Timing is everything. If you're trying to reach a friend in Anchorage while you're sipping a mai tai in Honolulu, or vice versa, you've probably realized the math isn't as straightforward as it seems. Most people assume these two non-contiguous states are in the same boat. They aren't.
Right now, Alaska is one hour ahead of Hawaii.
It’s a gap that feels small but causes endless "did I wake you up?" texts. If it is 2:00 PM in Honolulu, it is 3:00 PM in Juneau. Simple, right? Well, mostly. Because Alaska is massive and Hawaii is stubborn about its clocks, there are a few quirks you need to know before you hit "dial."
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What Time Is It In Alaska and Hawaii Right Now?
To get the exact moment, you have to look at the offsets. Hawaii sits comfortably in Hawaii Standard Time (HST), which is UTC-10. Alaska, for the most part, operates on Alaska Standard Time (AKST), which is UTC-9.
- Hawaii: Always stays put. No springing forward. No falling back.
- Alaska: They play the Daylight Saving game.
This means the one-hour difference is the "winter" rule. When March rolls around and Alaska moves its clocks forward, that gap widens. For a huge chunk of the year, Alaska is actually two hours ahead of Hawaii.
Why the Aleutian Islands Break the Rules
You can’t talk about Alaska time without mentioning the Aleutian Islands. This string of islands stretches so far west they actually cross into the same time zone as Hawaii. So, if you are standing on Adak Island, you are in Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time.
In that specific, windy corner of the world, it actually is the same time as Hawaii. But for 99% of the people living in Alaska—think Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Sitka—the one-hour lead remains the standard during the winter months of 2026.
The Daylight Saving Factor
Hawaii is one of the few places in the U.S. that looked at Daylight Saving Time and said, "No thanks." Arizona is the other big one. Because Hawaii is so close to the equator, the variation in day length isn't dramatic enough to justify the hassle of changing clocks.
Alaska, however, is the opposite. In the summer, the sun basically refuses to go down in places like Utqiagvik. To make the most of the "usable" light, the state follows the federal schedule.
- In Winter (Now): Alaska is 1 hour ahead of Hawaii.
- In Summer (Starting March 8, 2026): Alaska will be 2 hours ahead of Hawaii.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache for logistics. If you’re a business owner in Ketchikan working with a vendor in Maui, your meeting window shifts twice a year. You've basically got to keep a mental sticky note updated every March and November.
Real-World Examples of the Time Gap
Let’s look at how this actually plays out in a day.
If you are a traveler flying from Honolulu (HNL) to Anchorage (ANC), you aren't just crossing ocean; you're jumping a time gap. A flight might leave Hawaii at 10:00 PM. By the time you land six hours later, it's not 4:00 AM—it’s 5:00 AM local time in Alaska. You've "lost" an hour of sleep to the time zone gods.
Compare this to the East Coast. If it’s 6:00 PM in New York (EST), it’s only 2:00 PM in Alaska and 1:00 PM in Hawaii. Those of us on the mainland often forget just how far west these states truly are. Hawaii is basically halfway to Japan.
The "Golden Window" for Calling
If you need to talk to someone in both states, your best bet is the afternoon.
- 1:00 PM Hawaii
- 2:00 PM Alaska
- 6:00 PM New York
This is the sweet spot. Any earlier and you’re waking up the surfers in Oahu. Any later and the office workers in Juneau are already heading home to start their heaters.
Actionable Tips for Managing the Difference
Managing these zones doesn't have to be a mess. Use these three steps to stay synchronized:
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1. Check the Aleutian Exception
If your contact is west of 169° 30′ W (like in Shemya or Adak), treat them like they are in Hawaii. They use Hawaii-Aleutian Time.
2. Mark March 8th on Your Calendar
This is when the gap changes from one hour to two. If you have recurring meetings, they will likely need to be adjusted on this date to accommodate Alaska's jump to Daylight Time (AKDT).
3. Use UTC as Your Anchor
If you deal with international shipping or aviation between these hubs, always reference Coordinated Universal Time. Hawaii is UTC-10. Alaska is UTC-9 (Standard) or UTC-8 (Daylight).
Check your world clock settings on your phone and ensure you have "Anchorage" and "Honolulu" saved as separate entries. It’s the only way to be 100% sure before you make that early morning phone call.