The simplest connection to the island is to fly to Split and connect by ferry from Split ferry port to either Stari Grad (car ferry) or Hvar town (passenger ferry).
The car ferry (Jadrolinja line 635) is a two hour crossing and runs seven times a day in peak season. The last crossing from Split is at 8.30pm although in July and August there is also a 1.30am crossing. The cost for a car and four adult passengers will be around €65 each way. The fast passenger only catamaran services takes approximatley 55 minutes and arrives directly on the Riva in Hvar town. There are regular catamaran services provided by Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka. Refer to their websites for timetables. Tickets on the Kapetan Luka fast catamaran will be around €13.50 a head one way but are cheaper with Jadrolinija.
Another option is to fly to Dubrovnik. From Dubrovnik Airport to Drvenik on the coast road is 145km (two hours 20 minutes drive) and from here there is a ferry to Sucuraj at the east end of Hvar island. The crossing is 35 minutes and the ferry runs 11 times a day with the earliest departure from Drvenik at 5.45am and the last at 10.45pm (Jadrolinija line 632). However we would warn travellers that the 75km road up the island to Hvar town is very narrow and bendy; a slow route and although scenic a difficult drive.
There is a daily crossing to the pretty harbour town of Jelsa on the north coast of Hvar island. This crossing (line 9603 with Jadrolinija) runs once a day leaving Split in the afternoon and stopping at Bol on Brac island en route. The ferry back from Jelsa to Split departs early in the morning so can provide a day trip from Hvar island to Split or for a day on the Golden Horn beach in Bol on Brac island. A day trip from Hvar to Korcula town is possible on the Kapetan Luka catamaran service which departs daily in the morning and returns late afternoon. Expect to pay around €30 return.
Croatian Villa Holidays can organize private taxi boat transfers from the quay near Split airport to Hvar. Prices will depend on date, time and the numbers in your party. Crossing time generally about 50 minutes to one hour.