Sachin Walls
Hawaii's beaches are a tropical paradise, and the islands are served by five major airports located on its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. With its 4,520 acres, Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is Hawaii's busiest airport, seeing more than 12 million annual visitors. It is also the primary airport for international travelers. The second busiest airport in the state is Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, which serves one of the routes with the most significant air traffic in the country, between Honolulu and Maui. Other major airports in Hawaii include Hilo International Airport (ITO) on Hawaii Island, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the Big Island, and Lihue Airport (LIH) on Kauai.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of major airports | 5 |
| Names of major airports | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Kahului Airport, Hilo International Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, Lihue Airport |
| Number of active civil aviation facilities | 14 |
| Number of airports handling the bulk of the state's inter-island and trans-Pacific traffic | 5 |
| Names of busiest airports | Honolulu International Airport, Kahului Airport |
| Number of annual visitors to HNL | 10-12 million |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Honolulu International Airport: Hawaii's busiest airport
- Kahului Airport: Second busiest, with a laid-back atmosphere
- Kona International Airport: Rustic, with a unique lava field location
- Lihue Airport: The only airport serving the island of Kauai
- Kapalua Airport: Modern facilities, served by Southern Airways Express
Honolulu International Airport: Hawaii's busiest airport
Honolulu International Airport, officially known as the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, is Hawaii's largest and busiest airport. It is located in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, just 10 miles from the famous Waikiki Beach. With four active runways, including the 12,000-foot Reef Runway—the world's first major runway built entirely offshore—the airport accommodates flights from 21 airlines servicing international, domestic, and inter-island routes.
The airport covers a vast area of 4,220 to 4,520 acres, making it larger than the popular resort destination of Waikiki. It is named after Honolulu native and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye, a distinguished senator who represented Hawaii in the United States Senate for almost five decades until his death in 2012. The airport is a significant hub, offering nonstop flights to numerous destinations in North America, Asia, and Oceania.
As Hawaii's primary gateway, the airport handles a substantial number of passengers. It serves over 10 million passengers annually, with an estimated 10,000 people present in the complex at any given time as passengers, employees, or visitors. Additionally, approximately 15,000 people work at the airport daily, and another 20,000 rely on it for their livelihood.
Honolulu International Airport has undergone significant development over the years. In 2006, a $2.3 billion modernization program was initiated for Hawaii's airports, with $1.7 billion allocated for Honolulu International Airport. Upgrades included improved flight display monitors, new food and beverage options, and the addition of a parking garage. The airport continues to enhance its facilities, such as the $300 million Mauka Concourse that opened in 2021, to accommodate the ever-increasing passenger traffic and provide a more modern travel experience.
Jasper, Alberta: Airport Accessibility and Travel Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kahului Airport: Second busiest, with a laid-back atmosphere
Hawaii has five major airports located on its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The busiest airport in Hawaii is the Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, also known as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. It accommodates more than 10 million annual passengers at its peak and is often the best choice for flying into Hawaii due to its size and location.
The second busiest airport in Hawaii is Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, which serves one of the routes with the most significant air traffic in the country, between Honolulu and Maui. Despite its high volume of passengers, Kahului Airport embodies a relaxed island vibe. The laid-back atmosphere is enhanced by the open-air design of the airport and the warm and friendly staff. The airport opened for inter-island passenger flights in 1952, following World War II, and was designated OGG in honour of aviation legend and Kauai native Bertram J. Hogg.
Maui has two other airports: Kapalua Airport, which serves the northern portion, and Hana Airport, which serves the remote southern part. Kapalua Airport has seen upgrades and modernisation to its terminal facilities and runways, although Hawaiian Airlines recently departed.
The Big Island has two major airports: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, also known as Kona International Airport (KOA), and Hilo International Airport. Kona International Airport is the largest airport on the Big Island and is found on the western side, with runways in the middle of a lava field. The airport has a rustic, throwback vibe, as passengers descend into the fresh island air via stairs to the tarmac rather than a jetway.
Airports During Government Shutdown: Impact and Insights
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kona International Airport: Rustic, with a unique lava field location
Hawaii's airports include 14 active civil aviation facilities, five of which are the busiest and handle the bulk of the state's inter-island and trans-Pacific traffic. The first and most famous of these commercial airports is the primary airport of Hawaii, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), initially called John Rodgers Airport. It sees more than 10 million annual passengers at its peak and is often the best choice for flying into Hawaii due to its size and location.
However, this article will focus on the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, a rustic airport with a unique lava field location. The airport covers 4,204 acres at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, accommodating 87,770 aircraft operations per year, with an average of 240 aircraft operations per day. The airport is less than 15 minutes away from Kona, and popular beaches like Kekaha Kai State Beach are even closer.
