Airlines that fly to Kailua-Kona (KOA) You have several options for which airline you choose to travel with to Kailua-Kona. There are 10 airlines flying into KOA: Southern Airways Express, Hawaiian Airlines, United, Delta. Cheap plane tickets may be available from different airlines at different times and with unique terms.
What airports fly direct to Kona Hawaii?
Tips for Flying to the Big Island There are many options on the Internet for finding best priced flights when you know the destination airport. We have been flying to the Big Island for years from the mainland and other Islands and wanted to pass along some use tips when searching for the best flight price and times.
First if you are staying on the Kohala Coast (Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Mauna Kea) or in Kailua-Kona then you will want to fly into the Kona Airport (Code: KOA). The Kona airport is an outdoor airport by the sea. When you land you will walk off a ramp or stairs onto the tarmac like it was years ago. They have been able to maintain an outdoor airport without jetways and terminal due to the year round warm sunny weather.
There is a second airport on the island in Hilo (Code: ITO). This airport has far fewer flights from the mainland and is a 90 minute drive the resort areas so Kona is generally preferred. Flying from the Mainland There are a few routes to get to Kona from the mainland.
Direct flights to Kona (Direct flights from Vancouver BC (YVR), Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN), Salt Lake City (SLC), Phoenix (PHX), Anchorage (ANC), and Denver (DEN). The airlines flying these planes are typically 757 and 737 jets with economy seating 3+3.
Connecting via Honolulu. If you are flying from any other city than above its sometimes useful to consider flying to Honolulu and taking the 25 minute connecting Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines or Island Air to Kona. There are larger planes that fly direct to Honolulu (HNL) from New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Washington DC (IAD), Houston (IAH), Chicago (ORD), Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Toronto (YYZ), Calgary (YYC), and Vancouver (YVR) in addition to the cities above. The airlines often use larger 767 or 777 wide-bodied planes for these routes which feel more spacious and sometimes have features like WiFi Internet (for a fee).
We have sometimes found that flights are dramatically less expensive when flying through Honolulu versus the direct flight to Kona. Some of the tips we look at are:
Price the round trip to Kona direct or connecting through one of the mainland cities above. Price the round trip to Kona specifying Honolulu as a stop. This can be done by selecting airport experience or pricing as a multiple destination flight.
We sometimes try combinations where we pick multiple destination on the airline site and price from mainland city to Kona but then Honolulu back to mainland city. Of course you will need to book a Kona to Honolulu short flight leg on an inter-island airline if you use this approach.
If you do this check with the airline as to whether they will allow “inter-airline” baggage tagging so that you won’t have to pick up your bags in Honolulu. If you do need to pick up your bags and re-check in, make sure to allow for sufficient time between flights! Flying from another Island When flying between the Hawaiian islands you will need to take one of three airlines (Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele, and Island Air).
Hawaiian Airlines flies the bigger jets while the others fly smaller turbo props. The airlines are smart and know that a large number of their customers are tourists that typically checkout of a home or hotel in the morning and then travel in the time before the check-in time at the home or hotel at their destination.
- This means flights between 10am and 4pm tend to be much more expensive (as much as double ) the costs of flights earlier or later.
- If you can book well in advance or have flexible travel times you can save some money.
- You can fly direct from Kona to Honolulu, Oahu (HNL) and Kahalui, Maui (OGG).
- Flying from Japan Currently flights from Japan all go to Honolulu but an exciting announcement was made earlier this year that Kona is going to get customs clearing facility allowing direct flights from Tokyo Haneda airport starting December 2016.
This will make it easier for guests from Japan to visit the Big Island. Flying from the Rest of the World. We see lots of guests from all over the world. There are flights from China, Korea, New Zealand and Australia to Honolulu and then its an easy 25 minute connection to Kona.
- Flying from Europe usually involves flying to Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago or New York.
- Despite the long distance and 11 or 12 hour timezone change people from all over the world come to the Big Island for its amazing weather, beaches and of course the Lava! Where ever you are traveling from we hope you find an amazing deal and have safe travels to Paradise.
: Tips for Flying to the Big Island
Who flies nonstop to Kona Bay Area?
Two airlines. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have non-stop flights to Kona.
How do you get to Kona Hawaii?
Travel to Kona Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Kona to the west, or Hilo International Airport (ITO) in Hilo to the east. Most visitors arrive in Kona. There is also the option of flying into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) first and then taking a short, 35-40 minute flight to the island of Hawaiʻi.
