Barking Sands Pmrf Airport (PHBK), Hawaii
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Barking Sands PMRF (PHBK), on Kauai's western shore near Kekaha, is a military-use airfield with a single 6,002-foot asphalt runway and a control tower operating continuously. Access is private and use is limited to mission-essential traffic, with customs and inspection services not available on a routine basis; the nearest customs airport of entry is Lihue (PHLI), about 25 nm away. Business aviation activity, as tracked by the FAA TFMSC for 2025, remains a small share of the field's 534 annual operations.
Runways
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport has one paved runway, 16/34, 6,002 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Lihue (PHLI), 25 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport recorded 47 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July. Business aviation traffic at PHBK is concentrated mainly in July, with January and October also showing activity while several months register none at all.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 18 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport averages 3.6 days above 90°F in August. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 87.5°F, and January the coldest, at 79.1°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport has published operating constraints in seven categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Restricted: 72-hour prior permission required for all aircraft; users reimburse contractor overtime costs. For restricted area R3101, contact Range Outrider on 322.85 or the tower on 126.2 prior to entry.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration services for overseas arrivals are not available on a routine basis. Special requests require five days' prior notice; contact the CBP Honolulu office to arrange inspection, and the aircraft operator is required to pay expenses. Agriculture inspection is available for mainland arrival and departure flights with 24-hour prior notice required. Weekend and holiday inspections are subject to reimbursable overtime fees.
The airfield is restricted to Gross Weight Category 2 (all-up weight 60,000 pounds) until further notice, per the airport manager.
Fuel service is limited to 50,000 pounds for transient aircraft, and only DD Form 1896 (jet fuel indentaplate) is accepted. Rotary-wing hot refueling requires a crew member to connect the fuel hose to the aircraft. Rotary-wing aircraft with skids and fixed-wing aircraft receive cold fuel only.
Runway lights: Runway 16 and Runway 34 use OLS lighting.
Service lighting: PAPI on Runway 16/34 is installed with a 3-degree glide angle and 40-foot threshold crossing height, for aircraft with wheel-to-cockpit height of 10 feet or less.
Caution: extensive runway external load traffic.
Noise abatement: the north shoreline of Kauai and the island of Niihau are extremely noise sensitive; aircraft should avoid the area by at least 5 nautical miles.
Caution: extensive runway external load traffic. Bird hazard present.
Caution (1 of 2): numerous unlit obstacles are located within runway safety zones and approach/departure clear zones. Sand berms, trees, and vegetation are located 152 feet west of centerline, extending the full length of the runway and into the Runway 16 and 34 approach zones. Vegetation is located 57 feet west of the pavement edge stripes at the turnaround area on the south end of the runway. Trees and vegetation are located 250 feet east of centerline, extending into the Runway 34 approach zone. Kinikini Ditch, 15 feet deep by 50 feet wide, is located 150 feet south of the Runway 34 threshold, extending from the ocean around the runway to the east, with routine bird activity. Vegetation is located 135 feet north of the Runway 16 threshold, extending into the Runway 16 approach zone. Aircraft on Taxiway Alpha at the runway hold position are within the Runway 16/34 approach/departure clear zones. There are no taxiway guidance signs; progressive taxi is required if requested. Use caution for reduced braking action on all taxiways and aprons during dry conditions, and use extra caution during wet conditions. Taxiway Bravo has PCN 31 F/A/W/T, is 65 feet wide, and is limited to C-130 (wingspan 134 feet) or smaller aircraft. An unlit, 2-foot-tall obstacle (pentagraph refueling pipe) is located 34 feet east of centerline adjacent to Helipad 4. Aircraft carrying hazardous cargo are restricted to PCN 41 F/A/W/T due to a load-bearing change on Taxiway Alpha north of the tower apron. Fighter parking has PCN 36 F/A/W/T. Navy line parking has PCN 31 F/A/W/T.
Caution (2 of 2): the tower apron has PCN 51 F/A/W/T, with the concrete portion at PCN 49 R/C/W/T. A fresh water rinse facility is located at the north end of the concrete portion. An aircraft wash rack, PCN 31 F/A/W/T, is located adjacent to the fabric hangar. Helipad 1 (100 feet by 100 feet) is limited to locally assigned aircraft. Helipads 2 and 3 (70 feet by 70 feet) are located on Taxiway Alpha adjacent to the Navy line parking apron. Helipad 4 (59 feet by 59 feet) is located on Taxiway Bravo and is used for hot refueling.
Clearance is obtained through Company PMRF Hawaii Area; contact the Honolulu clearance delivery office by phone.
Lighting is available only during hours of operation.
A+ fuel service is available 1700-0430Z Monday through Friday, and closed Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
Crash and rescue crew can normally provide Category 2 minimum response; limited Category 3 minimum response is available.
Miscellaneous: tow capability is extremely limited; aircrew must provide a qualified driver for the tow vehicle. No air stairs are available. No lavatory service is available. No flight planning service is available. The aerodrome is limited to mission-essential passengers only, with no space-available support.
For clearance delivery, contact the Honolulu Control Facility.
Service: JASU - 2 (AM32-108).
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Barking Sands Pmrf Airport has one airfield within 25 NM. The closest is Lihue (PHLI), 24.99 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PHBK
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at PHBK.
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
Is customs service available on arrival at PHBK?
Customs, agriculture, and immigration inspection for overseas arrivals is not available on a routine basis at Barking Sands PMRF (PHBK). Special requests require advance notice to arrange inspection, and the aircraft operator is required to pay associated expenses. The nearest airport with customs on site is Lihue (PHLI), about 25 nautical miles away. Agricultural inspection for mainland flights also requires advance notice.
What is the runway weight restriction at Barking Sands PMRF?
Barking Sands PMRF (PHBK) is restricted to Gross Weight Category 2, with an all-up weight limit of 60,000 pounds, per the airport manager until further notice. This restriction applies airfield-wide and remains in effect regardless of aircraft type. Dispatchers planning heavier aircraft into PHBK should account for this ceiling before filing.
What fuel service is available for transient aircraft at KBKH?
Fuel at Barking Sands PMRF (PHBK) is limited to 50,000 pounds for transient aircraft, and only DD Form 1896 jet fuel indentaplate is accepted for payment. Rotary-wing hot refueling requires a crew member to connect the fuel hose to the aircraft. Rotary-wing aircraft with skids and fixed-wing aircraft receive cold fuel only.
Does PHBK require prior permission for arrivals?
Barking Sands PMRF (PHBK) requires 72-hour prior permission for all aircraft, and users reimburse contractor overtime costs. Aircraft operating in restricted area R3101 must contact Range Outrider or the tower before entry. The airfield is limited to mission-essential passengers only, with no space-available support and no flight planning service on site.