Kona International Airport
Encyclopedia
Kona International Airport at Keāhole is an airport
on the Island of Hawaii, in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii
, United States
. The airport serves leeward, or Western Hawaii island, including the town of Kailua-Kona and the major resorts of the North Kona
and South Kohala
districts.
. This flow extended the shoreline out an estimated 1 mi (1.6 km), adding some 4 km² (1.5 sq mi) of land to the island
and creating Keāhole Point
. The new airport was dedicated on July 1, 1970, with a single 6500 feet (2 km) runway; the previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
.
Construction crews from Bechtel
Corporation had used three million pounds of dynamite to flatten the lava flow (which was riddled with Lava tube
s) within 13 months.
In its first full year, 515,378 passengers passed through the new open-air tropical-style terminals. The aquaculture
ponds and solar energy experiments at the nearby Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) can be seen during landing and take-off.
It was originally known as Ke-āhole Airport, since the āhole fish (Kuhlia sandvicensis
) was found nearby.
The main runway was extended in 1993 to make it the largest in the Hawaiian Islands
outside of Honolulu, when it was renamed Keāhole-Kona International Airport.
In 1997 it officially became known as the Kona International Airport at Keāhole.
Japan Airlines
operated a Kona-Tokyo flight from 1996 to 2010, which was Hawaii Island's only scheduled international service.
Kona International at Keahole Airport covers an area of 2700 acres (1,092.7 ha) at an elevation
of 47 feet (14 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway
designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 11,000 by 150 feet (3,353 x 46 m).
The state government of Hawaii facility operates a runway and a terminal complex of single story buildings along the eastern edge of the airfield for arriving and departing passengers, air cargo and mail, airport support, and general aviation operations.
Kona International is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands
where a mobile ramp is used to plane and deplane passengers. Kona International sees daily 717
, 737
, 757
, 767
, and 777
aircraft, as well as smaller inter-island aircraft, and general private aviation. The airport terminal is a rambling, open-air set of structures. Long after other airports in Hawaii converted their terminals to multi-story buildings with automated jetway
systems, Hawaiian Airlines
could still utilize their DC-9 fleet's tailcone exits at Kailua-Kona.
An environmental impact statement was prepared in 2005 to add a second runway. The United States Air Force
investigated building a second 3950 ft (1,204 m) runway in 2009. This would be used for practicing landing C-17
military cargo planes on a short runway. Although the 11000 ft (3,353 m) runway allows flights to Japan and Chicago, it is the only major airport in Hawaii with a single runway.
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2007, the airport had 150,624 aircraft operations, an average of 412 per day: 50% general aviation
, 22% scheduled commercial
, 15% air taxi
, and 13% military
. At that time there were 59 aircraft based at this airport: 68% single-engine
, 14% multi-engine, 14% helicopter
, 2% glider
and 3% ultralight.
who died in 1986 on the Space Shuttle Challenger
. The displays include a sample of lunar soil, a space suit from Apollo 13, and personal items from Ellison Onizuka. An admission fee is charged.
When the airport opened in 1970, it helped accelerate a shift of tourism from East Hawaii to West Hawaii. Tourism in Hilo had already taken a hit when a tsunami
wiped out all sea-side hotels in 1960.
The full extent of the airport's impact and shift in tourism can be seen in Hawaii Island Strategic Plan for 2006 to 2015. By 2005, the percentage of accommodations on the West side increased to 86% of the total. In 2005 just 4 modest hotels continued to serve the East side of Hawaii, with 3 of them dating back to the 1960's
The success of the Kona International Airport in drawing tourism to the West side of Hawaii has been a mixed blessing. Tourism has also helped fuel Hawaii County's overall population growth. Between 1990 and 2010 the population increased 48%.
while keeping the option to extend the airport's primary runway to 12,000 feet if required. According to the master plan, the ultimate goal of having two runways would be to maximize the runways' airfield capability and ensure that a runway is always in service if one needs to be closed temporarily for emergencies, maintenance or construction. In addition, a second-level concourse with jetway
s would be built to better facilitate overseas (U.S. mainland and international) flights.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
on the Island of Hawaii, in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport serves leeward, or Western Hawaii island, including the town of Kailua-Kona and the major resorts of the North Kona
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
and South Kohala
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
districts.
History
Much of the airport runway is built on a relatively recent lava flow: the 1801 Huehue flow from HualālaiHualalai
Hualālai is a dormant shield volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the third-youngest and the third most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, following Kīlauea and the much larger Mauna Loa, and also the westernmost. Its peak is above sea...
. This flow extended the shoreline out an estimated 1 mi (1.6 km), adding some 4 km² (1.5 sq mi) of land to the island
and creating Keāhole Point
Keahole Point
Keāhole Point is the westernmost point of the island of Hawaii. The Kona International Airport was moved here from directly north of the town of Kailua-Kona in 1970, when the previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area...
. The new airport was dedicated on July 1, 1970, with a single 6500 feet (2 km) runway; the previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area is a park built on the site of an old landing strip just North of Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii.-History:During World War II a small landing strip was cleared near the end of Kuakini Highway....
.
Construction crews from Bechtel
Bechtel
Bechtel Corporation is the largest engineering company in the United States, ranking as the 5th-largest privately owned company in the U.S...
Corporation had used three million pounds of dynamite to flatten the lava flow (which was riddled with Lava tube
Lava tube
Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like...
s) within 13 months.
In its first full year, 515,378 passengers passed through the new open-air tropical-style terminals. The aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
ponds and solar energy experiments at the nearby Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) can be seen during landing and take-off.
It was originally known as Ke-āhole Airport, since the āhole fish (Kuhlia sandvicensis
Kuhlia sandvicensis
Kuhlia sandvicensis is a species of fish in the Kuhliidae family, found in both salt and fresh water.Endemic to Hawaii, the common name is āhole for the mature fish, andāholehole for the young...
