Ruth Haines
Kona International Airport, officially Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, is an airport on the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. It is located in the west of the island, in Kailua-Kona, and is the primary airport on the island, serving interisland, commuter/air taxi, domestic, international, and general aviation flights. The airport is known for its open-air tropical-style design and its charming tiki hut-style roofs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole |
| Location | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA |
| Airport Code | KOA |
| Terminals | 3 |
| Runway Length | 11,000 feet (3,400 m) |
| Airlines | United, Delta, Hawaiian, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American, Mokulele, Kona Shuttle |
| Annual Passenger Traffic | 3,285,000 (approx. 9,000 per day) |
| Attractions | Onizuka Space Center, beaches, golf courses, scenic coastline |
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What You'll Learn
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole
The airport features a set of rambling, open-air, tropical-style structures, divided into three terminals. Terminal 1 includes gates 1 through 5, Terminal 2 includes gates 6 through 10, and Terminal 3 hosts smaller commuter flights. Kona International is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges. Despite these less modern facilities, Kona is used by large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing.
The airport's runway was extended to 11,000 feet in 1994, the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu. This allowed much larger aircraft to use the airport, enabling non-stop flights between Kona and Tokyo or destinations in the United States beyond the West Coast. Japan Airlines started a Kona-Tokyo flight in 1996, and the route was suspended between 2010 and September 2017.
In 1991, a small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, opened at the airport. The displays included a sample of lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items belonging to Onizuka. The Onizuka Space Center was closed in March 2016 to make way for the airport's modernization project, and the airport was renamed after Onizuka in January 2017.
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Kona Airport's history
Kona International Airport, officially known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, is located on the western coast of the Island of Hawaii, approximately 10 miles from the town of Kailua Kona. The airport is named after astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
The history of Kona Airport dates back to the late 1930s when there was a growing demand for an airport in the area. Initially, Kailua-Kona was only serviced by seaplanes, but on August 21, 1935, Alfred W Smith made the first-ever ground landing in Kona in a single-seated monoplane. The Hawaii Legislature appropriated funds for the construction of a new airport at Keahole in 1965, and construction began in May 1969. The new airport was built to replace the Kailua-Kona Airport, located about 7.5 miles north of the old airport.
Kona International Airport opened on July 1, 1970, with a single 6,500-foot runway. The airport has had several names over the years, initially being named Ke-āhole Airport after its geographical location, Keahole Point. In 1993, the airport was renamed Keahole-Kona International Airport, and in 1997, the name was changed to Kona International Airport at Keahole, emphasizing the Kona name.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several improvements and expansions. In 1991, a small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, opened at the airport. In 1994, the runway was extended to 11,000 feet, allowing larger aircraft to use the airport and enabling nonstop flights to Tokyo and other destinations in the United States. The airport has continued to develop, with modernization projects and the addition of new international arrivals facilities, contributing to the growth of tourism in West Hawaii.
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Kona Airport's terminals
Kona International Airport, officially Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, is located on the Island of Hawaiʻi, also known as the Big Island. It is the primary airport on the island, serving transpacific and interisland flights to and from West Hawaiʻi.
The airport features a single-level terminal structure spread across three areas: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 includes gates 1 through 5, Terminal 2 includes gates 6 through 10, and Terminal 3 caters to smaller commuter flights. The terminals are open-air, featuring a tropical-style design that reflects the local environment. The outdoor walkways between Terminals 1 and 2 offer great views, but it is recommended to carry water on hot days. The terminals are all on the same level and connected, making it easy to walk between them.
The airport offers a variety of food and shopping options for travellers. There is a food court located in the main terminal building, with dining options ranging from fast food chains to local Hawaiian cuisine. For those on the go, there are grab-and-go options such as coffee shops and snack bars, while those with more time can enjoy sit-down restaurants. The airport also features several lounges, charging stations, and free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Other amenities include shower facilities, baggage storage, car rental, and a currency exchange.
Kona International Airport is unique in that it is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges. Despite this, the airport is used by large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing. The airport covers 4,204 acres at an elevation of 47 feet above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, which was extended to 11,000 feet in 1994, making it the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands.
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Kona Airport's facilities
Kona International Airport, officially known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, is located on the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. The airport is situated in West Hawaii at Keahole, approximately seven miles from Kailua-Kona town and 25 miles from the resorts on the Kohala Coast.
Kona International Airport covers 4,204 acres of land and is elevated 47 feet above mean sea level. It features a single asphalt runway, 17/35, which measures 11,000 by 150 feet. The runway has been temporarily shortened to 7,000 feet as part of a rehabilitation project until October 1, 2025. The airport also has a terminal complex of single-story buildings along the eastern edge, accommodating passengers, air cargo, mail, airport support, and general aviation.
The commercial passenger facility at Kona International Airport consists of 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 the major airports in the Hawaiian Islands as it uses mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges for passenger boarding. Despite this, the airport is capable of handling large airliners, including Airbus and Boeing models.
In addition to its aviation infrastructure, Kona International Airport houses the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, a small museum that opened in 1991. The museum displays artefacts such as lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items belonging to astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who the airport is named after.
The airport has undergone various developments over the years, including runway extensions and modernisation projects to enhance its facilities and improve the overall travel experience for passengers travelling to and from the Island of Hawaii.
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Kona Airport's location
Kona International Airport, also known as Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, is located on the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. It is one of the two main airports on the island, the other being Hilo International Airport. Kona International Airport is located on the west side of the island, in the city of Kailua-Kona, while Hilo International Airport is situated on the eastern side, in Hilo Town.
Kona International Airport is named after Ellison Onizuka, an astronaut who was born and raised in Kona and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The airport has three terminals and is known for its open-air, tropical-style design, with tiki hut-style roofs. It is praised by travellers for its charm, ease of navigation, and friendly staff. The airport serves interisland, commuter, domestic, international, and general aviation flights, accommodating around 9,000 passengers per day.
The airport is located about seven miles northwest of Kailua and 25 miles southwest of Waikoloa. It is close to popular resorts and hotels in Waikoloa, as well as the famous beaches of the Kona coast, nicknamed the "Gold Coast" for its sunny weather and resorts. The airport provides easy access to attractions such as the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Historic Kailua Village, and Keauhou.
Kona International Airport is the only major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where passengers board using mobile stairs or ramps instead of jet bridges. Despite this, it is used by large airlines such as United, Delta, Hawaiian, Air Canada, and Alaska Airlines. The airport's runway is the second-longest in the Hawaiian Islands, enabling nonstop flights to destinations like Tokyo and Vancouver.
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Frequently asked questions
Kona International Airport is on the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.
The airport is home to the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, which includes a sample of lunar soil, a spacesuit from Apollo 13, and personal items from Onizuka.
The airport has an open-air pavilion design and is praised for its charm. Facilities include a restaurant/bar, lei and fresh flower stands, a newsstand, a gift shop, and ATMs.
Several airlines serve the airport, including United, Delta, Hawaiian, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American, Mokulele, and Kona Shuttle.
