Hawaii Sunset Hiking Trail | Old Kona Airport Hike
Old Kona Airport Hiking Trail Overview: If you’re searching for a Hawaiian sunset hike, this is it! The Old Kona Airport features incredible volcanic and beach viewpoints. Originally built as a small landing airstrip in World War II, the Old Kona airport expanded to accommodate commercial flights. In the 1970s the larger Kona International Airport was built and Old Kona Airpot was converted into a park in 1976.
In addition to hiking trails, the 103 acre park features park a gym, aquatic center and baseball and soccer fields. Overall, the park and its beaches are a fun place to explore and provide a more local feel & experience. to a Hawaii trip.
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours.
Total Distance: 3-4 miles (depending on how many loops)
Aquatic center, gym and soccer fields
Dedicated as a park in 1976
3,800 foot airplane runway
Trail Pictures
Map & Directions
Total Distance (miles)
Total Estimated Time (hours)
Old Kona Airport - Hawaii Sunset Hike Photo Gallery
Old Kona Airport – Hawaii Island Sunset Photo Gallery (click on image to rotate through image/s)
When to Go
Year-Round: It’s possible to enjoy the Old Kona Airport year round. However, the best time of day to enjoy the park is either in the early AM or near Sunset. The park features incredible ocean and beach views.
Dog Friendly
Yes, dogs are permitted. However, they must be kept on leashes.
No lifeguards on duty
Shoreline Rock Columns Formed by Lava Flow
Trail Map
Directions
Old Kona Airport Recreational Area address (for GPS): 75-5560 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Intensity Levels
Barry-the-Bear: Amazing! I wanted more of a local Hawaiian experience and I got it! The Old Kona airport features unique coves and crevices along the coastline. In the park area, I only found locals spending time in the soccer fields.
- Intensity Level 55%
Larry-the-Lion: Aloha! The trails are flat, but the view is incredible! I was able to run to this hiking trail from the downtown Kona area and enjoyed spending time exploring the unique walking paths & beach trails.
- Intensity Level 20%
Chris-the-Cheetah: If you want to discover old Hawaii, then this is the beach trail for you! You can literally run over the old runway, which is a little over 1/2 mile long. Additionally, the coastline is protected as a park, so you don’t have to worry about being surrounded by shopping centers or mansions.
- Intensity Level 10%
Trail Pictures
Map & Directions
Why We Liked It
Aloha! Hawaii is beautiful, but some of the popular places can be overridden with tourists. We loved this hike, because of the authentic local feel. We felt as if we were the only visitors in the area as we only saw locals playing soccer or baseball in the park. Additionally, the sunset views are incredible. There will be plenty of Instagram-worthy moments if you visit the park during this peak time!
Furthermore, we enjoyed running on the old airport runway, which is over 1/2 mile long. There are not too many times that you can literally run on a runway. Take off and enjoy the experience!