Narrative:

On climb out of hnl we were assigned a heading of 090 degrees to join V-2 and to call hcf on 119.3. On check-in with hcf; we were told to turn to heading 150 degrees for traffic. I complied and began looking for traffic both visually and using the TCAS system. After about 2 mins; I requested direct to koa. The controller replied 'no; that would put us in direct conflict with the traffic.' by the controller's sense of urgency in reply; I requested the target type and proximity of that traffic and was told I would be informed of the traffic's position when the controller deemed it necessary. I was then told to increase my airspeed to 310 KTS or better (we were at 280 KTS). Several mins later; the controller thanked the other traffic for not complaining. The chain of events led to less than professional conduct and poor safety situation. After receiving direct to koa we noted no traffic was ever spotted or passed visually or on TCAS from 9000 ft to FL210. I did contact hcf supervisor on arrival koa to relay the event. Controller appeared to be punishing our flight for some unknown reason. Very unprofessional and potentially dangerous action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEP FROM HNL WITH HCF DESCRIBED QUESTIONABLE ATC VECTORS FOR TFC WHEN NO TFC WAS OBSERVED AND/OR NOTED ON TCAS.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT OF HNL WE WERE ASSIGNED A HDG OF 090 DEGS TO JOIN V-2 AND TO CALL HCF ON 119.3. ON CHK-IN WITH HCF; WE WERE TOLD TO TURN TO HDG 150 DEGS FOR TFC. I COMPLIED AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR TFC BOTH VISUALLY AND USING THE TCAS SYS. AFTER ABOUT 2 MINS; I REQUESTED DIRECT TO KOA. THE CTLR REPLIED 'NO; THAT WOULD PUT US IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE TFC.' BY THE CTLR'S SENSE OF URGENCY IN REPLY; I REQUESTED THE TARGET TYPE AND PROX OF THAT TFC AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE TFC'S POS WHEN THE CTLR DEEMED IT NECESSARY. I WAS THEN TOLD TO INCREASE MY AIRSPD TO 310 KTS OR BETTER (WE WERE AT 280 KTS). SEVERAL MINS LATER; THE CTLR THANKED THE OTHER TFC FOR NOT COMPLAINING. THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LED TO LESS THAN PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND POOR SAFETY SITUATION. AFTER RECEIVING DIRECT TO KOA WE NOTED NO TFC WAS EVER SPOTTED OR PASSED VISUALLY OR ON TCAS FROM 9000 FT TO FL210. I DID CONTACT HCF SUPVR ON ARR KOA TO RELAY THE EVENT. CTLR APPEARED TO BE PUNISHING OUR FLT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.