Airport Overview
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is on the Island of Hawaii, in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is owned by the State of Hawaii and operated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
KOA airport occupies 3,450 acres of land and is about seven miles northwest of Kailua-Kona on the Hawaii island.
Airport Stats & Facts
- For 2017-2021, the Kona Airport is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017-2021, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.
- On January 8, 2017, the airport was renamed Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole to honor the fallen astronaut who was born and raised in Kona.
Airport Traveling Tips
- Passengers are recommended to arrive at Kona International Airport at least three hours prior to overseas flights and two hours before domestic flights.
- Ticketing and baggage check-in for passengers departing from Kona International Airport is located in the center of the terminal complex.
- Please refer to KOA Airport Map, before visiting the airport for a flight.
Passenger Pickup and Drop-off
- Drivers waiting to pick up arriving passengers may wait in the Cell Phone Waiting lot, located near the International Arrivals Building (IAB) off the Keahole airport loop road just minutes away from the airport terminal. It’s free up to one hour.
- Passengers can be dropped off outside the terminal from where they’ve to board a flight.
Flight Status
- The Arrival flight status provides the arrival times, gate information, delays, and time to land for Kona International Airport.
- The Departing flight status lists scheduled vs actual departure, gate information, map tracking, and flight delays.
- To get the best fares, book a flight at KOA here.
Airport Terminals
Kona International Airport has three gate areas - Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3.
Terminal 1
It includes gates 1-5.
Terminal 2
This terminal includes gates 6-10.
Terminal 3
It is the commuter terminal at KOA.
For more information, and to see the terminal location, please refer to the KOA Airport Map here.
Airlines Served
The various airlines served at Kona International Airport include Air Canada Rouge, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, and more.
View the full list of airlines served at KOA here.
Airport Parking
Public parking is available at Kona International Airport.
Automatic ticket dispensers issue parking tickets at the entrance to each parking area.
Rates:
0-15 Minutes - Free
16-30 Minutes - $1.00
31-60 Minutes - $2.00
61-120 Minutes - $2.00
121-180 Minutes - $2.00
181-240 Minutes - $2.00
241-300 Minutes - $4.00
301-360 Minutes - $2.00
Ground Transport
Passengers have a lot of options for ground transportation after arriving at the Kona International airport. The various options include buses, rentals, airport shuttles, etc. In addition to this, many passengers also opt for ride services such as Uber, Taxis, and Lyft.
Car Rentals
All car rental companies maintain both base yards and check-in counters of the terminal and are served by continuous shuttles. You may board the shuttles from the center median located across the street from baggage claim areas A and B.
Taxicabs
Taxi service is provided by various independent companies curbside fronting baggage claim areas A and B. Passengers are recommended to consult their taxi dispatcher or driver on arrival for current fares and information.
Speedishuttle
Shuttle Service counters are located in the Baggage Claim area.
Amenities & Services
To make your stay wonderful, Kona International Airport provides visitors with many different amenities and services including:
- Restaurants, cafes, and bars.
- Stores, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
- Free WiFi.
- Banks & ATMs.
- Multiple art installations and exhibits on display
Contact Information
Address: 73-20 Kupipi Street, Kailua Kona, HI 96740, USA
Website: http://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/
Phone: (808) 327 9520
Kona Airport: A Brief History Timeline
- The airport was originally known as Ke-āhole Airport since the ʻāhole fish (Kuhlia sandvicensis) was found nearby.
- In its first full year, 515,378 passengers passed through the new open-air tropical-style terminals. The aquaculture ponds and solar energy experiments at the nearby Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority can be seen during landing and take-off.
- During the early and mid-1970s, Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines were the primary air carriers serving the airport.
- In the late 1970s, Hawaiian was operating larger McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 jets on its inter-island flights.
- In 1993, It became Keāhole-Kona International Airport.
- In 1994, a runway extension to 11,000 feet was completed, making it the largest in the Hawaiian Islands after Honolulu.
- In 1997, the airport became the Kona International Airport at Keāhole.
- On October 23, 2013, Hawaiian Airlines announced that they would re-apply to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for nonstop Kona-Haneda flights a year.
- On July 8, 2016, Hawaiian Airlines announced that they would begin nonstop Kona-Haneda flights after the US Department of Transportation awarded Hawaiian Airlines the route in May.
- In 2017, JAL's resumption of daily Tokyo service generated 900 jobs and $8.58 million in tax revenue on the Big Island during its first year, according to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.
