Kailua-Kona and its Airport Throughout the Years

Over the decades, Kailua-Kona has experienced vast growth and change as the region grew from a sleepy fishing and agricultural community into a choice visitor destination. Responding to these changes, Kona’s airport has grown to keep up with the demand for air travel to the gateway to the Big Island’s western coast.  With its pristine beauty, breathtaking sunsets, crystal clear water, bright blue skies and easy-going lifestyle, it’s easy to understand how so much change and prosperity has occurred.

Historians trace attempts to attract visitors from other islands and the mainland back to 1929, when the region’s first hotel, the old Kona Inn, opened its doors.  If it weren’t for expensive rates and transportation woes involving bumpy, undeveloped roads and lack of an airport, the tourism boom might have occurred sooner.

It was not until after World War II that Hawaii’s State Legislature recognized a need for an airport in Kailua-Kona. In 1947, legislators designated the Kailua airstrip -- which, until then, had been used only for small aircraft operations -- as the site for the new airport.  Two years later, State officials presided over the opening ceremonies for the new Kona Airport.