Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Lihue. The right side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get the Phoenix mountain landmarks and valley geography, and at arrival you get Nawiliwili Harbor and the dramatic Haupu Ridge rather than open ocean. During the overwater cruise portion there is little to differentiate sides, so the bookend views determine the winner.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX primarily uses runways 7R/25L and 8/26. Departing westbound toward Hawaii, aircraft typically head west then northwest. The right side gives you a clear view of South Mountain Park and the broad Phoenix metro grid, while the left side faces north toward downtown and Camelback Mountain. On a westbound departure, the right (north-facing) side actually captures Camelback Mountain and the McDowell Mountains as you bank northwest. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park and preserve, Camelback Mountain, the Salt River bed cutting through the valley, Estrella Mountain Regional Park to the southwest.

When landing at Lihue (LIH), sit on the Right side for the best views. Lihue Airport on Kauai sits on the east side of the island. Aircraft typically approach from the northeast or east over the ocean, landing on runway 03/21. On approach from the northeast, the right side faces south and southwest, giving you views of the Haupu Ridge, the Kipu area, and the dramatic green interior mountains. The left side faces the open ocean. Notable sights include: Haupu Ridge (Hoary Head Range), Nawiliwili Harbor and Bay, the Lihue coastal plain, Kipu Kai valley.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Lihue (LIH) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.

After leaving the Arizona desert and crossing the Colorado River, the flight passes over the Mojave Desert briefly before reaching the California coast near Los Angeles or Ventura County. From there it is entirely open Pacific Ocean for roughly 2,400 miles. The Hawaiian island chain becomes visible in sequence — Oahu with Diamond Head and Honolulu may be visible to the south depending on routing, followed by Molokai and Maui before the final descent toward Kauai.