Accessibility
Kona (KOA) Airport Accessibility & Wheelchair Services
Wheelchair assistance at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole is provided free by your airline — request it at booking for best results. For security screening help, call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel to have a Passenger Support Specialist waiting at the checkpoint. Family lanes, service animal relief areas, and sensory rooms are covered below.
Airline-provided service
Wheelchair assistance
Wheelchair assistance is provided by each airline through skycap (porter) service at check-in, the gate, or baggage claim, and airlines also provide boarding lift service for passengers with mobility impairments. Arrange this with your airline in advance, ideally at booking.
Tip: request at booking rather than at the airport — airline wheelchair assistants are in higher demand at peak times and early requests are filled first.
TSA Cares
Free security screening assistance
TSA Cares is a free helpline and on-site assistance program for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, or other circumstances that may affect the security screening process.
How to use: Call 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel. A Passenger Support Specialist will meet you at the KOA security checkpoint and guide you through screening at no charge.
Call the TSA Cares helpline at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel, or submit a request at tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares, to arrange a Passenger Support Specialist to assist through screening. KOA's own accessibility page does not describe an on-site Passenger Support Specialist program, so confirm arrangements directly with TSA Cares before your trip.
Security lanes
KOA does not have a permanently signed dedicated family lane at all checkpoints. Ask any TSA agent at the checkpoint for assistance — agents are trained to help travelers with special needs and can route you around standard queue lines.
Service animal relief areas
A pet/service-animal relief area is located across the street from the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center on the north side of the airport — a grassy area equipped with waste bags and a trash can.
Note: service animals are permitted throughout all airport areas without restriction. Emotional support animals follow individual airline policies — check with your carrier before travel.
Quiet and sensory room
KOA does not currently have a confirmed public sensory room. KOA does not have a dedicated sensory or quiet room. Three accessible family (unisex) restrooms — in the North Terminal, South Terminal, and Ground Transportation Building — can serve as a quieter space if needed; contact Visitor Information at 808-329-3423 for help finding a calm area.
Wheelchair and mobility device rentals
No dedicated airport-run wheelchair/mobility-device rental counter; wheelchairs are provided free through your airline's skycap service. Off-airport companies such as Wheelers of Hawaii deliver rental wheelchairs and mobility vans to the airport for a fee. Text telephones (TTYs) are available at four terminal locations (North and South Terminal departures and baggage claim), and Hawaii's statewide 711 TRS relay service is available for hearing-impaired travelers.
Motorized scooters and power wheelchairs are generally available from airlines for gate-to-gate use; contact your carrier directly if you need a motorized device beyond a standard transport chair.
Pro Tip
KOA's entire terminal is single-level and open-air with no jet bridges — boarding is via mobile stairs or ramps across the apron, which can be harder for travelers with mobility limitations than at a jet-bridge airport. Request airline wheelchair/lift assistance well in advance and confirm it again at check-in, since there is no airport-run cart service independent of the airlines.
Frequently asked questions
Is wheelchair assistance free at KOA airport?
Yes — wheelchair assistance at KOA is provided free of charge by your airline or their contracted ground handler. Request it at booking or check-in. The airline arranges and covers the cost; no tipping is required, though it is appreciated.
How do I contact TSA Cares before my flight from KOA?
Call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight. The helpline is open weekdays 8 a.m.–11 p.m. ET and weekends/holidays 9 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. You can also submit a request online at tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares. A Passenger Support Specialist will meet you at the KOA security checkpoint at no cost.
Does KOA airport have a family security lane?
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole does not have a permanently signed dedicated family lane at all checkpoints, but TSA officers are trained to accommodate travelers who need extra time. No dedicated family/special-assistance security lane is documented for KOA's single security checkpoint. With just one main screening line at this mid-size airport, ask any TSA officer for individual accommodation.
Where is the service animal relief area at KOA airport?
A pet/service-animal relief area is located across the street from the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center on the north side of the airport — a grassy area equipped with waste bags and a trash can. Service animals are permitted throughout all airport areas without restriction. Emotional support animals follow your individual airline's policies.
See also: KOA TSA PreCheck lanes · Flying with disabilities guide · KOA security tips
Know exactly when to leave for the airport
The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live KOA TSA wait, real-time drive time from your door, and gate-walk distance into one exact time to leave home — no guesswork.
Calculate my Leave-By Time →