Hawaiian Airlines will start flying non-stop between Auckland and Honolulu three times a week from March 14 next year.
Hawaiian will become the only US carrier to fly to New Zealand, although other US airlines have code-share arrangements.
While it primarily targets the leisure market, the wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft it will use for its New Zealand flights include 18 business class seats among their total 264 seats.
The service will add more than 40,000 seats each way annually between the two cities.
Hawaiian also flies to the Maui, Kauai and Hawaii islands and 11 destinations on the US mainland including Las Vegas, New York and San Jose.
It also flies to Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo in Japan, to Seoul in South Korea and to Brisbane.
"Hawaii is a very popular holiday spot for many Kiwis," said Glenn Wedlock, Auckland International Airport's commercial aeronautical general manager.
"We think that the dual destination combination of Hawaii and New Zealand offers exciting inbound leisure options for mainland US visitors."
Hawaiian president and chief executive Mark Dunkerley said the new service will meet "pent-up demand for a Hawaii vacation" as well as offering Hawaii residents "easy access to the natural wonders and Maori culture of New Zealand".
The airline's research shows currently 30 per cent fewer visitor arrivals in Hawaii coming from New Zealand than in 1999 when more nonstop flights were offered between the two cities, Mr Dunkerley said.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the US is a vital leisure and business market and "convenient air links are critical for converting those considering travel into actual bookings".
NZN