How to Become a Travel Agent in Hawaii

Hawaii is an island paradise, and according to Forbes and Travel & Leisure magazines, it’s one of the top destinations for travel.

If you think it would be fun to help people find their dream vacation destination and make the trip a reality, consider becoming a travel agent in Hawaii.

You could be perfect for this job if you love meeting new people and have excellent communication and organizational skills.

Travel Agent Duties In Hawaii

As a travel agent, it’s your job to plan and book vacations for your clients.

The duties of a travel agent in Hawaii include:

• You will inform your clients about the destination they plan to visit, along with the culture, customs, and weather, so they know what to pack.
• You will coordinate the travel and lodging for your clients.
• You will make the travel arrangements and collect payments from your clients.
• Review client visas and let them know the vaccinations necessary to travel to their destination.
• You will be available to deal with travel conflicts, cancelations, complaints, and other issues while your clients are on vacation.
• You must maintain accurate records of bookings, transactions, and payments.
• You’ll establish and maintain relationships with tour and travel vendors.
• You must stay up-to-date with industry trends and popular vacation destinations.
• You should attend conferences and travel seminars to stay up-to-date with recent trends and news.

If you’re working for a travel agency, you must complete tasks delegated to you.

If you open your own travel agency, you can handle all these tasks yourself or hire another agent or an assistant to help with the workload.

Licensing Requirements To Become a Travel Agent In Hawaii

Licensing requirements differ from state to state.

If you want to become a travel agent in Hawaii, Travel Law requires you to be licensed by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

There are four steps to becoming a licensed travel agent in Hawaii, including:

1. Complete the License Application: The first step is to complete the licensed application to register as a Hawaii Travel Agency. 
2. Create a Client Trust Account: The second step is to establish a client trust account through a savings or checking account at a Hawaii bank that is federally insured. When the account is set up, you must do the following: 

• Submit evidence that you have set up the account. 
• Provide a letter from the bank that includes the name and address of the bank, the Client Trust Account designation, the account number, and the date the account was opened. 
• Provide a blank check from the account containing the bank’s name and address. 
• Provide the name and description of your travel agency, including account numbers, and identify the account as a client trust account. 

3. Pay the Application Fees: You must pay the fees necessary to become a licensed travel agent, including $215 if you register in an even-numbered year or $146 during an odd-numbered year. 
4. Submit Your Application: When you have everything you need, mail the application, paperwork, and fees to the appropriate address. 

Travel Agent Programs In Hawaii

You can’t be a successful travel agent without the necessary knowledge, so you should complete a training program.

Fortunately, Hawaii has a few programs to help you learn what you need to know.

University of Hawaii- Hawaii Community College

This school offers a flexible online course to become a travel agent.

This self-paced, 100-hour course typically takes six months to complete.

The program will help you learn what you need to know as a travel agent, including: 

• Information about the travel industry 
• Airline and ground transportation
• Hotels and resorts
• Cruises and tours
• Everything you need to know about domestic and international travel
• Customer service skills necessary to become a travel agent
• How to market yourself as a travel agent

You will sit for the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test when you complete the course.

The cost of the program is $2,245.00, which includes the cost of the test.

If you can’t afford to pay the tuition in full, you can apply for Affirm and make monthly payments as low as $109. 

Penn Foster

Penn Foster is an online school with an excellent travel agent program.

The school allows you to study at your own pace, so you can keep your full-time job while in school.

The courses included in the travel agent course include:

• North American Air Travel
• Exploring the World
• Tourism
• After completing the program, you will sit for the Travel Agency Proficiency (TAP) certification test. 
• Most people complete the program in nine months, and the cost of tuition is $989, and you can save $240 if you pay in full. If you can’t pay the tuition in full, you can make monthly payments as low as $59 per month. The tuition includes mobile-friendly coursework, digital textbooks, study materials, interactive course content, career services, and unlimited student support. 

Travel Agent Representative Schools in Hawaii – Summary Table

Travel Agent Salary In Hawaii

You can make a good living as a travel agent in Hawaii.

If you start working for a travel agency, the average starting rate is $21.13 per hour and $120 per day tips.

The average yearly salary depends on where you live in Hawaii, and the average annual salary is between $39,000 and $40,000, which is ten percent higher than the national average.

Annual Salary Range: Annual Salary by Location:

Location	Avg. Annual Salary
Honolulu	$38,285
Hilo	$38,028
Kailua	$38,285
Kaneohe	$38,285
Waipahu	$38,268
Pearl City	$38,285
Ewa Beach	$38,285
Hakalau	$38,028
Kahului	$38,028
Kihei	$38,028

Regional Salary in Hawaii

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Travel Agents, OCC Code 41-3041, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any requirements to become a travel agent in Hawaii?

Yes.

The required skills include:

• You must be at least 18 years old with a clean criminal record.
• You must have at least a high school diploma or a GED
• Excellent communication, management, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail oriented
• Honest and confident
• Speaking a foreign language can help but isn’t necessary.

Can I specialize in one area of the business?

Yes.

You can handle any type of travel while specializing in:

• Honeymoons
• Family vacations
• Business travel
• Budget trips
• Cruises
• Luxury trips

Do I have to work full-time?

If you work for a travel agency, you will likely have to work full-time unless you can find an agency hiring a part-time agent.

If you open your own agency, you can work full or part-time, but your business will be more successful if you are willing to work 40 hours a week.

Travel Agent Info by State