Runway repairs scheduled at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport

A temporary runway closure at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is scheduled throughout November into December.

The nightly closures, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., will begin Nov. 1 to Nov. 23 and Dec. 6 to Dec. 16.

According to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, the nightly closures to Runway 17-35 will install a temporary aircraft navigation system, which will enable the runway to be reduced in length to 7,000 feet, while maintaining flight operations starting in February 2025.

“The temporary reduction in runway length is necessary to allow the state to proceed with the phased construction of the runway rehabilitation project, which is planned to continue through April 2026,” according to a press release from the Department of Transportation.

The project scope includes rehabilitation, reconstruction and repair to both the asphalt concrete and cement concrete pavements on runway 17-35 to meet current Federal Aviation Administration design guidelines. The runway rehabilitation is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to improve airport infrastructure and facilities across the state.

More information on the Runway 17-35 Rehabilitation Project can be found here.

All work is weather permitting.

The state has coordinated the runway closures and the construction phasing plan with the airlines and other parties to minimize impacts to flight operations.

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