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Short answer: Rental counters are not in the terminal. Cross to the center median opposite baggage claim A and B and take your company’s shuttle to its lot.
Kona International Airport is small and mostly open-air. The rental process is simple, but it’s not a walk-up counter like Kahului.
Where to actually go
All major companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty) operate off the terminal itself, not from a counter inside baggage claim. Head to the center median across the street from baggage claim areas A and B, and take your rental company’s shuttle from there to their check-in counter and lot.
Picking up at Kona (KOA)? Check prices for your dates before you land.
Car rental companies at Kona Airport
Hawaii DOT lists eight companies at KOA: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Each keeps its check-in counter and car lot off the terminal, so every pickup starts with the shuttle from the median. HDOT’s car rental page also lists counter hours, which matter if your flight lands late.
| Company | Counter hours (per HDOT) |
|---|---|
| Alamo | 5:30 am to 10:30 pm |
| Avis | 5:00 am to 10:30 pm |
| Budget | 5:00 am to 10:30 pm |
| Dollar | 5:30 am to 10:00 pm |
| Enterprise | 7:00 am to 9:00 pm |
| Hertz | 5:00 am to 10:30 pm |
| National | 5:30 am to 10:30 pm |
| Thrifty | 5:30 am to 10:00 pm |
Enterprise has the shortest day, 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Dollar and Thrifty list ADA accessible vehicles, and HDOT asks you to call at least 48 hours ahead to arrange one. Hours can change, so check your reservation too. To see how customers rate each company, see the Google ratings for every Kona rental company.
Turo pickup at Kona Airport
Turo cars at Kona are handed over in the airport parking lots. According to Turo’s KOA guest page, the permitted spots are the back half of Lot A, Lot B (“Additional Parking”) and Lot C, and curbside handoffs anywhere on airport property are prohibited. Turo says Lot C applies only if your host directs you there.
Your Turo trip shows the car’s exact location once it is ready. The airport charges for parking, and Turo says you may be responsible for that cost. Signs in the lot carry a QR code for payment, and the gate opens once you have paid. Add that to the price when you compare against a counter rental. The Turo in Hawaii vs rental car guide covers the other fees.
Two airports, one island
Kona (KOA) handles far more visitor traffic than Hilo (ITO) on the island’s east side. If your itinerary has you doing a loop (Kona side first, Hilo side later, or vice versa), check whether a one-way rental between the two airports costs more than round-tripping out of one; one-way fees on the Big Island can be steep given the distance between them.
What to plan around once you’re driving
Kona to Hilo is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via Saddle Road and about 3.5 hours by the southern (Volcano) route. Fill up before long stretches. Gas stations thin out well before you reach Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the Saddle Road corridor.
Taking the southern route toward the volcano specifically: Volcano Village, just past the park entrance on the Hilo side, has the nearest gas. There is no gas inside the park (there is a visitor center and Volcano House), and the loop through it covers real distance with elevation changes. Fill up in Volcano Village, not on the way out.
- Heading up Saddle Road toward Mauna Kea? See the Saddle Road rental car guide first. A lot of outdated “it’s banned” information is still floating around online.
- Deciding if you even need the car for your whole stay? See whether you need a rental car on the Big Island.
For the official terminal layout and current airport info, see Hawaii DOT’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) page.
Traveling with kids? See the Hawaii car seat law guide before you pick up. It applies to rental cars too, and covers whether renting a seat at the counter or bringing your own is the better move.
Packing drinks for a beach day or scenic drive? See the Hawaii open container law guide: the trunk-storage rule catches renters off guard more than people expect.
Visiting from overseas? See the international driving permit guide: the state rule and your rental company’s rule are not the same thing.
Planning how many days to book the rental for? See how long it takes to drive around the Big Island before you decide.
Driving the Big Island? Waipio Valley is one road your rental agreement may exclude.
Heading south on Ali’i Drive for a beach day? Magic Sands Beach parking is free but very limited, and the lot next door changed in 2024.
Parking a car at the airport instead, or picking someone up? See Kona airport parking, with Lots A, B and C and the ticketless system.
Choosing between companies rather than looking for the shuttles? See the best car rental at Kona Airport, compared by Google ratings.
Compare rental rates for your trip →
Photo: Josh Withers on Pexels.
Researched and written by Neo Pecorro. Facts on this page were checked against Hawaii Airports, plus the other sources linked above. Hawaii rules change often, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Last updated: October 16, 2026.