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Airportist Scores and guides are editorial content. Always verify live rules, terminals, and operational alerts with official airport and airline sources.

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KOAPHKO

Kona International Airport

Kona, US

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

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KOAGuide

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KOAPHKOMinor

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole

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

Solid

Ease of use7.8
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access6.2
Reliability7.6
Lounges4.6

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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KOAGuide

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KOAPHKOMinor

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole

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

Solid

Ease of use7.8
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access6.2
Reliability7.6
Lounges4.6

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare KOA with another airport

Typical security
12 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
15–20 min to Kailua-Kona / 35–45 min to Waikoloa
Uber / Lyft TNC median
Cheapest to city
Hele-On (free through 2028)
Free through 31 Dec 2028 · 25–40 min to Kailua-Kona when a trip exists
Lounge
1
On time
87%
of departures
Terminals
2
open-air halls (T1 gates 1–5, T2 gates 6–10) + commuter T3

6 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

Compare KOA vs ITO

MUEWaimea-Kohala Airport
Kamuela
49 km
UPPUpolu Airport
Hawi
62 km
ITOHilo International Airport
Hilo
105 km
HNMHana Airport
Hana
118 km
OGGKahului Airport
Kahului
135 km

MUEWaimea-Kohala Airport
Kamuela
49 km
UPPUpolu Airport
Hawi
62 km
ITOHilo International Airport
Hilo
7.3105 km
HNMHana Airport
Hana
118 km
OGGKahului Airport
Kahului
7.3135 km

KOAGuide

KOAGuide

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Sep 9, 2026.

Minor

Third-party wraps put recent Southwest KOA on-time arrivals near the high 80s; a late inbound mainland aircraft is still the usual reason an evening bank slips.Open-air stairs boarding means rain and heat are operational, not a disruption — budget a lift with the airline if stairs are not an option.KOA Master Plan Update community meetings ran through June 2026; a second runway and hotel are planning, not a closed terminal.

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays12 min · 13%

Typical arrival delays10 min · 11%

Typical cancellations0 min · 0.5%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 04:40 HST

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 25, 15:50 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

☁️25°C / 77°F