4/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“An officer drove us to KOA then we depart…beautiful scene and kind people here😋”
Le Le5★ on Google
Airports / Hawaii / MUE
Medium airport · MUE
Waimea Kohala Airport.
Waimea (Kamuela), Hawaii · 2,671 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.9/5
Google rating
23 ratings
0
Operators based
2,671
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Waimea (Kamuela), HawaiiELEV 2,671 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.9
Google rating
23
Google reviews
ratings on Google
2,671
Field elevation
feet above sea level
27
Nearest alternate
nm to KOA
Field standing
#1 / 20
Hawaii airports by Google rating
4.9★ across 23 Google ratings , ranked against 20 rated HI fields.
27 nm
To the nearest alternate
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Waimea Kohala Airport (PHMU / MUE) is a mid-sized airport serving Waimea (Kamuela), Hawaii. The airport sits 2,671 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into MUE for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA, 27 nm), Hilo International Airport (ITO, 39 nm), and Hana Airport (HNM, 52 nm). With a single 5,197-foot paved runway, MUE can typically accommodate aircraft as large as super-midsize jets.
Charter pricing from MUE depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Waimea (Kamuela).
Run an FBO at PHMU? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
4/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“An officer drove us to KOA then we depart…beautiful scene and kind people here😋”
Le Le5★ on Google
3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Easy interisland flights on Mokulele.”
Matthew Kilgore5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Waimea Kohala Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
PHMU
IATA
MUE
FAA / Local
MUE
Elevation
2,671 ft
Coordinates
20.0013° N · 155.6680° W
Airspace
E · EchoClass E, EchoControlled airspace reaches the surface for instrument approaches, but there is no control tower on the field.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs HI fields
state range 13–6,190 ft
At 2,671 ft, MUE sits higher than 91% of the 22 Hawaii fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,197 ft
- 04/225,197 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,197 ft
MUE's 5,197 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 27nmKOAEllison Onizuka Kona International Airport at KeāholeKailua-Kona
- 39nmITOHilo International AirportHilo
- 52nmHNMHana AirportHana
- 69nmOGGKahului International AirportKahului
- 81nmJHMKapalua AirportLahaina
- 86nmLNYLanai AirportLanai City
Location
Open the full mapPHMU · Waimea Kohala Airport · Waimea (Kamuela), HI
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MUE on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 149 nm | 45m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 2,030 nm | 5h 7m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,147 nm | 5h 24m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 2,311 nm | 5h 46m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,333 nm | 5h 50m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 2,462 nm | 6h 8m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 2,484 nm | 6h 11m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 2,549 nm | 6h 20m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MUE?
- Waimea Kohala Airport's longest paved runway is 5,197 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at MUE?
- Waimea Kohala Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,197 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to MUE?
- The closest alternate is Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA), about 27 nm away, followed by Hilo International Airport (ITO) at 39 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MUE to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: San Francisco about 5h 7m (2,030 nm), Los Angeles about 5h 24m (2,147 nm), Seattle about 5h 46m (2,311 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.