Travel & Transportation
Getting to Hawai’i’s Big Island
The Big Island of Hawai’i has two main airports, Kona International Airport (KOA), on the west coast of the island, and Hilo International Airport (ITO), on the east coast. Several airlines have direct flights from the US mainland to Kona, but most flights arrive from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu. Inter-island flights from Honolulu to both Kona and Hilo are scheduled approximately every 30 minutes. It is recommended that you book your flight into the Kona airport, thereby avoiding the 3-hour drive around the north side of the island to get to Keauhou Bay.
Several airlines have offered discounts to SSR meeting attendees (see below); however, SSR makes no assurances that these are the least expensive flights you may find.
- Air France (http://www.airfrance-globalmeetings.com): use Event ID #03349AF
- American (http://www.aa.com): use Promotion Code #A5558AH
- Continental (call 800-468-7022): use Code #ZD8H-CH4FT1
- Northwest / KLM (http://www.nwa.com): click on "NWA Discount Travel E-Cert Redemption". Then, in the E-Cert section, select "Meeting Agreement" and enter #NMDD9
Getting to the Meeting
The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa and the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort are 20 minutes by car from the Kona International Airport, just south of the town of Kailua-Kona, along Highways 19 and 11. Plan for approximately 30 minutes if you choose to drive through the town by way of Ali’i Drive.
Ground Transportation
Multiple modes of transport are available from the Kona International Airport.
Car Rental
Numerous car rental companies service the Kona International Airport (KOA). Rental car lots are located a short distance from the airport terminal. Shuttle vans convey customers from the center island outside the front of the terminal to the car rental agencies.
| SSR Discounts | |
| Avis: | http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/home/AvisHome |
| (For SSR discount, use Avis code: G028110) | |
| Budget: | http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/home/home.ex |
| (For SSR discount, use Budget code: U077940) | |
| Others | |
| Alamo: | http://www.alamo.com |
| Dollar: | http://www.dollar.com |
| Harper: | http://www.harpershawaii.com |
| Hertz: | http://www.hertz.com/rentacar |
| National: | http://www.nationalcar.com |
| Thrifty: | http://www.thrifty.com |
Taxi Service
A number of taxi services are available at Kona International Airport. Meter rates apply regardless of the number of passengers. Taxi vans accommodate up to nine passengers, and can be requested. Taxicabs are available curbside, outside the terminal. Fares to the Sheraton will range between $35 and $45, one way.
Shuttle Service
SpeediShuttle offers transportation to and from the airport at a 20% discount for SSR meeting attendees. For reservations, visit the following web site:
Click on the image of the Big Island, select Fare Quotes, and enter the Group Code SSR10295. When selecting a Dropoff Location, please select “Keauhou Beach Resort” for the Outrigger hotel, and “Sheraton Keauhou” for the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa.