A commanding third quarter paved the path for the Hawks to prevail 8.9 (57) to 6.3 (39) in the elimination final at People First Stadium on Sunday.
Hawthorn, who bombed out of the finals in straight sets in 2024 and 2025, will face Carlton in the first semi-final next Saturday night at Ikon Park.
Eliza West (29 disposals, one goal) and Laura Stone (21, two) were outstanding for the Hawks, while Casey Sherriff, Hayley McLaughlin and Jasmine Fleming all picked up 20 touches.
Jenna Richardson was a wall in defence, with a game-high 11 marks while completely blanketing Suns forward Dekota Brown.
"(We showed) resilience and grit, especially in that second half to really grind the game out," Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster said.
"I thought our ability to keep grinding it out, stay composed and execute at the back end was really pleasing and positive."
The Davies sisters - Darcie and Georja - impressed for Gold Coast, who were also chasing their maiden AFLW final success.
Charlie Rowbottom battled hard for her 20 disposals (18 of them handballs), a figure matched by Niamh McLoughlin and Daisy D'Arcy.
Adding injury to insult for the Suns, young gun Ava Usher suffered a serious-looking injury to her right knee in a heavy collision with teammate Maddy Brancatisano in the dying stages.
Hawthorn kicked two goals in the last 77 seconds of a high-octane opening term - through Poppy Stockwell and Jacqueline Dupuy - to lead by six points.
Suns forward Havana Harris snapped truly out of a ruck contest early in the second to level the scores, before Stone, with a brilliant finish, threaded her first for the Hawks.
Darcie Davies' second major and Usher's snap handed the home side a three-point halftime lead.
Hawthorn raised their pressure in the third quarter and Gold Coast couldn't go with them.
The Hawks' backline repelled 11 consecutive entries from the Suns, while their midfield trampled Gold Coast at clearance and on the outside.
Hawthorn had 33 more disposals for the term, 13 more tackles and pulled ahead by 15 points at three-quarter time.
Mikayla Nurse goaled early in the fourth quarter to give Gold Coast a sniff, but the Hawks continued to pile on the pressure and exorcise their own demons.
"It's disappointing," a shattered Suns coach Rhyce Shaw said.
"I can't hide that I'm really battered up.
"I don't think we played to our capability - that's probably the biggest disappointment. That hurts right now but I think what we've achieved this year can't go unnoticed."
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