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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole

Compiled by

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (United States)
IATA: KOA ICAO: PHKO
Longest Active Runway
11,000 ft
3,353 meters
Field Elevation
47 ft
14 m MSL
Runway Inventory
1 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
19.7388°, -156.0456°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
tied #366 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#595 of 7558
Top 7.9% percentile worldwide
For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.
National Standing (United States)
tied #39 of 63 in US
same length as SJC, PDX, EWR · #120 of 2020 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+10%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 KOA in numbers: 11,000 ft longest runway · tied #366 of 650 published · #595 of 7,558 worldwide (top 7.9%) · tied #39 in United States.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is celebrated for its unique open-air Hawaiian architectural pavilions built directly upon raw black basalt lava fields. The 11,000 ft runway 17/35 accommodates non-stop widebody flights arriving from the US mainland and Japan. Operating at 47 ft above sea level, KOA provides optimal sea-level engine performance, framed dramatically by volcanic mountain slopes and the Pacific shoreline.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single paved Runway 17/35 (11,000 ft / 3,353 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Constructed in 1970 on the barren 1801 Hu’ehu’e lava flow from Hualālai volcano, replacing the constrained Old Kona Airport. Features an open-air Polynesian thatched-roof passenger terminal.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Primary western resort gateway for the Big Island of Hawaii, complementing Hilo International (ITO, 56 NM east).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Surrounded entirely by black volcanic basalt lava beds; daytime thermal heat radiation from the lava fields can create localized turbulence on short final approach.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav KOA Master Record ↗
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

KOA lies at 14 m (47 ft), #519 of 650 published airports by elevation and 18.5 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 560 ft below the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports); COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 6,140 ft higher than KOA.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of KOA. Nearest published airport: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), 142 NM, 12,360 ft (1,360 ft longer than KOA); 1 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 11,000 ft (3,353 m)

KOA runway: 17/35 11,000 × 150 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: tied #39 of 63 in United States with SJC/PDX/EWR at 11,000 ft; DEN leads by 5,000 ft (16,000 ft). +10% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
17/35 11,000 ft (3353 m / 3.353 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →