Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, Recreation area in Kailua-Kona, United States

Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area is a 42.0-hectare (103.7-acre) park on the site of the former landing strip just north of Kailua, Hawaii County. Its old 3,800-foot runway now serves as an access road and large parking lot, with a flat walking trail running parallel to it. The shore is rocky with only patches of sand, and a large tree with a gnarled gray-brown trunk and wide green canopy stands near a wooden picnic table on the sand.

The site served as a regional airport from 1948 until 1970 with a 3,800-foot (1,160-meter) runway that handled inter-island flights. After closure, the area was transformed into a public recreation space for community use.

The bay beside this space carries the Hawaiian name Papawai, meaning "water layer" in the local language. The location sits near land managed by the Queen Liliuokalani Trust, an important institution for the Hawaiian community.

The shore is rocky, so enter the water with care except in calm conditions; snorkellers and divers usually go in at a protected cove at the northwestern end of the beach. The old 3,800-foot runway now serves as an access road and large parking lot, with a flat walking trail parallel to it. Restrooms, showers and picnic facilities are on site, and no lifeguards are on duty.

The former airport runway now serves as the main parking area for visitors to the park. The old terminal building has been repurposed and functions as a public pavilion for community meetings and events.