Meeting set to discuss Kona airport master plan – West Hawaii Today

The state Department of Transportation is holding its third community information meeting for the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole master plan update.

The meeting is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

The meeting will begin with a presentation at 6:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session.

The master plan is the long-range planning document used to guide future improvements at the airport, which is known by the three-letter code KOA. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to review the initial master plan alternatives and share questions and feedback with the project team.

According to the website at koamasterplanupdate.com, the master planning process began in January 2025, and completion is scheduled for September 2026. The purpose of the project, the website states, is to develop a “comprehensive, forward-looking plan that ensures investment into this critical community asset follows a collective vision that benefits the island’s residents and its economy over the next 20 years.”

The master plan’s framework, according to DOT, incorporates eight key objectives, which include:

• Identifying measures to enhance safety for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing activities at the airport.

• Enhancing the passenger experience by evaluating travel paths, improving wayfinding, and modernizing the terminal with enhanced amenities while preserving the airport’s unique feel and sense of place.

• Integrating a second “right-sized” runway into the airport’s makai-side infrastructure to boost resiliency, operational capacity and efficiency.

• Enhancing mauka-side connectivity by providing additional airport access, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow.

• Ensuring a reliable supply of power and jet fuel to support future airport operations.

• Pursuing the development of airport lands and facilities in accordance with grant assurances, leveraging nonaeronautical developments, such as hotels and commercial buildings, to generate additional revenue.

• Creating a phased implementation plan that prioritizes key projects while balancing long-term goals, near-term plans (i.e., terminal improvements), cost-effectiveness and funding availability.

• Ensuring the master plan supplements the regional development goals illustrated in the Kona Community Development Plan, reflecting community values and priorities through effective stakeholder engagement.

“Continued improvements and modernization at the airport are important for the community and for this facility, which connects us to the rest of the state and to the world, as well as bringing in the visitors who are a vital part of West Hawaii’s economy,” Rep. Nicole Lowen, a Democrat who represents the district that includes the KOA, said Wednesday. “As the airport plans for the next 20 years, it is important that the community and the people who use the airport the most have a voice in shaping its future.

“I encourage residents to attend the upcoming public meeting and share their manaʻo on how the airport can best be improved to serve our needs.”

Sen. Dru Kanuha, who also represents the district including the airport, said he appreciates DOT’s “continued outreach and the opportunity for our West Hawaii community” to help shape the facility’s future.

“As our island continues to grow, it’s important that long-term planning reflects both our transportation needs and our community values,” Kanuha said. “Any modernization of KOA must prioritize safety, efficiency and the overall traveler experience, while also being mindful of impacts to surrounding communities — particularly in North Kona. Issues like traffic, noise, parking and environmental stewardship need to be carefully considered as this plan moves forward.”

Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid or service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for non-English speaking persons, is asked to contact Christina McWhorter, DOT project manager, at (808) 838-8817 or christina.f.mcwhorter@hawaii.gov, as soon as possible. The earlier a request is made, the greater the chance of accommodation.

Email John Burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.