Hilo International Airport
Hilo, United States
Hilo International Airport
Gateway to Hawaii's Big Island on the rainy eastern shore.
- ›Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the United States, and the airport reflects that with an average annual rainfall exceeding 130 inches.
- ›The airport's open-air design takes advantage of the tropical climate typical of Hawaii.
- ›It serves as a key cargo gateway for agricultural products, including flowers and produce grown on the Big Island.
- ›The airport has a single runway (03/21) approximately 9,800 feet in length.
- ›Hilo International handles significantly less passenger traffic than Kona International Airport on the drier western side of the island.
Hilo International Airport, established in the 1920s and expanded over subsequent decades, serves as the primary air gateway to the eastern side of Hawaii's Big Island. Situated just two miles from downtown Hilo, it reflects the laid-back character of Hawaii's rainiest city while connecting visitors to volcanoes, rainforests, and waterfalls. The airport handles a mix of inter-island and mainland flights, playing a vital role in the island's tourism and commerce.
- Main Terminal — A single open-air terminal building with an aloha spirit ambiance, handling all commercial arrivals and departures with a relaxed, uncongested atmosphere.
- Taxi and rideshare services available curbside outside the terminal
- Hele-On Bus (Hawaii County public transit) with limited service to downtown Hilo
- Car rental agencies on-site including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National
- Hotel and resort shuttle services for select properties
- Private transfer and tour operator pickups
- Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
- Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
- Dolphin Bay Hotel
- Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
- Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures
Inside the terminal, food options are modest, featuring a small café and snack vendors suited for a quick bite before departure. Downtown Hilo, just minutes away, offers a far richer culinary scene including local plate lunch spots, Japanese restaurants reflecting the island's cultural heritage, and fresh seafood diners along Hilo Bay. Travelers are advised to eat in town before heading to the airport, as in-terminal choices are limited.
- Arrive early as parking can fill up quickly during peak travel periods and lots are relatively small.
- Carry a light rain jacket — Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the US and showers can occur any time of day.
- Book your rental car well in advance, especially during holidays, as on-site inventory sells out fast.
- Check inter-island flight schedules carefully; connections through Honolulu or Kahului may be required for certain mainland routes.
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Hilo International Airport, formerly General Lyman Field, is a regional airport located in Hilo, Hawaii, United States. Owned and operated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation, the airport serves windward (eastern) Hawaiʻi island including the districts of Hilo, Hāmākua and Kaʻū, and Puna. It is one of two international airports serving Hawaiʻi island, the other being Kona International Airport on the leeward (western) side.
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