Owais Crawford
The Big Island, also known as the Island of Hawaiʻi, has two airports that accommodate major air traffic: Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO). Kona International Airport is the primary airport on the island, located in Kailua-Kona on the west side of the island. Hilo International Airport is situated in Hilo Town on the east side of the island. The choice of airport depends on the specific destination and attractions on the Big Island, with Kona known for its beaches and Hilo offering a more relaxed pace of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole |
| Accommodates | Major air traffic |
| Location | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States |
| Area served | Leeward (western) Hawaiʻi island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala |
| Other airports in the Big Island | Hilo International Airport |
| Area code | (808) |
| Airport code | KOA |
| Airlines that fly to Kona | Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Japan, Westjet, Hawaiian, and Southwest |
| Airlines that fly to Hilo | Hawaiian, Mokulele, Southwest, and United |
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What You'll Learn
Kona International Airport (KOA)
The airport features an open-air tropical design with three terminals. Terminal 1 includes gates 1 through 5, Terminal 2 includes gates 6 through 10, and Terminal 3 caters to smaller commuter flights. Kona International Airport is unique among major Hawaiian airports in that passengers board and disembark using mobile stairs or ramps, rather than jet bridges. Despite this, the airport accommodates large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing models.
KOA offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxi services, pre-arranged transportation companies, and car rental services. The airport also provides easy access to nearby attractions. The famous beaches along the Kona coast, nicknamed the "Gold Coast," are a popular destination for sunbathing and resort stays. Additionally, the area boasts activities such as deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, and golfing.
The history of Kona International Airport dates back to 1947 when the Territorial Legislature recognised the need for an airport in the area. Construction on the Kona Airport began in 1948, and the opening ceremony was held in July 1949. Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes, with the current official name being Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, honouring astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona.
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Hilo International Airport (ITO)
Hilo International Airport, also known as ITO, is one of the two main airports on the Big Island of Hawai'i, serving the eastern part of the island. It is situated in Hilo Town, with Kona International Airport (KOA) being its western counterpart. Hilo International Airport is the smallest of Hawai'i's five major airports in terms of passenger arrivals and departures.
The airport was once known as General Lyman Field, and an interim overseas terminal was constructed in 1968 to accommodate the growing number of overseas passengers until a new terminal complex could be built. The following year, the Hilo Airport Advisory Committee was appointed to make recommendations on the airport's long-term development. They suggested relocating terminals from the western edge of Runway 3–21 to the south of the newly lengthened Runway 8-26. The new terminal was designed to accommodate the Boeing 747, the largest passenger airliner in service at the time.
In 1971, the first jumbo jet, a 747 operated by Braniff International Airways, landed at Hilo International Airport. Construction of a new terminal began in July 1974, with the first phase completed in 1975. In 1976, a new, modern facility was dedicated, and in 1979, a new, taller air traffic control tower was opened to better serve the airport and its lengthened runway.
Hilo International Airport has seen little long-term increase in air traffic over the past several decades. In 1973, the total passenger count was 1,357,818, and in 2008, that number stood at 1,352,808. Traffic at Hilo peaked in 1997 with 1,669,314 passengers, with a nearly identical number passing through in 2007. Hilo is Hawai'i's only major airport without non-stop flights to North America.
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Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport
The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, also known by its IATA code KOA, is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaii, serving transpacific and interisland flights. It is located in West Hawaii, in the town of Kailua-Kona, and is named after astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
The airport covers 4,204 acres (1,701 ha) of land and sits 47 feet (14 m) above mean sea level. It has a single runway, which, at 11,000 feet (3,400 m), is the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu. The runway can accommodate large aircraft, including the Airbus A321 and A330, and the Boeing 717, 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787. The airport consists of three terminals, with Terminal 1 hosting gates 1 through 5, Terminal 2 hosting gates 6 through 10, and Terminal 3 hosting smaller commuter flights. Kona International is the only major airport in Hawaii where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges.
