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Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole
Kailua-Kona, United States
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole
Hawaii's Big Island gateway on the sunny Kona Coast.
- ›Named after Ellison Onizuka, a Big Island native and Challenger Space Shuttle astronaut who died in 1986.
- ›The airport features an open-air design, taking advantage of Kona's consistently dry and mild climate.
- ›It is located approximately 7 miles north of downtown Kailua-Kona near the Keāhole Point area.
- ›KOA is the second-busiest airport in Hawaii by passenger traffic, after Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
- ›The airport serves as a key entry point for visitors to the Kohala Coast luxury resorts and Kona coffee country.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, named in honor of the Kona-born NASA astronaut lost in the 1986 Challenger disaster, serves the western side of Hawaii's Big Island. Opened in 1970, the airport is famously open-air, with its terminals designed to embrace the tropical trade winds rather than enclose travelers behind glass. It serves as a vital entry point for visitors drawn to Kona's coffee farms, world-class diving, and Ironman Triathlon coastline.
- Main Terminal — A single open-air terminal complex handling all commercial arrivals and departures, with a relaxed Hawaiian atmosphere and covered outdoor gate areas.
- Rental car agencies on-site (Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National)
- Taxi and rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) available curbside
- Shared shuttle services to Kailua-Kona and resort areas
- Private hotel shuttles from select Kohala Coast resorts
- Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
- Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
- Hilton Waikoloa Village
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Inside the terminal, food options are limited to a small selection of snack bars and a café offering local favorites such as plate lunches and Hawaiian-style breakfast items. The open-air setting means travelers often enjoy their meals with ocean breezes and views of the surrounding lava fields. For a wider dining experience, Kailua-Kona town, about 7 miles south, offers a vibrant restaurant scene featuring fresh poke, Kona coffee, and diverse international cuisines.
- Book your rental car well in advance, especially during winter and Ironman Triathlon season, as vehicles sell out quickly.
- The airport has no enclosed air-conditioning, so dress in comfortable, light layers — the trade winds keep it pleasant but can be breezy.
- Allow extra time if driving north to Waikoloa or Kohala Coast resorts, as the Kuakini Highway can experience traffic during peak hours.
- Check your luggage weight carefully — inter-island and mainland flights on smaller carriers enforce strict baggage limits at this airport.
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Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is the primary airport on the Island of Hawaiʻi, located in the Kailua-Kona area, Hawaii, United States. The airport serves leeward (western) Hawaiʻi island, including the resorts in North Kona and South Kohala. It is one of two international airports serving Hawaiʻi island, the other being Hilo International Airport on the windward (eastern) side.
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