Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport Terminal 1 Map (Most Up-To-Date)
Terminal 1 at KOA is a single-level, open-air north wing with pavilion “hut” holdrooms (Gates 1–5) fed by one centralized security hub shared with Terminal 2. The footprint behaves like a “W”: a central screening node with two cul-de-sac wings, so one wrong turn after TSA can add a long backtrack. Within Hawaiʻi Island’s main Kona airport grounds, the biggest risks aren’t distance—they’re chokepoints (USDA bag screening + TSA) and weather/heat exposure once you’re committed airside.
Map Table
| Zone | Gate Range | Key Chokepoints | Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landside curb + lanai check-in | Pre-security | USDA ag X-ray queue | Open-air, covered |
| Central security hub | Split point | TSA funnel, lane volatility | Covered, ambient |
| Terminal 1 sterile wing | Gates 1–5 | Holdroom spillover near distal gates | Open-air pavilions |
| T1 arrivals/baggage claim A | Street-side | Sterile “dump-out” to landside | Open-air, public |
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport Terminal 1 Map Strategy
- Build your buffer around the two time-collapsers: USDA agricultural bag X-ray on the curbside sidewalk, then the centralized TSA queue in the atrium.
- Treat the post-TSA “regroup” zone facing the central garden as a hard decision point: right for Gates 1–5, left for Gates 6–10, and wrong-direction walks can add ~800 feet round trip.
- Assume thin fallback options airside in Terminal 1: limited food, scarce charging towers, and no real indoor/AC refuge—so stock water/food and charge devices before committing past TSA.
- When a terminal change is required after arrival, plan for “not possible” airside transfer: the arrivals flow dumps you landside at baggage claim, forcing a street-side walk and a full TSA re-clear to reach the other wing.
2026 Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport Terminal 1 Map + Printable PDF
Terminal 1 remains an open-air, single-level gate wing with Gates 1–5 accessed through the centralized TSA checkpoint that also feeds Terminal 2. The Terminal Modernization Project changes how processing feels (more centralized TSA; cleaner baggage induction), but it doesn’t change the core map reality: one shared security funnel, a split-wing layout, and limited airside amenities that make delays harder to absorb in 2026.
2026 Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport Terminal 1 Map Guide
What is the exact walking distance from Terminal 1 check-in to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint?
Walking distance is about 150–300 feet from the farthest Terminal 1 ticket counter positions to the centralized security checkpoint. The shortest line is from the middle counters in the open-air check-in lanai straight toward the dedicated TSA structure between the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 lobbies. The long end of the range applies when you start at the outermost Terminal 1 counter bank (typical Hawaiian Airlines positions) and follow the public-side corridor toward the central atrium where the TSA queue forms.
What is the exact walking distance from Terminal 1 security exit to the farthest Terminal 1 gate hold area?
Walking distance is about 750 feet from the central security exit to the farthest Terminal 1 holdroom at Gate 5/5C. The path starts at the post-TSA regroup zone facing the central garden, then follows the Terminal 1 sterile corridor past the early concession cluster near Gates 1–2 and continues to the distal pavilion holdrooms at Gates 4–5, where spillover crowds can narrow the main walkway.
Where is the fastest on-foot route between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (street-side path), and what is its distance?
Walking distance is roughly 800–1,200 feet using the curbside sidewalk that runs in front of the ticketing lobbies. The fastest street-side route is to exit Terminal 1 to the public curb, turn toward the central security building (the atrium between the two lobbies), and continue along the same covered sidewalk frontage to Terminal 2’s curbside entrance. Staying on the terminal-front sidewalk avoids detours through the loop roadway lanes and keeps you on the most continuous pedestrian surface between the two ticketing areas.
What is the exact point on the Terminal 1 map where a traveler must leave the sterile/secured area to reach the other terminal area (if required)?
Leaving the sterile area happens at the arrivals “dump-out” to landside at Terminal 1 Baggage Claim A. The forced exit point is the moment you follow the arriving-passenger flow off the ramp/tarmac into the open-air baggage claim frontage, which is public street-side; from there, reaching Terminal 2 requires a sidewalk walk and a full re-clear through the centralized TSA checkpoint. Departing passengers don’t hit this constraint because the post-security corridor at the central hub connects both wings airside.
