Two Big Island airports, two coasts
The main Big Island airport is Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, code KOA, on the west side. Hilo International Airport, code ITO, is on the east side. They are about 1 hour 45 minutes apart by car, so the airport you choose shapes your first and last day. HNL is Honolulu on Oʻahu, not the Big Island.
Kona is the closer airport for Kailua-Kona, Keauhou and the Kohala Coast. Hilo is the closer airport for Hilo, Volcano Village and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about 45 minutes away. Some volcano tours with Hilo Airport pickup start right at ITO, which works well on an arrival or departure day.
Drive times from KOA and ITO
Typical values without traffic, roadworks or stops.
| Destination | From Kona (KOA) | From Hilo (ITO) |
|---|---|---|
| Kailua-Kona | About 15 minutes | About 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Hāpuna, Kohala Coast | About 30 minutes | – |
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | About 2 hours 15 minutes | About 45 minutes |
For most visitors who stay on the Kona side, KOA is the better airport. If your trip starts with the volcano or a stay in Hilo, ITO saves a long drive. An open-jaw trip, landing at one airport and leaving from the other, is worth a look when you split your stay. The where to stay guide compares the areas.
Our pick: a tour with airport pickup
If you land at Hilo, this day trip collects you at the airport and brings you back.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours with pickup or start near the airports
Volcano day trips with Hilo pickup, Kona harbor trips and Mauna Kea sunset tours, with live prices and availability.
Flights to the Big Island, Hawaii
Kona has transpacific and inter-island flights. Hilo has inter-island flights. Not every mainland airport has nonstop service to the Big Island, so many trips connect in Honolulu, followed by a flight of about 35 to 40 minutes to the island. That is how most Honolulu to Hilo trips work: you change from your long-haul flight to an inter-island flight, HNL to Hilo or HNL to Kona.
If you search for flights from LAX to Hilo, compare the total travel time and check whether the route is nonstop or connects in Honolulu. A connection to KOA can be shorter overall if you plan to stay on the west side anyway.
Island hopping works the same way, through Honolulu or on inter-island routes; see the guides to Honolulu airport and Kahului airport on Maui.
Arriving from the mainland or abroad
If you arrive from the US mainland, declare agricultural items you carry, such as plants, plant parts and soil, and present them for inspection. Not every fruit or plant is allowed. International visitors follow the US entry rules: eligible citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, can stay up to 90 days for tourism with an approved ESTA and an electronic passport. An ESTA does not guarantee entry, and the fee can change, so check it before you apply.
Taxi and transfer from Kona Airport (KOA)
Getting from KOA to your hotel without a rental car.
Taxi
Taxi stands are outside baggage claim A and B. Guide fares are about $25 to Kailua-Kona town, about $50 to the coastal Waikoloa area and about $63 to Waikoloa Village. These are orientation values, not fixed 2026 tariffs. Confirm the fare with the driver before you set off, and do not mix up the two Waikoloa areas.
Shuttles and hotel transfers
Shuttle fares are not fixed. Without a rental car, ask your hotel before you land how guests get there from KOA and what it costs. Many boat and manta tours in Kailua-Kona do not include hotel pickup, so plan the ride to the harbor too.
Hele-On bus
The Hele-On county bus is free until December 2028. Routes run between Hilo and Kailua-Kona, from Hilo to Volcano, from Hilo to South Kohala and along Aliʻi Drive. Stops at the airport terminals and exact times change, so check the current timetable before you count on a bus.
Hilo International Airport (ITO)
Hilo Airport is the gateway to the east side. Rental car offices are at ground level across the street from the terminal, so the walk is short. From ITO, Hilo town is close, the national park is about 30 miles or 45 minutes on Highway 11, and Kailua-Kona is about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Hilo is also the main pickup area for several volcano tours. Some pick up at Hilo International Airport, at the Port of Hilo or at local hotels, and some include the national park pass. The Hilo guide covers Rainbow Falls, ʻAkaka Falls and the town.
Big Island car rental and parking
The Big Island is best explored by car. Inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, there is no public shuttle between the sights, and rideshare is hard to find there. At KOA, the rental car offices and lots are outside the terminal: take the shuttle from the center island across from baggage claim A and B. At ITO, the offices are across the street from the terminal.
Saddle Road and Mauna Kea
Highway 200, the Saddle Road, links the Waikoloa area with the east side and the park. The road to the Mauna Kea summit is a separate road. Above the visitor station, you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle with low range, and your rental contract also has to allow the drive. Read your contract before you head up, and see the Mauna Kea guide for the summit rules.
Rental terms
Minimum age, extra drivers, insurance and road restrictions differ by company. Compare them along with the price, especially if you plan the Saddle Road or a long day to the park.
Airport parking
Since January 2026, parking at KOA and ITO is ticketless. Registered users pay automatically, and you can still pay by cash or card with the staff at the exit. Rates did not change with the new system. Check the current rates before a long stay.
Compare rental car prices at Kona International Airport (KOA) for driving around the Big Island on Economybookings.com.
Big Island airports: questions
Which airport is the main Big Island airport?
Kona (KOA) on the west side has transpacific and inter-island flights. Hilo (ITO) on the east side has inter-island flights. Choose the one closer to where you stay.
Is Kona or Hilo better for the volcano?
Hilo. The national park is about 45 minutes from ITO and about 2 hours 15 minutes from KOA.
How much is a taxi from Kona Airport to Kailua-Kona?
Guide fares are about $25 to Kailua-Kona town. They are not fixed, so confirm the price with the driver before the ride.
How do I fly from Honolulu to Hilo?
On an inter-island flight from HNL. The flight to the Big Island takes about 35 to 40 minutes. HNL is on Oʻahu, not on the Big Island.
Can I drive a rental car to the Mauna Kea summit?
Above the visitor station, you need four-wheel drive with low range, and your rental contract has to allow the drive. Check your contract and the summit rules before you go.
Is there a free bus from the airport?
The Hele-On county bus is free until December 2028. Check the current timetable to see whether a route stops at your terminal at the time you land.