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Kona Airport shuts down temporarily due to runway damage

Heavy rainfall caused the runway at Kona Airport (KOA) to crack and deteriorate on Monday, forcing the airport to close for repairs. The closure was announced by transportation officials around 4:30 p.m.

Contractors are working to fix a 10’ X 10’ section of the runway and expect to finish by early Tuesday morning. Until then, no flights can land or take off from KOA. One flight from Honolulu had to return to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport because of the closure.

To check the status of flights at KOA, click here.

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth issued a statement saying that the county is working with state and federal agencies to resolve the issue and ensure the safety of travelers and residents. He also said that he will seek the help of the congressional delegation and local resources to keep the island accessible.

Transportation officials said in another update around 5:30 p.m. that they are calculating the usable length of the runway and will share it with the airlines to determine how to reopen the runway while avoiding the damaged areas. They also said that they have a project to rebuild the entire 11,000-foot runway this year.

KOA is a large airport that covers 3,450 acres of land and serves domestic and international flights, as well as inter-island, commuter, and general aviation flights. It has an 11,000-foot runway and a variety of facilities for passengers, cargo, and airport operations.