Kona Airport Map: KOA Terminal Layout & Guide

Kona Airport Terminal Map

Here is the terminal map for Kona Airport (KOA). The layout is straightforward — one main terminal building with everything accessible on foot. No trams, no shuttles between terminals, no confusion.

Kona Airport Terminal Map (click to download PDF)

Download the printable Kona Airport Map (PDF)

View the official interactive KOA airport map on the Hawaii DOT Airports website.

Terminal Layout Overview

KOA is unlike most mainland airports. There are no enclosed jetways. You walk across the tarmac to board your plane, sometimes in the rain, sometimes under blazing Kona sun. It is charming in a way that only Hawaii can pull off.

The terminal has 12 gates (numbered 1 through 12), all within a short walk of each other. The entire gate area is open-air with covered roofing — tiki-hut style. You will not find air conditioning here. Ceiling fans and trade winds do the work.

Check-in counters line the front of the terminal building. Major airlines operating out of KOA include United, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest, and Mokulele (for inter-island commuter flights). International carriers like Air Canada and Japan Airlines also serve this airport seasonally.

The TSA security checkpoint is centrally located past the check-in counters. There is one main security line. TSA PreCheck is available — look for the dedicated lane on the left side of the checkpoint.

Past security, food and shopping options are limited. A few concession stands sell coffee, snacks, sandwiches, and basic souvenirs. If you want a real meal before your flight, eat in Kailua-Kona before heading to the airport.

Parking Map & Options

Kona Airport has three parking areas, all within walking distance of the terminal.

Cell phone waiting lot: Free. Located before the terminal entrance. Wait here until your passenger texts that they have their bags. Then loop into the pickup lane. This saves you from circling or paying for parking.

Short-term parking: Directly in front of the terminal. Best for pickups and drop-offs under 30 minutes. Rates start at $1 per half hour, capped at $18 per day.

Long-term parking: Located slightly further from the terminal — still a 3-5 minute walk. Rates are $1 per half hour, capped at $14 per day ($98 per week). For a week-long trip, this is $98 total. Not cheap, but the convenience factor is high if you live on-island.

All parking rates are set by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Check their site for the latest pricing.

Car Rental Area

Car rental counters are on the ground level near baggage claim. After collecting your bags, follow the signs toward ground transportation. The counters for all major companies — Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National — are clustered together in the same area.

The rental car lot is a short walk from the counters. Some companies run a quick shuttle, but most lots are close enough that you just walk to your vehicle.

Big Island road trips are some of the best in Hawaii. The drive from Kona to Hilo takes about 2.5 hours and passes through wildly different climate zones — from dry lava fields to tropical rainforest. A rental car is not optional here. Public transit on the Big Island is limited and slow.

Book ahead for the best rates: Discount Hawaii Car Rental compares all major companies and consistently beats the prices you will find booking directly. We use them for every trip.

Getting Around the Terminal

Baggage claim is on the ground level, directly below the departure gates. Two carousels handle incoming flights. Bags typically arrive 15-20 minutes after landing. The area is open-air, so you are essentially standing outside while you wait.

Restrooms are located throughout the terminal — before security, after security near the gates, and near baggage claim. They are clean and well-maintained.

TSA PreCheck lane is available at the main security checkpoint. If you have PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR, use the dedicated lane on the left. Wait times are usually short — KOA rarely has the long security lines you see at mainland hubs.

Arriving passengers: After deplaning (down the stairs, across the tarmac), follow signs to baggage claim. It is a straightforward walk. If someone is picking you up, have them wait in the cell phone lot until you text that you have your bags, then meet at the curb outside baggage claim.

Departing passengers: Check-in counters are on the upper level. Get dropped off at the departures curb, check your bags, then head through security to the gate area. The whole process takes 20-30 minutes on a normal day.

Tips for Navigating KOA

Arrive 2 hours early for mainland flights, 90 minutes for inter-island. KOA is small, but check-in lines can stack up when multiple flights depart around the same time — especially morning mainland departures between 8-10 AM.

It is hot. The Kona coast sits in a dry, sunny climate zone. The airport has no air conditioning because the terminal is open-air. Wear light clothing, drink water, and do not leave anything heat-sensitive in your checked bags while you wait on the tarmac.

No enclosed walkways. You board and deplane via stairs on the tarmac. If it is raining, they hand out umbrellas at the gate. If you have mobility issues, request assistance from your airline — they provide ground-level boarding options.

Limited food past security. A handful of concession stands sell basics: coffee, sandwiches, chips, bottled water. No sit-down restaurants. Eat before you arrive or bring food through security (TSA allows food in carry-ons).

Lei greeting services operate at KOA if you book in advance. Greeters meet you after baggage claim with a fresh flower lei. It is a nice touch for honeymoons, anniversaries, or first-time visitors.

Free WiFi is available throughout the terminal. Network name is typically "Kona Airport Free WiFi." Speeds are adequate for email and messaging but do not count on streaming video.