Hawaii's Big Island Airport: A Travel Gateway To Paradise

The Big Island, also known as the Island of Hawai'i, has two airports: Hilo International Airport (ITO) and Kona International Airport (KOA). Hilo International Airport is located on the eastern side of the island, about 2 miles from Hilo Town, while Kona International Airport is located on the western side of the island, about 7 miles from Kailua-Kona. The Kona airport is the primary airport on the island and serves a larger number of airlines and destinations, including international flights. The Hilo airport, on the other hand, is primarily used for domestic and interisland flights. Both airports offer stunning views and convenient access to the island's natural wonders, such as active volcanoes, rainforests, and waterfalls.

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport

The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, also known by its code name KOA, is the primary airport on the Island of Hawai'i. It is located in Kailua-Kona on the west side of the island, serving the leeward (western) side of Hawai'i, including resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. The airport 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 of land and sits at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level. It has a single asphalt runway, 11,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, making it the second-longest runway in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu. The length of the runway allows much larger aircraft to use the airport, facilitating non-stop flights to and from Tokyo and cities beyond the West Coast hubs in the United States.

The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is one of two international airports serving Hawai'i Island, with the other being the Hilo International Airport on the eastern side of the island. The Kona Airport is the more popular of the two, serving transpacific and inter-island flights. It is known for its open-air, tropical-style terminals and is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges.

The airport opened on July 1, 1970, with a single 6,500-foot runway. Prior to its construction, tourism was centred on the town of Hilo on the eastern side of the island. The new airport helped shift tourism towards West Hawai'i, and by 2005, 86% of the island's accommodations were on the west side. The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is included in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021-2025 and is categorised as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.

Hilo International Airport

The airport has a rich history dating back to the late 1920s. In 1925, Speaker of the House Norman K. Lyman of Hilo requested that the governor set aside land for a landing field in the area. This led to the dedication of the new airport in February 1928 by Major Clarence M. Young, then Secretary of Aeronautics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The airport has undergone various expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of new runways, taxiways, and terminal buildings.

Today, Hilo International Airport offers a range of amenities and services for passengers, including ticketing, check-in, arrivals and baggage claim, ground transportation, car rentals and shuttles, and services for persons with disabilities. The airport is committed to ensuring a safe and efficient travel experience for all its passengers and continues to play an important role in connecting people to the unique attractions and natural beauty of Hawaiʻi island.

Kona airport location

Kona International Airport (KOA) is located on the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, also known as the Big Island. It is about 7 miles (11.2 km) northwest of Kailua-Kona, off Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and 25 miles (40.2 km) southwest of Waikoloa. The airport is situated in West Hawaiʻi at Keahole, a location that gave the airport one of its previous names: Keahole Airport. The name "Keahole" comes from Keāhole Point, which is named after the ʻāhole fish found in the area.

Kona International Airport is one of two airports on the Big Island that accommodate significant air traffic, the other being Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the island's east side. KOA is the primary airport on the island and serves as a hub for transpacific and interisland flights. It is officially named the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, honouring astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

The airport covers 3,450 acres (or 4,204 acres, according to another source) and includes a terminal complex of single-story buildings along the eastern edge of the airfield. It is known for its open-air tropical design, with tiki hut-style roofs, and is praised by travellers for its ease of navigation and friendly staff. The airport has a range of amenities, including a restaurant/bar, lei and fresh flower stands, a newsstand, a gift shop, and ATM machines.

The history of Kona International Airport dates back to 1947 when the Territorial Legislature recognised the need for an airport in the area. Plans were made to upgrade the small Kailua Airstrip, and construction on the Kona Airport began in the summer of 1948. The opening ceremony was held in July 1949. Over the years, the airport underwent expansions and improvements, and its location was relocated 7.5 miles north of its previous site in 1969. The new Keahole Airport was dedicated in 1970, and its opening contributed to a shift in tourism from the east to the west side of the island.

The airport has a unique feature in that much of its runway is built on a relatively recent lava flow: the 1801 Huʻehuʻe flow from Hualālai. This lava flow extended the shoreline by approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) and added about 4 square kilometres (1.5 square miles) of land to the island. The construction of the airport involved flattening this lava flow with three million pounds of dynamite.

