Ticketless AI License-Plate Parking Debuts at Kona and Hilo Airports

Travelers at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole and Hilo International Airport are leaving with one less piece of paper in hand. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation and Metropolis launched a ticketless, license-plate-recognition parking system on Jan. 22, 2026 that identifies vehicles with artificial-intelligence-based readers and charges parking fees to online accounts without issuing physical tickets.

Registration for the new system requires a mobile phone number, a vehicle license plate and a payment method. Drivers who do not register can continue to use traditional ticketed parking and pay on exit. Parking rates at both Kona and Hilo remain unchanged with this transition. Beginning in March 2026, advance reservations for airport parking will be available through the system.

Metropolis has deployed its platform at dozens of locations across Hawai‘i and is now operating at the two Big Island airports under the state transportation department’s oversight. Metropolis chief integration officer Courtney Fukuda said the rollout is aimed at improving convenience for residents and visitors. The company offers sign-up through the Metropolis mobile app or via its website.

The immediate user impact is practical: registered drivers should experience faster entry and exit, fewer transactions at pay stations and billing tied to an online account rather than a paper coupon. Unregistered drivers retain a familiar option, reducing disruption for occasional users and rental vehicle customers. For regular airport users who commute from Kona or Hilo, the change can shave minutes off departure and return trips during peak travel periods.

The institutional implications reach further. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation’s partnership with a private vendor shifts the operational interface of airport parking from physical infrastructure to data-driven services. That raises questions about data governance, retention and access that local officials and community groups may press to see addressed. With vehicle plate data and payment information now processed by Metropolis, residents and elected officials will have to rely on contract terms and state oversight to ensure privacy protections and transparency.

For Big Island County residents, the practical next steps are clear: review how your vehicle is registered with rental agencies if you use rental cars, update your license-plate information if you plan to register, and decide whether to opt into the app-based billing or continue using tickets. Watch for the March rollout of advance reservations, which could help plan travel during busy visitor seasons.

This change modernizes an everyday interaction at Kona and Hilo airports while shifting decisions about data and service delivery to new hands; how well it serves residents will depend on ongoing oversight, clear privacy rules and accessible options for all drivers.