Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, or KOA to the FAA and PHKO to the ICAO, is an international airport in Hawai'i County, Hawai'i. Categorized by the FAA as a small-hub primary commercial service facility, it is the busiest airport on the Island of Hawai'i. The airport serves western Hawai'i Island, including the resorts of the North Kona and South Kohala districts. There are three terminals, with the first two having ten gates total and the third terminal used for smaller commuter flights. In the 12 months ending November 30, 2021, the airport had 87,770 aircraft operations, 51% general aviation, 30% scheduled commercial, 12% air taxi, and 7% military. In March 2022, there were 56 aircraft based at the airport, 26 single-engine, eight multi-engine, 18 helicopters, and four ultralights. The airport covers 2,700 acres, and there is one runway: 17/35, which is 11,000 by 150 feet (asphalt).
Airport history
KOA originated on July 1st, 1970, with a single 6,500-foot runway, much of which was constructed on a relatively recent lava flow (flattened using three million pounds of dynamite). The airport became necessary as large Resorts began to spring up near Kona. During its first full year of operation, over half a million passengers were serviced at the airport, which was initially known as Ke-āhole Airport. The airport's opening accelerated the shift in tourism to the western side of the island (by 2005, 86% of the resorts on the island of Hawaii were on the western side). Initial service at KOA was by Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, with United Airlines joining in 1985. in 1993, the airport was renamed Keāhole-Kona International Airport, truly intended to reflect its proximity to the nearby town of Kona. The following year, the runway was extended to 11,000 feet, allowing for the use of much larger aircraft and enabling flights to much farther destinations. By 1996, direct flights to Japan began via Japan Airlines. Finally, on January 8th, 2017, the airport was renamed in honor of local astronaut Ellison Onizuka (who had tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986). In March of that year, KOA began a modernization project, combining the two separate terminals into one area, allowing for one central screening area. Furthermore, during COVID-19, a new international arrivals facility was built.
Airport location
The airport is located in Kalaoa CDP, near the town of Kailua-Kona.
Airport facts
- In 1991, a small museum named The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center opened, featuring a sample of lunar soil, an Apollo 13 spacesuit, and some of Onizuka's personal belongings. Unfortunately, the 2017 airport expansion project forced the museum's closure, which led to the airport being named in his honor instead.
- There are a variety of shopping and dining options at KOA, including Cho's Lies & Flowers.
- KOA is a hub for Mokulele Airlines.
- In 2019, the airport serviced over 4 million passengers.
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