Department of Transportation

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division reminds travelers there is a limited amount of parking spaces at the airports statewide and encourages people to get dropped off at the airport with the anticipated increase in passengers over the holiday season.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is anticipating a record number of travelers this Thanksgiving. In total Hawaii welcomed more than 37.5 million inbound and outbound passengers in 2018. On an average day that is more than 58,000 people at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), 20,000 people at Kahului Airport (OGG), 10,500 at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA), 9,000 at Lihue Airport (LIH), and 3,700 at Hilo International Airport (ITO). In Hawaii, the holidays historically increase the number of travelers by 3-5 percent each day. The increase in passengers, combined with the limited amount of available parking spots, the increase in flights, airport modernization construction and the growing popularity of electric vehicles which park for free, are some of the contributing factors causing parking structures to reach capacity.

“We encourage travelers to get dropped off at the curb instead of paying for parking at the airport, especially if you have a morning flight, when the parking lots are busier,” said Deputy Director Ross Higashi, Hawaii Department of Transportation. “We want people to be aware that the airport parking structures can fill up just like at a sporting event or concert.”

The total amount of airport public parking stalls is listed below:
HNL – 4,740
OGG – 1,800
KOA – 1,475
LIH – 575
ITO – 476

If travelers do plan to park at the airport they are advised to arrive early, place their parking ticket stub in a safe place that is not visible from the outside of the vehicle, and take a picture of the sign in their row as a reference to help remember their parking location. Smart phone technology is also capable of remembering your parking location. The maximum parking rate for a 24-hour period at HNL is $18. The maximum parking rate for 24-hours at neighbor island airports is $15.

For more parking information and ground transportation options for getting to the airport click on the following links:

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

Kahului Airport (OGG)

Lihue Airport (LIH)

Hilo International Airport (ITO)

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA)

For information regarding the TSA’s top 10 Thanksgiving travel tips please click here.

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