Hilo, Kona airports shutting down; ports also closing on several islands

State Department of Transportation officials announced they are closing Hilo International Airport this morning and will close Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole at 2 p.m as Lala pounds the Big Island.

The two Hawaii island airports “will be secured before closing and security will shelter-in-place at the terminals as Lala continues to travel across Hawaii island,” they said in a news release

As of 8 a.m., carriers have advised there are no flights scheduled for the remainder of the day at the two points has no flights scheduled past 2 p.m., they said.

The Transportation Security Administration closed security checkpoints and no passengers are at the airports, officials said.

DOT expects to resume operations at the two Big Island airports on Sunday.

Also, Hawaii island, Maui County, and Kauai commercial ports have been closed by the U.S. Coast Guard and there are no terminal, facility or vessel operations permitted unless approved by the Coast Guard, DOT said. The Coast Guard plans to close Honolulu commercial ports at noon.