Update: Runway at Kona airport reopens; repair work will take place overnight

12:13 p.m. April 12 update: The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reopened the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole following the closure of Runway 17-35 this morning to repair an asphalt crack.

The crack in the pavement formed overnight, between the intersections of Taxiways “G” and “H.”

Daily visual inspections are conducted on the runway, including an inspection by state engineers and Federal Aviation Administration officials on Thursday. Overnight rain is suspected as a contributing factor to the formation of the crack that was discovered early this morning. 

Crews will conduct additional pavement repairs tonight, starting at 12:30 a.m. until 5 a.m. The paving activities are needed to establish a more long-term repair solution to the crack. With no alternate runways, the airport will be closed for flight operations during the overnight repairs.

In the event an emergency medical evacuation is needed, helicopter service out of the Kona airport will be available. The Department of Transportation has coordinated with the airlines and other partners to minimize impacts to flights.

There are no commercial flights scheduled during the closure period.

Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for information specific to their flights.

Original post: The Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is temporarily closed to patch a crack in the runway.

Hawai‘i Department of Transportation anticipates reopening the runway by noon.

The state issued the travel advisory at 10:15 a.m. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority released a statement this morning saying they were monitoring the situation and in contact with the Department of Transportation and the airlines that service KOA.

“We are working and coordinating internally with our partners at the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Visitors Bureaus on each island, and Kilohana,” the tourism authority stated.

The runaway at Kona airport was closed earlier this year because of cracks, which were temporarily repaired. More information will be provided as it becomes available.