Hilo airport location

Hilo International Airport (IATA: ITO, ICAO: PHTO, FAA LID: ITO) is located in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, United States, on the eastern, or windward, shore of the Big Island. The airport is about 2 miles east of Hilo Town and serves the windward (eastern) side of Hawaiʻi island, including the districts of Hilo, Hāmākua, Kaʻū, and Puna.

Hilo International Airport is one of two airports on the Big Island, the other being Kona International Airport (KOA) on the western side of the island. Hilo Airport is located minutes from downtown Hilo, with the highway to Volcano, Kona, and Waimea passing in front of the airport. The airport is served by interisland airlines, with most flights coming from people island-hopping within Hawaiʻi.

The airport is easily accessible by taxi, bus, or rental car. The local rental car companies often offer the best rates, and there are about eight buses a day to the central Hilo bus terminal, Monday through Saturday. Taxi rates are approximately $3.00 flag drop + $0.30 per 1/8th mile + $0.30 per minute for waiting time + $1.00 per bag.

Hilo International Airport is the smaller of the two airports on the Big Island and is used principally for domestic flights and general aviation operations. The airport is owned and operated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation and has two runways. Runway 8-26 is 9,800 ft × 150 ft (2,987 m × 46 m) and is used for nearly all air carrier operations, while Runway 3/21 is 5,600 ft × 150 ft (1,707 m × 46 m) and is used for general aviation operations.

The passenger terminal complex at Hilo International Airport consists of three interconnected buildings totaling approximately 220,000 square feet (20,000 m2). The central building is just under 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2), while the western and eastern wings are slightly over 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) each. The main passenger terminal has ten aircraft parking positions, each able to accommodate a Boeing 747. There is also a commuter terminal located in a small, stand-alone building about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) west of the main passenger terminal.

Kona airport facilities

The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaiʻi. It is located in Kailua-Kona, about 7 miles northwest of Kailua and 25 miles southwest of Waikoloa. The airport is known for its open-air tropical-style design, ease of navigation, and friendly staff. It covers 4,204 acres of land and is located at an elevation of 47 feet above sea level.

KOA has a rich history, with the need for an airport in the area recognised as early as 1947. The original Kona Airport opened in July 1949, and over the years, it underwent upgrades and expansions to accommodate increasing tourism demand. In 1970, the airport was relocated to its current location, and it has since undergone further development, including the addition of shops and the extension of its runway to become the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands.

The airport serves both domestic and international flights and is a popular entry point for visitors to the Big Island. It offers a range of facilities and services to enhance the travel experience. The commercial passenger facility is divided into three terminals: Terminal 1 (gates 1-5), Terminal 2 (gates 6-10), and Terminal 3 for smaller commuter flights. Despite being a major airport, Kona is unique in that it does not have jet bridges; instead, passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps.

The airport provides a range of amenities for travellers, including a restaurant/bar, lei and fresh flower stands, a newsstand, and a gift shop. ATM machines and a drop-off mailbox are conveniently located. For those seeking information, the Visitor Information Program booths are available, and courtesy phones are provided for use outside of staff hours.

Ground transportation at KOA is efficient and varied. Taxi services are readily available, and several pre-arranged ground transportation options, such as tours, courtesy cars, and contracted transport, are also offered. Car rental companies are located just off the terminal, providing convenient access to those who prefer to rent a vehicle. Additionally, shuttle services, including SpeediShuttle, operate from the baggage claim area. Although public transportation is limited, there is a bus service connecting the airport to Kailua-Kona town.

For those with special needs, Kona International Airport offers accessible parking spaces, curbside loading and unloading zones, and accessible ground transportation options. Boarding lift services for persons with disabilities can be arranged in advance with the respective airlines. TTYs are available at several locations throughout the airport, and service dogs are always permitted.

The airport also houses the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, a small museum dedicated to the memory of Kona native and astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who perished in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The centre features interactive exhibits, films, and personal items belonging to Onizuka.

Frequently asked questions