) was found nearby.
The main runway was extended in 1993 to make it the largest in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
outside of Honolulu, when it was renamed Keāhole-Kona International Airport.
In 1997 it officially became known as the Kona International Airport at Keāhole.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines
is an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
operated a Kona-Tokyo flight from 1996 to 2010, which was Hawaii Island's only scheduled international service.
Facilities and aircraft
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 47 feet (14 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 11,000 by 150 feet (3,353 x 46 m).
The state government of Hawaii facility operates a runway and a terminal complex of single story buildings along the eastern edge of the airfield for arriving and departing passengers, air cargo and mail, airport support, and general aviation operations.
Kona International is the only remaining major airport in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
where a mobile ramp is used to plane and deplane passengers. Kona International sees daily 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
, 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
, 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
, 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
, and 777
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
aircraft, as well as smaller inter-island aircraft, and general private aviation. The airport terminal is a rambling, open-air set of structures. Long after other airports in Hawaii converted their terminals to multi-story buildings with automated jetway
Jetway
A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside...
systems, Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
could still utilize their DC-9 fleet's tailcone exits at Kailua-Kona.
An environmental impact statement was prepared in 2005 to add a second runway. The United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
investigated building a second 3950 ft (1,204 m) runway in 2009. This would be used for practicing landing C-17
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
military cargo planes on a short runway. Although the 11000 ft (3,353 m) runway allows flights to Japan and Chicago, it is the only major airport in Hawaii with a single runway.
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2007, the airport had 150,624 aircraft operations, an average of 412 per day: 50% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 22% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, 15% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
, and 13% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 59 aircraft based at this airport: 68% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 14% multi-engine, 14% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, 2% glider
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
and 3% ultralight.
Airlines and destinations
Top Destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Honolulu, HIHonolulu International Airport Honolulu International Airport is the principal aviation gateway of the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii and is identified as one of the busiest airports in the United States, with traffic now exceeding 21 million passengers a year and rising.It is located in the Honolulu... |
651,000 | go!, Hawaiian |
| 2 |  Los Angeles, CALos Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually... |
195,000 | American, Delta, United |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO... |
113,000 | United |
| 4 | Kahului, HI Kahului Airport Kahului Airport is a regional airport in the state of Hawai'i, located east of the Kahului CDP in Maui County on the island of Maui near Haleakala. Most flights into OGG originate from Honolulu International Airport; the Honolulu–Kahului corridor is one of the busiest air routes in the US,... |
110,000 | Hawaiian, Island, Mokulele, Pacific Wings |
| 5 |  Seattle, WASeattle-Tacoma International Airport The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5... |
63,000 | Alaska |
| 6 |  Phoenix, AZPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States... |
49,000 | US Airways |
| 7 | San Jose, CA |
27,000 | Alaska |
| 8 | Oakland, CA Oakland International Airport Oakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States... |
22,000 | Alaska |
| 9 |  Denver, CODenver International Airport Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel... |
14,000 | United |
| 10 |  Portland, ORPortland International Airport Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah... |
12,000 | Alaska |
Accidents and incidents
- On August 25, 1977, an Air Cargo Hawaii twin-engine turbo-prop Short SC.7 SkyvanShort SC.7 Skyvan-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 . London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.-External links:****...
crashed and burned while attempting to land at Keahole Airport. The pilot and passenger were killed. The crash occurred about 1+1/2 mi short of the runway. - On September 10, 1989, the pilot of an Aero Commander 680 was making an emergency landing on runway 17 due to loss of power in the right engine. He crashed about 1/4 mi southwest of the runway. One fatality and one serious injury.
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center
A small museum, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, is located between the passenger terminals at the airport. It is named in honor of Kona-born Ellison OnizukaEllison Onizuka
was a Japanese American astronaut from Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, who successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C, before losing his life to the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, where he was serving as Mission Specialist for mission STS-51-L...
who died in 1986 on the Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
. The displays include a sample of lunar soil, a space suit from Apollo 13, and personal items from Ellison Onizuka. An admission fee is charged.
Impact of Kona Airport on Hawaii Island
Prior to the 1970 airport expansion, tourism was centered on Hawaii's East side and more specifically the town of Hilo. Tourists wanting to go to the Kona side of the Island typically flew into Hilo's airport and drove across the island. As recently as 1968 Kona Village Resort didn't have road access let alone a large airport nearby. This lack of infrastructure was not tolerable, particularly after the completion of the Royal Kona Resort in 1968.When the airport opened in 1970, it helped accelerate a shift of tourism from East Hawaii to West Hawaii. Tourism in Hilo had already taken a hit when a tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
wiped out all sea-side hotels in 1960.
The full extent of the airport's impact and shift in tourism can be seen in Hawaii Island Strategic Plan for 2006 to 2015. By 2005, the percentage of accommodations on the West side increased to 86% of the total. In 2005 just 4 modest hotels continued to serve the East side of Hawaii, with 3 of them dating back to the 1960's
The success of the Kona International Airport in drawing tourism to the West side of Hawaii has been a mixed blessing. Tourism has also helped fuel Hawaii County's overall population growth. Between 1990 and 2010 the population increased 48%.
Future development
Kona Airport's master plan, completed in 2010, calls for the addition of a second runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
while keeping the option to extend the airport's primary runway to 12,000 feet if required. According to the master plan, the ultimate goal of having two runways would be to maximize the runways' airfield capability and ensure that a runway is always in service if one needs to be closed temporarily for emergencies, maintenance or construction. In addition, a second-level concourse with jetway
Jetway
A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside...
s would be built to better facilitate overseas (U.S. mainland and international) flights.