Why is Kona so special?
What Is So Special About Kona Coffee? – Kona coffee is a specialty coffee that differs from other varieties primarily because of its prime farming location and production processes. Kona coffee farms are only in one place in Hawaii called the Kona Coffee Belt, on Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South districts.
These mountainous areas have rich volcanic soil full of nitrates, phosphates, iron, and manganese to promote healthy plant growth. Volcanic soil is beneficial for Kona coffee beans because it is new earth that recently erupted from deep inside the ground. It has a healthy concentration of much-needed nutrients and minerals that coffee seedlings need to grow into thriving coffee plants on family farms.
Sun is also necessary to grow Kona coffee beans, making the western part of Kona ideal for growing coffee. Sunny mornings and mild nights are typical, as is afternoon rainfall. In Kona, the western slopes and daily cloud cover provide ample shade to protect coffee plants from excessive sun heat.
- The western slopes of Kona also provide superior draining solutions for coffee farmers.
- Coffee crops won’t flood out because the rainwater flows down the slopes.
- With farms sitting at an altitude of up to 3,000 feet and with plenty of inclines in the land, these plants will thrive and produce sweet-tasting beans.
When it comes time to pick the seeds from the bushes for milling, farmers proceed with care. Coffee harvest season in Hawaii occurs from August to December. The coffee beans are hand-picked and put into a basket before going through a machine to remove the berry pulp and expose the bean.
Workers carefully wash the Kona coffee beans with fresh water before putting them into fermentation tanks. The beans ferment for 12 hours at lower elevations on Kona’s mountains and about 24 hours at higher elevations. Then, they air dry. When the coffee beans are dry, they have a stiff covering called parchment on their surface.
They undergo milling and polishing to remove the parchment and prepare the beans for roasting. Farmers perform each step in the Kona coffee harvesting process with care to ensure that the final result is a high-quality batch of coffee beans that meet the standards of the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
What is the best month to visit Kona Hawaii?
Big Island of Hawaii Tips for When to Visit – Knowing when to visit the Big Island of Hawaii is essential when planning your Big Island trip or vacation. Honestly, there’s not a wrong time to visit the island – it has an incredibly wide diversity and geography that suits almost any type of traveler- from outdoor adventurer to poolside fixture.
But, that said, some months are still better when considering things like weather and your budget. The best times to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, taking into consideration the weather, how crowded, or not, the island is, and demand for accommodations are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and October.
Some call these Hawaii Island’s ‘off-season periods’ or the ‘shoulder months.’ Below we’ll cover visitor arrivals, the Big Island’s weather and climate, accommodations, rates, and what to expect on a visit during each season on the Big Island. — article continued below — 
Is Kona cheaper than Maui?
Maui vs The Big Island: Accommodations – Both Big Island and Maui offer options for every type of traveller, although the latter is more developed for tourists and offers a wider variety in terms of condos and resorts. 
The majority of hotels in Maui are located in the south or west side of the island and even though the prices change with the seasons a bed in a hostel dorm will cost you nearly $50 per night, a nice 3-star hotel between $200 and $300 and an exclusive suite with ocean views will set you back $700.
The Big Island is the third most visited in Hawaii and offers accommodation for all budgets. It tends to be cheaper than Maui and it has two very different sides: Kona (west side) and Hilo (east side). In Kona there are many resorts and hotels with prices usually a bit higher than in Hilo. Whether you stay on the Kohala Coast or in Kailua-Kona town, you’ll find plenty of rooms for $100 per night to condominiums for more than $800 per night.
Even though in Hilo there isn’t such a wide variety of options as in Kona, it also offers different types of accommodation. Here you can find a simple double room for $60, beachfront hotels in Hilo Bay with rooms for around $200 or houses in exclusive locations for $500 per night.
Are there two airports in Kona?
Kona International Airport (KOA) – Kona International Airport (KOA) was dedicated on July 1, 1970, replacing the former airport in Kona that is now part of the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, The Kona airport serves mainland US, international, and interisland flights. Click on the above image for a larger Kona airport map, including terminal locations, parking and Big Island rental cars.
Kona airport parking is available across the street from the terminal building, with shuttles providing service to the nearby rental car lot. Upon landing at Kona International, passengers deplane by means of a mobile stairway. Kona is the only major airport in the Hawaiian Islands where such a ramp is still used to board and deplane passengers.
