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, New York Harbor and Upper Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

The flight from Honolulu International (HNL) to Newark Liberty International (EWR) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The flight tracks northeast over open Pacific for roughly the first 2,000 miles with no land visible. The route passes north of the Hawaiian island chain shortly after departure. Over the continental US, the flight crosses the Sierra Nevada range in California or Nevada, then the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin, the Great Plains states, and finally the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania and New Jersey before descending into the New York metro area. The Sierra Nevada and Rockies are the most visually dramatic overland features, typically visible from both sides depending on exact routing.