--- iata: KOA name: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole city: Kailua-Kona country: United States lastUpdated: '2026-09-09' officialWebsite: 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/' sources: - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/airport-info/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/airlines/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/airline-lounges/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/tsa-checkpoint-hours/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/agriculture-inspection/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/international-passengers/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/flights/ticketing-check-in/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/' - >- https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/taxicab/ - >- https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/car-rentals/ - >- https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/getting-to-from/parking/cell-phone-waiting-lot/ - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/shop-dine/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/services-and-amenities/internet-services/' - 'https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/services-and-amenities/lockers-storage/' - >- https://airports.hawaii.gov/koa/services-and-amenities/persons-with-disabilities/ - >- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/files/2026/02/DOT-Air-Statistics-CY-2021-through-Dec-2025.pdf - >- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/administration/state-airport-parking-rates-effective-feb-1-2024/ - >- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/airports/new-streamlined-parking-system-at-kona-and-hilo-airports/ - 'https://www.airnav.com/airport/PHKO' - 'https://hawaiianair.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3090' - 'https://hawaiianair.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3319' - >- https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/content/our-services/products-and-programs/lounges/overview - 'https://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/fares' - 'https://www.heleonbus.hawaiicounty.gov/getting-around/airport-service' - 'https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/united-states-of-america' quickFacts: - >- Hawaii Island’s west-side gateway: official HDOT year-end file logged 4,172,484 passengers in calendar 2025 (+0.4% vs 4,154,295 in 2024) - >- Open-air pavilions, no jet bridges — official HDOT: portable stairs plus an airline boarding lift. Terminal 1 Gates 1–5, Terminal 2 Gates 6–10, plus a separate commuter Terminal 3 - >- USDA screens mainland-bound checked bags after the airline accepts them (you are not present). Carry-ons are opened at TSA and again at the gate - >- One lounge: Hawaiian Premier Club in the passenger gate area. Live Priority Pass USA has no Kona / KOA pin — Hawaiian’s FAQ limits PP to Kahului - >- No rail. Hele-On is free through 31 Dec 2028 but HDOT still calls the airport service very limited. Rentals are off-terminal shuttles from the center median - >- Parking $24/day max (first 15 minutes free, rates effective 1 Feb 2024). Metropolis license-plate parking launched 21 Jan 2026; monthly public passes ended 1 Jun 2024 bentoTips: - label: 'Stairs, not jetways' title: You walk the ramp detail: >- Arrange the lift with your airline before you fly. Family restrooms sit east of the north checkpoint, south of the Hawaiian checkpoint, and in the rental check-in building. summary: >- Official HDOT says there are no loading bridges. Budget sun, rain, and a boarding lift if you cannot do stairs. category: terminal - label: USDA twice title: 'Bags after check-in, carry-ons at the gate' detail: >- Official HDOT departures page. Empty the bottle at TSA, then expect a second look at fruit and snacks before you board. summary: >- Unlike Kahului, KOA screens checked mainland bags after the airline takes them. Your carry-on is inspected at TSA and again near the gate. category: timing - label: One snack lounge title: Premier Club is Hawaiian-only detail: >- Access is Atmos status plus Huakaʻi, or first/business on Hawaiian or Alaska. Paid Premier Club memberships ended 1 Jan 2025. summary: >- HDOT lists one lounge. Priority Pass does not work here. No day pass, no Admirals Club, no Sky Club. category: status - label: Closed between banks title: Eat when the kitchen is open detail: >- Terminal 2 Laniakea is the longer kitchen (06:00–22:30). Newsstands also close between flights. summary: >- Official Laniakea hours split around the midday and evening banks. Terminal 1’s restaurant goes dark mid-afternoon. category: food lounges: - name: Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club zone: airside hours: >- Tracks Hawaiian’s first and last departure (typically ~05:30–20:00; HDOT does not publish hours — confirm on the door) access: - >- Atmos Rewards status (any tier) plus Huakaʻi by Hawaiian — up to two guests - Hawaiian or Alaska first or business class (no guests) - >- Arrival access only if Huakaʻi plus Atmos status or first class, connecting same-day on Hawaiian or Alaska bestFor: - Air-conditioned wait on a Hawaiian departure - Atmos + Huakaʻi travelers summary: >- The only lounge on the official HDOT list — a small air-conditioned snack room in the Terminal 2 / Gate 10 holdroom. Live Priority Pass USA has no Kona pin; Hawaiian’s lounge FAQ says Priority Pass is accepted only at Kahului. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal 2 amenities: - Air conditioning - Soft drinks - Local snacks - Wi-Fi - Power outlets waterOptions: - kind: refill name: Airside bottle fillers at restroom clusters zone: airside summary: >- HDOT does not publish a hydration map. Empty the bottle at TSA, then refill after the checkpoint — this is the free option. location: >- Traveler-documented fillers with the restroom fountains on both airside holdrooms (Gates 1–5 and Gates 6–10) terminal: Terminals 1 and 2 isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Landside restroom fountains zone: landside summary: >- Basic fountains. Fine if you are waiting on bags or a SpeediShuttle. Not cold-filtered stations. location: >- Ticketing-lobby and baggage-claim restrooms before you commit to a $3 bottle terminal: Terminals 1 and 2 - kind: purchase name: Hawaii News Stand / Aloha News Stand zone: landside price: $3–4.50 for a typical 500 ml–1 L bottle summary: >- Standard airport markup. Buy here only if you will miss the airside fillers. Both stands close between flights. location: >- Official newsstand in Terminal 2 (listed 06:00–21:30) and Aloha News Stand in Terminal 1 (split 11:00–15:00 and 18:30–22:30) terminal: Terminal 2 / Terminal 1 - kind: purchase name: Laniakea / KBS Snackshop zone: airside price: $3–5 for bottled water summary: >- Grab-and-go after TSA. Terminal 1 Laniakea is split-hours — do not count on it between banks. location: >- Laniakea airside in each terminal; KBS Snackshop on the landside center median (official 10:00–19:00) terminal: Terminals 1 and 2 / center median airportistScore: 6.8 slug: koa region: North America --- > Markdown for [/airports/koa](/airports/koa). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/koa) - [Lounge directory](/airports/koa/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) Kailua-Kona, United States · North America Open-air west-Hawaii gateway: stairs instead of jetways, USDA again at the gate, one Hawaiian snack lounge that does not take Priority Pass, and a free-but-thin Hele-On bus. ## Airportist Score **6.8 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 7.8 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 6.8 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 6.4 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 6.2 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 7.6 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 4.6 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: 4.2M - Terminals: 2 open-air halls (T1 gates 1–5, T2 gates 6–10) + commuter T3 - Typical security: 12 min - On-time: 87% - Disruption: minor ## Best for - West-side Big Island origin-and-destination trips with 2+ hours - Hawaiian / Alaska first-class or Atmos + Huakaʻi travelers who can use the Premier Club - Drivers who will take the rental-car shuttle rather than a Waikoloa taxi ## Watch out for - Assuming Priority Pass or an Admirals Club exists (HDOT lists one lounge; live PP has no KOA pin) - Planning a sterile Terminal 1 → Terminal 2 connection — Hawaiian says exit and reclear - Treating Hele-On as frequent resort transit, or paying a stale $2 fare - Booking ITO (Hilo), MUE (Waimea), or a closed Onizuka Space Center visit ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/koa/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/koa/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/koa/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/koa/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/koa/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/koa/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/koa/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/koa/reviews.md) (free)