The entire airport is open air with a tropical style terminal.
What airlines fly between Honolulu and Kona?
All the following airlines operate direct flights between Honolulu and Kailua-Kona: American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest.
Is it worth staying in Kona?
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here, An itinerary for the Island of Hawaii requires seeing sights on both sides of the Big Island.
Where do you need to make your travel base – Hilo or Kona? Kona, not Hilo, is the place to stay on the island of Hawaii during your vacation. Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night.
Erica and I make Kailua-Kona our launching pad during our Big Island vacations. I love the vibe and history of Hilo Town but there are not enough things to do to justify staying in Hilo or staying on the east (windward) side of the island for more than 2-nights. Kona sunsets are reason enough to stay in Kona over Hilo.
Is it worth visiting Kona Hawaii?
Kona: A beautiful, upscale vacation destination There are breweries and expensive restaurants and shopping options. You need a car to get around because there isn’t much of a downtown. Prices are higher here, but the area is beautiful, with trees all over the place bearing bananas, avocados, and oranges.
Is the Big Island and Kona the same thing?
The Weather in Kailua-Kona and the Kona district: – The Kona district is located on the leeward side of the Big Island, which means that weather here is in general excellent: sunny and dry, You can find pleasant temperatures year round, with sunny mornings, overcast afternoons and an occasional afternoon shower.
Are there sharks in Kona?
The Sharks of Hawaii | Meet your Dive Partners at Kona Shark Diving Kona, and the waters off of the Big Island of Hawaii, is home to many types of premier shark species. This location in Hawaii is very unique as we have a large range of different shark species to see in some of the best ocean conditions found anywhere in the world! Explore our introduction to the sharks of Hawaii that join us during our adventures here on the Big Island! 
One of the most iconic sharks in the world and the second-largest predatory shark in the ocean. Hawaii is famous for its Tiger Sharks and here in Kona, it’s one of the best places to see them anywhere in the world. Our Kona Tigers are also some of the biggest found anywhere averaging anywhere from 10′ – 16′ and well over 1,000lbs.
Oceanic Whitetips are one of the most impressive sharks in the ocean and Kona Hawaii is easily one of (perhaps the best) place to see them in the entire world. These members of the sharks of Hawaii are perfectly adapted to life in the open ocean and spend their time hunting down all kinds of marine life in the deep sea.
Oceanic’s can be very bold and often come very close to our divers making for great photographic opportunities. 
Galapagos Sharks are a large species of sharks that frequent the offshore waters around Kona Hawaii. These sharks are incredible predators and here in Kona can be found patrolling around offshore structures. This is one of the most common sharks of Hawaii we see on our trips and can grow up to 14′ and close to 1,000lbs. 
These sharks are found in high numbers at our dive sites along with the Galapagos sharks. They are known for their speed and long dorsal and pectoral fins. These sharks are usually very active and not afraid to give our divers close pass after close pass.
Here in Hawaii these sharks average 5′-7′. These warm-water sharks are found throughout the tropical Pacific and are known for their patterns along their fins and ability to be great hunters. This species of the sharks of Hawaii also have a lot of attitude and it’s great to see these sharks interact with other sharks.
Here on the Big Island of Hawaii, they range from 4′-8′. 
Mako Sharks are the fastest sharks in the ocean and expert predators. Here in Kona, they are found further offshore in the deep Pacific waters where they hunt the many tunas that live here. Hawaii is one of the only places in the world you can see these incredible sharks in the wild! Great White Sharks are rarely seen in Hawaii but they do spend time here and a few are seen in the islands every year. 
: The Sharks of Hawaii | Meet your Dive Partners at Kona Shark Diving
Is Kona good for beaches?
Maniniʻōwali Beach – Photo: Getty Images Located on Kua Bay in Kona, Maniniʻōwali Beach is sometimes called “The Caribbean of Hawaiʻi,” thanks in part to its fine white-sand beaches that gently slope toward the crystal-clear water. The crescent-shaped beach is one of the best places for swimming when the water is calm, usually during the morning hours.
What Airlines fly between Honolulu and Kona?
All the following airlines operate direct flights between Honolulu and Kailua-Kona: American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest.
Does Delta fly out of Kona?
Delta Air Lines also flies directly into 3 other islands : Reach Maui through Kahului Airport (OGG), Kauai (LIH) via Lihue Airport, and access everything the big island of Hawaii has to offer by flying into Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA).