The airport was initially constructed in 1970, and its runway was extended to 11,000 feet in 1994, making it the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu. The longer runway enabled much larger aircraft to use the airport, facilitating nonstop flights between Kona and Tokyo or destinations in the United States beyond the West Coast hubs. Japan Airlines commenced a Kona-Tokyo flight in 1996, and Hawaiian Airlines introduced nonstop flights from Kona to Tokyo's Haneda Airport in 2016.
The airport has undergone several name changes over the years. In 1993, it was renamed Keahole-Kona International Airport, reflecting the nearby resort town of Kona. In 1997, the name was changed again to Kona International Airport at Keahole, further emphasizing its location. Finally, in 2017, it was renamed Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole to honour astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and tragically passed away in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Dallas Airport Delays: What to Expect When Traveling
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lihue Airport: The only airport serving the island of Kauai
Lihue Airport, also known as Kauai Airport, is the only airport serving the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is located about 1.5 miles east of Lihue, on the southeast coast of the island. The airport provides facilities for domestic, overseas, and interisland carriers, commuter/air taxi, air cargo, tour operators, and general aviation. The airfield has two runways, taxiways, aprons, eight gates, navigational aids, a control tower, and helipads. Vehicular access is provided by Ahukini Road, which connects to Kapule Highway. The airport is served by seven airlines, including Hawaiian, American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, and WestJet, with most flights arriving from other airports in Hawaii.
Lihue Airport is one of Hawaii's five major airports, including Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Kahului Airport in Maui, Hilo International Airport on Hawaii Island, and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Hawaii Island. These airports handle the bulk of the state's inter-island and trans-Pacific traffic. While Honolulu's airport is the largest and busiest in Hawaii, Lihue Airport is a popular destination for those visiting Kauai, also known as the Garden Isle.
The history of aviation in Kauai dates back to the 1920s when Burns Field near Hanapepe at Salt Pond Beach Park became the first airport on the island. Commercial flights by Hawaiian Airlines began in 1929, and the runways were extended with prison labor in 1930. During World War II, the military recognized the strategic importance of Kauai and sought to establish an air base on the island.
Lihue Airport has undergone improvements over the years, and it continues to modernize its facilities. While it may not be the busiest beach airport in Hawaii, it is an excellent destination for those looking to explore the island of Kauai and its surrounding natural wonders, such as Waimea Canyon and the nearby beaches.
Denpasar Airport: Your Gateway to Bali's Tropical Paradise
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Hawaii [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718JtIyvcLL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Kapalua Airport: Modern facilities, served by Southern Airways Express
Hawaii has five major airports located on its four biggest islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The biggest and busiest airport is located on an island called "The Gathering Place". The primary airport of Hawaii, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu (Oahu), sees more than 12 million annual visitors. It is surrounded by water and has four runways for landings and takeoffs, including the 12,000-foot Reef Runway.
The second busiest airport in the state of Hawaii is Kahului Airport (Maui). The airport serves one of the routes with the most significant air traffic in the country, between Honolulu and Maui.
One of the five major airports in Hawaii is the Kapalua Airport, also known as the Kapalua-West Maui Airport. It is a regional airport in the district of Mahinahina on the west side of Maui Island. The airport has seen upgrades and modernisation to its terminal facilities and runway enhancements. It is restricted to a single runway, a few terminal facilities, and support facilities.
The only airline currently flying from Kapalua is Southern Airways Express (Mokulele). Southern Airways Express was founded in 2013 by Stan Little, a litigation attorney in Hernando, Mississippi. The airline launched operations in June 2013, with its first flight from Olive Branch Airport near Memphis, Tennessee, to Destin Executive Airport. The majority of Southern's routes are subsidised through the Essential Air Service program by the United States Department of Transportation. Southern Airways Express is a subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility.
Southern Airways Express has been working to retain and strengthen the Mokulele brand in the Hawaiian Islands and now serves 10 airports in the state. It is the largest inter-island carrier by daily departures. Southern recently announced its intention to bring 30-seat aircraft to Hawaii, adding to its 14 Caravans operating in the state.
Shower Facilities at Jakarta Airport: What to Expect
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the busiest airport in Hawaii. It is also the primary airport of Hawaii and has four runways that accommodate flights from 21 airlines.
The Honolulu International Airport accommodates more than 10 million passengers annually, with some sources stating the number to be more than 12 million.
Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui is the second busiest airport in Hawaii.
The Honolulu International Airport has four runways, including the 12,000-foot Reef Runway, which was the first major runway in the world built entirely offshore.
The Honolulu International Airport is less than 10 miles from the sandy shores of famous Waikiki Beach.
