Waikiki & Honolulu landmarks seen from departing flight DL650

Delta 650 took off from runway 8R at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport due East at 5:15pm local time. Our pilot seemed to have made a point of banking the aircraft to trace the southern coast in the first 4 minutes of the flight to afford those seating on the left side a great aerial view of Sand Island, Honolulu downtown, Ala Moana, Waikiki, Kaimana, Diamond Head, Kahala, Hawaii Kai, Hanauma Bay, and Koko Head. Then the plane turned East again and flew towards the mainland.

Unlike the JFK arrival video I recorded, I was able to recognize all landmarks as I looked out of my window seat. This was largely due to my month-long research into Oahu before our trip to the island. But still, I figured I would write a post showing these famous Hawaiian landmarks. Here is the recorded video.

Here is a map showing the flight path as recorded in the clip. Open the map with Ctl-click or Cmd-click into a separate window to compare it to the video. You can also open the YouTube video in its own window.

Departing flight path of Delta 650 in late November 2025 from runway 8R at Honolulu Airport

Here are four inset maps showing key moments of the flight, with corresponding screenshots. The first map illustrates the takeoff flight path from the east-facing runway 8R. The plane was airborne shortly after it reached mid runway.

Map 1 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650 in late November 2025 from runway 8R at Honolulu Airport

The pilot immediately banked right to fly away from shore, as the plane gained altitude. As the plane flew past Sand Island, the pilot returned to level flight and flew southeast, tracing the contour of the renowned Waikiki shoreline, including Ala Moana and Waikiki.

Map 2 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650 in late November 2025 from runway 8R at Honolulu Airport — Map 2 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650

As the plane reached Diamond Head, the pilot banked left to keep following the shore at the same distance. The turn started roughly at Kaimana Beach and ended before reaching Kahala Beach.

Map 3 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650 in late November 2025 from runway 8R at Honolulu Airport — Map 3 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650

The pilot flew a straight line from Diamond Head to Hanauma Bay, then banked again to follow the shoreline around Koko Head. Once past Koko Head, the video ended. But the plane turned eastward to fly towards the mainland.

Map 4 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650 in late November 2025 from runway 8R at Honolulu Airport — Map 4 of 4 showing departing flight path of Delta 650

What follow are ten 3D maps showing the terrain as seen from the window seat. I fired up Google Maps with Globe View, and rotate the map for each capture, to match the window view as seen at each location. Key landmarks are labeled.

Map 1 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 1/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 2 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 2/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 3 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 3/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 4 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 4/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 5 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 5/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 6 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 6/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 7 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 7/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 8 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 8/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 9 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 9/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 10 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 10/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 11 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 11/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 12 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 12/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 13 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 13/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 14 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 14/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 15 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 15/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

Map 16 of 16 oriented to match recorded video from a left-side window seat of departing Delta 650 in late November 2025 as the plane followed the contour of Oahu South Shore — Map 16/16 left-side window seat view on Delta 650 over south shore Oahu

That’s it. Till next time.

About Xinhai Dude 辛亥生

The name Xinhai Dude 辛亥生 is a pun in Chinese, as it means both “he who was born in Xinhai” as well as “he who studies Xinhai”. I had an ambitious plan to write something about the great Xinhai Revolution of 1911, thus my blog https://xinhaidude.com. But after an initial flurry of activities the initiative petered out. One day I will still carry it through. But for now, this website has turned into a conglomerate of my work on various topics of interest to me, including travel pictures, RC model airplane flying, inline skating, ice skating, classical music composition, science fiction short stories, evolution and atheism.

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