All routes to Malaita pass through Honiara, the Solomon Islands capital on Guadalcanal. Honiara is served by Solomon Airlines from Brisbane and Sydney in Australia, and from Nadi in Fiji; there are also connections from Port Vila (Vanuatu) and other Pacific hubs. Most travellers from Europe or North America will connect through Australia or Fiji.
From Honiara, Solomon Airlines operates scheduled flights to Auki (Malu'u Airport is the main gateway for northern Malaita; a smaller strip serves Auki directly). The flight to Auki takes around 30 minutes. Seats fill quickly on the small aircraft used on this route — book as far ahead as possible, particularly during school term changes when Malaitan families travel in large numbers.
The alternative is by sea. Passenger-cargo vessels operated by various small companies run between Honiara and Auki on a schedule that is loosely regular; journey time is around five to seven hours depending on the vessel. The boats are basic but the crossing through the sound between Guadalcanal and Malaita is scenic and gives a sense of the geography that the flight does not. Check departure days and times in Honiara at the main shipping offices near the port — schedules change frequently.