The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division announced the opening of the permanent Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) two months before the agreed deadline of December 2021.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allowed the resumption of international flights to Kona in December 2016 based on HDOT’s commitment to providing a permanent inspection facility. Prior to the resumption, the last regularly scheduled international flight to Kona was in October 2010.

The KOA FIS was built for $58.7 million, more than half a million under the contract price of $59.4 million. The 32,700 square-foot facility meets the technical design standards necessary for certification to receive international arrivals. KOA is one of two international entry points into Hawaiʻi. The other international airport is the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Before the pandemic, as many as 2,500 international visitors arrived at KOA per week on Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines flights from Japan.

The permanent FIS was built by Nan, Inc. and designed by KYA Design Group. It is expected to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, continuing the Department’s commitment to improving the sustainability of transportation. HDOT expects to receive LEED Silver Certification and is hopeful to receive LEED Gold Certification in recognition of its sustainable and energy-efficient design and construction.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation