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Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaiʻi, located in Kailua-Kona, about 7 miles northwest of Kailua. The airport is located in West Hawaiʻi and serves leeward (western) Hawaiʻi island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. It serves transpacific and interisland flights and is known for its open-air design, ease of navigation, and charming tiki hut-style roofs.
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What You'll Learn
- Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is located in Kailua-Kona, 7 miles northwest of the town
- The airport is owned and operated by the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation
- It is the only major airport in Hawaii where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps
- Airlines that fly to and from Kona International Airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines
- The airport has two terminals with 10 gates, restaurants, retail stores, and a Hawaiian Air Premium Club lounge
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is located in Kailua-Kona, 7 miles northwest of the town
The airport serves the town of Kailua-Kona and resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. It is the only major airport in Hawaii where passengers board and deboard using a ramp instead of jet bridges. Despite this, large airliners such as Airbus and Boeing use the airport. The airport offers shopping and dining options, including flower shops, gift shops, and restaurants.
Kona International Airport opened in 1970, addressing the lack of a major airport in the area. Before its construction, tourism was centred on the town of Hilo, and tourists flying into the Hilo Airport had to endure a lengthy drive across the island. The opening of the airport accelerated a shift in tourism from East to West Hawaii, with the percentage of accommodations on the west side of the island increasing significantly.
The airport is named after Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, and a small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, is located within the airport. The museum displays various items, including a sample of lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items belonging to Onizuka. The airport is easily accessible from the town of Kailua-Kona, with shuttle services, taxis, and buses available for transportation.
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The airport is owned and operated by the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation
The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, also known as the Keahole Airport, is located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It is the primary airport on the Island of Hawai'i, serving leeward (western) Hawai'i island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. The airport covers 4,204 acres (1,701 ha) at an elevation of 47 feet (14 m) above sea level. It has one asphalt runway, a single terminal with 10 gates, and various amenities, including restaurants, retail stores, ATMs, and a lounge.
The State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, plays a crucial role in the management and development of air transportation in the state. They are committed to ensuring safe and efficient operations, adhering to state and federal laws, requirements, and established policies and procedures. The department also includes the Visitor Information Program (VIP), which provides visitor information services to airports and harbors divisions, conducts protocol events, and offers hospitality and assistance to visitors.
The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, being owned and operated by the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, falls under their purview and benefits from their expertise and commitment to enhancing Hawaii's air transportation system. The airport serves as a vital gateway to the Island of Hawai'i, facilitating both transpacific and interisland flights and contributing significantly to the tourism industry in the region.
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It is the only major airport in Hawaii where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps
Kona International Airport, also known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaiʻi, located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States. It is the only major airport in Hawaii where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges. Jet bridges are an enclosed connector that extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, providing all-weather dry access to aircraft and enhanced security of terminal operations. They are often permanently attached at one end by a pivot to the terminal building and have the ability to swing left or right, with a cabin that can be raised, lowered, extended, or retracted to accommodate different aircraft sizes.
Kona International Airport covers 4,204 acres at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, 17/35, 7,000 by 150 feet, and two terminals with a total of 10 gates. The airport serves leeward (western) Hawaiʻi Island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. It is known for its unique location, built largely on top of lava flow, and for its less modern facilities, although it is still used by large airliners such as the Airbus A321 and A330, and the Boeing 717, 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787.
The airport's lack of a modern jet bridge is not a unique feature worldwide, as many airports, particularly smaller ones, still use mobile staircases or "ramp stairs". These are more common with low-cost carriers, as airports often charge increased fees for using loading bridges instead of mobile stairs. However, within the context of Hawaii, Kona International Airport stands out as the only major airport that relies on this older method of passenger boarding.
While the use of mobile stairs or ramps may be less convenient during harsh weather conditions, the airport provides various amenities to enhance the travel experience. These include restaurants, retail stores, ATMs, and a Hawaiian Air Premium Club lounge. Additionally, the airport offers assistance to passengers with special needs through Skycap (porter) services, which can aid with boarding and disembarking for travellers with disabilities.
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Airlines that fly to and from Kona International Airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaiʻi, located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States. The airport serves leeward (western) Hawaiʻi island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. It is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of modern jet bridges. Despite the less modern facilities, Kona is used by large airlines, including the Airbus A321 and A330, and Boeing 717, 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787.
The airport has one runway and two terminals with a total of 10 gates. The route with the most departures is the route to Honolulu (HNL), with an average of 137 flights from Kona every week, which is 46% of all weekly departures. There are international flights to Vancouver (YVR) and Calgary (YYC). The two longest flights from Kona are to Chicago (ORD), which takes around 7 hours and 59 minutes, and to Calgary (YYC), with a flight time of 6 hours and 40 minutes.
Kona International Airport opened on July 1, 1970, with a single 6,500-foot runway. The previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. The airport covers 4,204 acres at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level.
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The airport has two terminals with 10 gates, restaurants, retail stores, and a Hawaiian Air Premium Club lounge
Kona International Airport, also known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, is located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in the United States. The airport is about seven miles northwest of Kailua and 15 kilometres (or seven miles) northwest of Kona city centre. It is the primary airport on the Island of Hawai'i, serving transpacific and interisland flights.
The airport is located in an area rich in history and culture and is known for its active volcanoes, orchids, golf courses, and scenic coastline. It serves the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala and has accelerated the shift of tourism to West Hawaii. Airlines that fly to and from the airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Kona Shuttle, Mokulele Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the airport in Kailua-Kona is the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.
The airport is located in West Hawaii, about 7 miles northwest of Kailua and 25 miles southwest of Waikoloa.
The airport code for Kona Airport is KOA.
The Kona International Airport offers restaurants, retail stores, ATMs, and a Hawaiian Air Premium Club lounge.
Several airlines service the Kona International Airport, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet.
