Hilo International (PHTO), Hawaii
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, sits on the eastern side of the island of Hawaii and functions as a towered, public-use field with onsite customs inspection services. Its longer runway, at 9,803 feet, ranks among the more substantial paved surfaces in the state, supporting a mix of commercial and business aviation traffic that FAA TFMSC data places at a tier-one activity level for 2025.
Runways
Hilo International has two paved runways. The longest, 08/26, is 9,803 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Hilo International has Jet A, Jet A+, 100LL and MOGAS available on the field. Fueling is available from 7am to 8:30pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Hilo International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Hilo International recorded 602 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in December. Business aviation traffic at PHTO concentrates heavily in November and December, with both months showing operations counts well above the rest of the year.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month December, 159 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Hilo International averages 0.7 days above 90°F in September. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 83.3°F, and February the coldest, at 78.4°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Hilo International has published operating constraints in seven categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Prior permission is required from the airport manager for transient parking.
Prior permission is required from the airport manager for transportation of Division 1.4 explosives and hazardous material in or out of the airport.
Runway 08/26 has a single-belly twin tandem gross weight limit of 450,000 pounds.
Runway 03/21 has a single-belly twin tandem gross weight limit of 230,000 pounds.
Runway 08 has a paved surface of 1,325 feet marked by chevrons. This portion is unusable for landing, takeoff, or as an overrun/stopway, and cannot be used in computing takeoff data.
Lighting operates dusk to dawn. MIRL on runway 03/21 and HIRL on runway 08/26 are pilot-activated, along with MALSR on runway 26 and ODALS on runway 08, on frequency 118.1.
Fences at least 6 feet tall are located 400 feet left of the runway centerline.
The PAPI for runway 08 is unusable beyond 3.0 nautical miles.
The approach ratio is 20:1 measured from the displaced threshold.
Taxiway E between taxiway A and runway 08/26 is subject to ponding during heavy rains.
Wind cones for runways 8, 21, and 26 are located in the runway object free area.
Noise abatement procedures call for avoiding overflight of noise-sensitive residential areas north, west, and southwest of the airport.
Be alert for occasional bird flocks on the airport and in flight across runways 08/26 and 03/21.
PCR VALUE: 180/F/B/X/T
PCR VALUE: 390/F/B/X/T
Advance notice is required for fuel. For 100LL, contact frequency 128.95; for Jet-A, contact frequency 130.8.
The airport traffic control tower controls entry and exit traffic on taxiways F and E to the east terminal ramp.
A lighted smoke stack, 181 feet tall, is located half a statute mile south of the airfield.
Jet fuel is available Monday through Saturday, 0800 to 1700, through a provider identified in airport records.
There is no marked helicopter pad; helicopter operations run from the FBO hangar area.
Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 explosives are prohibited.
For clearance delivery when the tower is closed, contact Honolulu Control Facility.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Hilo International has one airfield within 39 NM. The closest is Waimea-Kohala (PHMU), 38.85 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PHTO
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at PHTO.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runways are available at Hilo International Airport (PHTO)?
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, operates two paved asphalt runways. Runway 08/26 is the longer of the two at 9,803 feet, with a width of 150 feet, and serves as the primary surface for larger aircraft. Runway 03/21 measures 5,601 feet long and is also 150 feet wide. Both runways support the airport's designation as the largest paved surface option on the Big Island for business aviation and commercial traffic.
Is fuel available at PHTO, and what types does Hilo International Airport offer?
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, offers 100LL, Jet A, Jet A+, and MOGAS. Advance notice is required for fuel service, with separate contact frequencies listed for 100LL and Jet-A requests. Jet fuel availability has also been noted as accessible Monday through Saturday during set daytime hours through a specific provider on the field. Dispatchers should plan for advance coordination rather than assuming immediate fuel access on arrival.
What is the weight limit for aircraft using the runways at Hilo International Airport?
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, publishes single-belly twin tandem gross weight limits for both of its runways. Runway 08/26 supports up to 450,000 pounds under the SBTT configuration. Runway 03/21 has a lower limit, supporting up to 230,000 pounds SBTT. Operators should verify their aircraft's gear configuration and weight against these limits before planning operations, particularly on the shorter 03/21 runway.
Does Hilo International Airport (PHTO) have customs and border clearance services?
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, has CBP inspection services available onsite. This allows aircraft arriving from international destinations to clear customs directly at the field rather than diverting to another airport for inspection. The airport is towered and operates with an attendance schedule of 0700 to 2030 daily. Operators planning international arrivals should coordinate timing around the tower's operating hours and the onsite customs service availability.
Why does business aviation traffic spike at Hilo International Airport in November and December?
Hilo International Airport, PHTO, shows a marked concentration of business aviation traffic in the final two months of the year. November recorded 132 operations and December recorded 159 operations, far above the monthly counts seen from February through August, which stayed in the range of roughly 11 to 38 operations. This pattern makes the fourth quarter the busiest period for business aviation at the field within the annual cycle reflected in FAA TFMSC data. Dispatchers planning winter arrivals should anticipate higher traffic volumes accordingly.