The airport was originally known as Keāhole-Kona International Airport, after the nearby resort town of Kona. In 1997, the name was changed to Kona International Airport at Keāhole, further emphasising its location. In 2017, the airport was renamed Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, honouring Onizuka, after the Onizuka Space Center museum at the airport was closed in 2016 to enable the expansion of the airport.
The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is one of two airports on the Big Island accommodating major air traffic, the other being the Hilo International Airport. Many locals fly in and out of Hilo International Airport, as it is closer to their friends' and family's homes. However, Kona International Airport is the more popular choice for visitors, as it offers easy access to the beaches on the Kona coast, also known as the "Gold Coast" due to its sunny weather and resorts. The area north of Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, is home to several famous resorts and hotels, black sand beaches, and activities such as golfing and night diving with manta rays.
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Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park
The Big Island has two airports that accommodate major air traffic: Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO). The former is the primary airport on the island, located in Kailua-Kona on the west side, serving transpacific and interisland flights. The latter is situated in Hilo Town on the east side.
Now, onto the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This park, established in 1916, encompasses 335,259 acres or about 523 square miles of land, climbing from sea level to more than 13,000 feet. It is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes. The park includes the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, and six of Earth's climate zones. The constantly changing landscape of Kīlauea is shaped by powerful natural forces, including eruptions that can be viewed from specific locations.
The park offers a range of activities, from wilderness adventures to short walks and scenic drives. Visitors can explore rugged lava fields, rainforests with diverse flora and fauna, lava tubes, craters, and coastline meetings of lava rock and ocean. The Kahuku Unit is located about an hour's drive south of the main entrance, offering hiking opportunities. The park also features Hawaiian cultural sites, such as the Pu‘uloa Petroglyph Field with its lava etchings, and the Thurston Lava Tube, named after the family that played a pivotal role in establishing the park.
For those seeking a deeper exploration, the park reveals its secrets over multiple visits. The contrasting environments include ash-covered deserts, alpine tundra, and the arid Kaʻū Desert. Recently eruptive sites within the park include the main caldera of Kīlauea and the remote vent Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Visitors can stay within the park at the Volcano House, the only hotel or restaurant within its borders, or at campgrounds like Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki.
The Kīlauea Visitor Center is a great place to start, providing an introduction to the park, trail information, and safety precautions. The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but it's important to respect any closed areas due to the dynamic natural processes at play. A construction project is also underway to repair or remove damaged buildings and infrastructure at the summit, so closures and delays may be expected.
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Kona's airport facilities
Kona International Airport, also known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaii, serving transpacific and interisland flights. It is located in West Hawaii, in Kailua-Kona, about seven miles from Kailua-Kona town and approximately 25 miles from resorts located on the Kohala Coast.
The 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. In the year ending November 30, 2021, the airport had 87,770 aircraft operations, an average of 240 per day. In March 2022, there were 56 aircraft based at this airport; 26 single-engine, 8 multi-engine, 18 helicopters, and 4 ultralights.
The airport has a unique open-air, tropical-style terminal complex of single-story buildings along the eastern edge of the airfield for passengers, air cargo, and mail, airport support, and general aviation. Kona International is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps, instead of modern jet bridges. Despite this, the airport is used by large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing.
The 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. In its first full year, 515,378 passengers passed through the airport. The airport has had several names over the years, reflecting the geography of the area and the nearby resort town of Kona.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Island has two airports that accommodate major air traffic: Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO).
Kona International Airport is located in Kailua-Kona, on the west side of the island. Hilo International Airport is located in Hilo Town, on the east side of the island.
Kona International Airport is the primary airport on the Big Island. It is more modern and developed, having recently undergone multi-million-dollar upgrades. Hilo International Airport is laid-back and casual, with tropical plants and outdoor seating. It is also more convenient for locals as it is closer to where their friends and family live.
This depends on where you plan to stay. If you plan to stay in the resort areas of Waikoloa or Kailua-Kona, Kona International Airport is your best bet. If you plan to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it may be more convenient to fly into Hilo, as Kona is quite a distance away.
