Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus

Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®
VS
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
The short answer: The Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Annual fee$99$99
Welcome offerUp to 70,000 bonus points50,000 50,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points (limited-time)
Dining2x1x
Groceries2x2x
Gas2x2x
Travel1x1x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$403$373
Points typeLocked to Atmos RewardsLocked to Southwest Rapid Rewards
NetworkMastercardVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

Welcome bonus and value over time

Over timeHawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Welcome bonusUp to 70,000 bonus points50,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points
To earn it$1,000 in 90 days + $2,000 in 180 days$1,000 in 3 months
Est. first-year value*$1,004$774
Est. ongoing value / yr*$304$274

The Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.

*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.

Perks, credits, and redemptions

PerksHawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Lounge accessNoneNone
Annual creditsNone1 listed credits
Points & redemptionsLocked to a single programLocked to a single program

The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.

Transfer partners and point value

Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® earns about $403 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $30 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® currently has the larger welcome offer. Note that Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® if your spending leans toward dining.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus better?
On typical household spending, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $30 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?
As of August 2026, the Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® offers up to 70,000 bonus points and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus offers 50,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.