Where is the checked-bag drop / screening-related bottleneck area located relative to Terminal 1 counters (pinpoint the junction on the map)?
The bottleneck is the USDA agricultural inspection X-ray line on the curbside sidewalk directly outside the Terminal 1 ticketing lanai. The queue forms perpendicular to the terminal face in front of the check-in counter frontage, so it sits between the curb drop-off zone and the counter bank and often spills across the main sidewalk circulation lane that passengers use to reach specific airline positions.
What is the closest restroom location to the primary Terminal 1 gate waiting area, and what is the walking distance to it?
The closest restrooms are in the dedicated central restroom block inside the Terminal 1 sterile gate area. Walking distance is typically about 150–300 feet from the main Gate 1–2 holdroom cluster (near the concessions by the Terminal 1 wing entrance) to the restroom entrances, using the primary paved concourse spine. From the far end near Gate 5, the same restroom block is usually a longer back-walk of roughly 300–500 feet depending on which pavilion you start from.
Where are the most reliable passenger power/outlet clusters located in Terminal 1 gate areas (map-verified positions)?
Power is concentrated at standalone charging stations (tower/kiosk-style units) placed intermittently within the Terminal 1 gate holdroom pavilions. The most dependable clusters are the kiosks positioned in the higher-traffic pavilion areas closest to the Terminal 1 wing entrance near Gates 1–2, where passengers congregate after clearing TSA and passing the concessions. Expect contention at these towers because standard seating rows generally don’t have built-in outlets, so travelers gravitate to the visible kiosks rather than dispersed wall power.
What is the nearest food/snack option to Terminal 1 gates, and what is the distance from the main hold area to it?
The nearest food cluster is the concessions near the entrance to the Terminal 1 wing by Gates 1–2, including Laniakea Cafe and Ume’s, with a nearby newsstand by the “Lei Makers” sculpture. Walking distance is about 250–350 feet from the post-security “regroup” area to these vendors, and roughly 400–500 feet back from the far Gate 5 holdroom to reach the same food/snack options.
Where are the largest shaded or weather-protected seating zones near Terminal 1 gates (map-verified), and how far are they from security exit?
Shaded seating is concentrated inside the roofed pavilion holdrooms at each Terminal 1 gate, with the largest continuous shaded capacity typically in the clustered pavilions around Gates 1–2 where foot traffic and seating density are highest. Walking distance is about 250–350 feet from the security exit to the first major shaded holdroom zones near Gate 1, then up to about 750 feet to reach the shaded pavilions at the far end near Gate 5/5C. These areas are covered but remain open-sided, so wind-driven rain and heat still intrude.
What is the walking distance from Terminal 1 to the primary rental-car counter area, using the shortest marked pedestrian path?
Walking distance is about 1 mile, and it’s operationally a no-go on foot despite being physically possible. The shortest would-be route is to exit Terminal 1 to the street-side frontage, cross the loop roadway toward the ground-transport median, then follow service-road access (including Kūpīpī St) toward the rental car facility—but pedestrian infrastructure is incomplete and exposure to sun/traffic is high. The practical route is the rental-car shuttle pickup from the center median outside baggage claim.
Where is the best “regroup point” landmark (info desk / signage node / major junction) immediately after Terminal 1 security to prevent “wrong-direction” gate walks?
The best regroup point is the post-security open area facing the central garden where the corridor splits to “Gates 1–5” (right) and “Gates 6–10” (left). This is the first major signage node after you collect your items, and it’s the cleanest place for a group to stop, re-pack, and confirm gate direction before committing down the Terminal 1 wing. Using this junction prevents the classic KOA error of walking the wrong cul-de-sac and having to backtrack hundreds of feet.
Where is the closest indoor/fully enclosed space accessible from Terminal 1 gates (if any), and what is the distance to it?
The closest fully enclosed spaces are small retail shop interiors (gift/newsstand-style enclosures) near the entrance to the Terminal 1 wing by Gates 1–2, not enclosed holdrooms. Walking distance is roughly 250–350 feet from the security exit to reach these enclosed storefronts, using the same initial concourse segment toward Gate 1. Terminal 1 does not have a true indoor, air-conditioned waiting room; the only notable enclosed/AC gate environment referenced in the complex is Gate 11 in Terminal 2, which is reached by backtracking to the central hub and continuing into the Terminal 2 wing.
