Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Encyclopedia
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.
a small landing strip was cleared near the end of Kuakini Highway.
In 1947 the state approved a small terminal to be built for tourist flights, which was dedicated in 1949.
In 1950, 5000 feet (1,524 m) of fencing was added to keep out cattle which would wander onto the site.
The 1960s brought development of several larger hotels and resorts.
Larger aircraft could not take off from the short runway.
When the much larger Kona International Airport
was built further North at Keahole Point
in 1970, the old landing strip was used for drag racing before being turned into a park in 1976.
.
These include baseball and soccer fields, the Kona Community Aquatic Center, and Kekuaokalani Gym, located at 75-5530 Kuakini Highway.
A 217 acres (87.8 ha) marine preserve was created off shore in 1992.
A day use boat mooring is near the prominent "Shark Rock" toward the northwestern boundary. Water depth at the mooring is about 40 feet (12.2 m).
A reef shelf East of Shark rock creates a small surf break.
Snorkle
rs and Scuba divers
usually enter the water at a protected cove at the Northwestern end of the beach.
On Kukailimoku Point Southeast of the park sits a lighthouse to guide ships into Kailua Bay.
North of the park is Papawai Bay (meaning "water layer" in the Hawaiian Language
).
The land there is owned by the Queen Liliuokalani Trust, which also leases some of its property to two large shopping centers, the Kona Commons which opened in 2008, and the Makalapua Center in 1994 .
The old 3800 feet (1,158.2 m) runway is used for a large parking lot and the old terminal building is now a public use pavilion. There is a flat walking trail parallel to the runway, restrooms, showers, and picnic facilities. There are some patches of sand, but the shore is rocky, so care should be taken when entering the water except in calm conditions. No lifeguards are on duty.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a small landing strip was cleared near the end of Kuakini Highway.
In 1947 the state approved a small terminal to be built for tourist flights, which was dedicated in 1949.
In 1950, 5000 feet (1,524 m) of fencing was added to keep out cattle which would wander onto the site.
The 1960s brought development of several larger hotels and resorts.
Larger aircraft could not take off from the short runway.
When the much larger Kona International Airport
Kona International Airport
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.- History...
was built further North at Keahole 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...
in 1970, the old landing strip was used for drag racing before being turned into a park in 1976.
Facilities
The facilities on the 103.7 acres (42 ha) of the old airport are run by the County of HawaiiHawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no...
.
These include baseball and soccer fields, the Kona Community Aquatic Center, and Kekuaokalani Gym, located at 75-5530 Kuakini Highway.
A 217 acres (87.8 ha) marine preserve was created off shore in 1992.
A day use boat mooring is near the prominent "Shark Rock" toward the northwestern boundary. Water depth at the mooring is about 40 feet (12.2 m).
A reef shelf East of Shark rock creates a small surf break.
Snorkle
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
rs and Scuba divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
usually enter the water at a protected cove at the Northwestern end of the beach.
On Kukailimoku Point Southeast of the park sits a lighthouse to guide ships into Kailua Bay.
North of the park is Papawai Bay (meaning "water layer" in the Hawaiian Language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
).
The land there is owned by the Queen Liliuokalani Trust, which also leases some of its property to two large shopping centers, the Kona Commons which opened in 2008, and the Makalapua Center in 1994 .
The old 3800 feet (1,158.2 m) runway is used for a large parking lot and the old terminal building is now a public use pavilion. There is a flat walking trail parallel to the runway, restrooms, showers, and picnic facilities. There are some patches of sand, but the shore is rocky, so care should be taken when entering the water except in calm conditions. No lifeguards are on duty.