A Guide to Hawaiʻi Island Airports

When visiting Hawaiʻi Island, also known as Big Island, visitors have two primary airports to choose from — Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) on the west side and Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the east side.

KOA, also known as Kona International Airport, is the primary airport for the island. ITO is smaller and primarily services interisland and connecting flights.

KOA is the best option for easy access to Kona and the Kohala resort areas, while ITO is better for visits to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and often offers lower rental car prices. Below is a comparison of driving times, costs, weather delays and best use cases for each airport.

Best for: Quick and easy access to east side rainforests and volcanoes.

Driving time to resorts:

• 1 hour, 30 minutes to Waikoloa and Mauna Lani resorts

• 1 hour, 40 minutes to Ali‘i Drive/Kailua-Kona resorts

• 1 hour, 40 minutes to Hāpuna Beach (Kohala Coast) resorts

• 7 minutes to Hilo hotels

Car rental availability: Less demand results in fewer options, but also significant savings over KOA rentals.

Weather/delay risk: Though it rains frequently in Hilo, the airport is designed to handle regular weather issues, but may close due to extreme weather.

Best for: The start of snorkeling, golf and luxury resort adventures.

Driving time to resorts:

• 25 minutes to Waikoloa and Mauna Lani resorts

• 20 minutes to Ali‘i Drive/Kailua-Kona resorts

• 35 minutes to Hāpuna Beach (Kohala Coast) resorts

• 1 hour, 30 minutes to Hilo hotels

Car rental availability: Larger fleets increase options, but peak seasonal times (especially around the holidays) can cause a major drop in inventory. Best to reserve early.

Weather/delay risk: Older infrastructure has caused delays due to cracks in the runway in 2024 and 2025. These occurrences are fairly unusual.

• You’re island-hopping to visit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

• You’re renting a vehicle for more than a few days. The difference can be a big cost saver.

• You’re looking for a more laid-back, less touristy experience.

• Ziplining, swimming in waterfalls, visiting black sand beaches and exploring botanical gardens are top priorities.

• You want quick and easy access to the west side resorts and accommodations.

• Your trip involves plenty of snorkeling and manta ray tours — the best snorkeling is on the west side. Note: As research into Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE) increases, travelers should take care to leave a few days between flying and snorkeling to avoid any potential safety issues.

• Golfing is an essential part of your trip. There are more than eight golf courses in West Hawai'i, including some of the best in the world.

• You are staying in Kona and want to ditch a rental car and use rideshare and excursion services; there are a lot more options available in West Hawai'i than Hilo.

From KOA

• To Waikoloa Resort: 25 minutes (best choice)

• Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona: 20 minutes (best choice)

• Mauna Lani Resort: 28 minutes (best choice)

• Hāpuna Beach: 35 minutes (best choice)

• Hilo Hotels: 1 hour, 34 minutes

• Volcano Village: 2 hours, 5 minutes

From ITO

• To Waikoloa Resort: 1 hour, 30 minutes

• Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona: 1 hour, 40 minutes

• Mauna Lani Resort: 1 hour, 33 minutes

• Hāpuna Beach: 1 hour, 40 minutes

• Hilo Hotels: 7 minutes (best choice)

• Volcano Village: 43 minutes (best choice)

Both airports are home to eight major national rental car companies:

• Alamo

• Avis

• Budget

• Dollar

• Enterprise

• Hertz

• National

• Thrifty

Though Kona’s airport has larger fleets and more options to choose from, Hilo’s rental car options offer serious cost savings. For longer visits, it may be worth it to fly in and out of Hilo to help save on this significant vacation expenditure.

In addition to cost savings, grabbing a rental car at ITO is typically quick and easy. The rental counter is small and located just a short walk across from the terminals. Because Hilo’s airport almost exclusively serves interisland travelers, there’s less of a demand from visitors, resulting in shorter wait times. Renting a car from ITO is also significantly cheaper — prices for the same car type and same dates differ 50-60% between the two airports.

Picking up a rental at KOA will take a little longer, as you’ll need to take a shuttle to their rental location. To do so, head to the center median located across from baggage claim A or B. Because KOA serves international and mainland flights, their baseyards include larger fleets, helping to ensure that visitors have a wide range of options when booking. That said, even with larger fleets, procrastinators may find themselves with no rental vehicle during the peak holiday season. We highly recommend booking very early and through a reputable company that won’t cancel your booking at the last minute.No major rental car companies allow rentals to be driven to the top of Mauna Kea or off-road. For 4WD vehicles that are allowed to summit, you’ll need to book with a private owner via Turo or one of the smaller, locally-owned Jeep rental operations.

ITO is a very small airport that primarily services interisland flights through Hawaiian and Southwest Airlines. Dining options inside the airport are limited to a cafeteria-style eatery with simple offerings, coffee and beer. You should definitely eat before getting to the airport; it would be a waste of a last meal in Hawai'i. There are also a few stores where you can grab snacks, drinks and last-minute souvenirs. You can also fill a water bottle at their refill station if you like lukewarm water.

KOA is a bit bigger, but much of it is outside and without much shade. Only one terminal includes air conditioning, so be prepared for a warm wait (hand fans make great souvenirs - grab some before heading to the airport). Food and shopping options are also limited here. Take care of those needs before arriving or bring food with you (though I would highly avoid grabbing a poke bowl to eat on the plane).

If you plan to drive from one side of the island to the other to catch a red-eye, I highly recommend doing so before dark. Saddle Road/Daniel K. Inouye Highway has some dangerous stretches and can be affected by weather and/or low-lying clouds.

Quick Pick: Best Airport for Most Travelers

Overall, most visitors on direct flights coming from the U.S. mainland and international destinations will end up at Ellison Onizuka International Airport, also known as Kona International Airport (KOA). Though amenities are limited at this tropical airport, it hosts significantly more airlines than Hilo International Airport (ITO) and is closer to the majority of the hotels and resorts on Hawaiʻi Island.  

Also check out The 10 Best Hotels on Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island)