Hilo Airport, Hawaii 1972

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1972, documents the bustling atmosphere of the Hilo Airport (now Hilo International Airport) on the Big Island of Hawaii. The archival image features the open-air baggage claim and arrivals area, characterized by its functional mid-century industrial architecture with heavy steel beams and flat roofing. A prominent highlight of the scene is a vintage Mackenzie Tours Hawaii stretched limousine, painted in a classic cream and red livery, parked at the curb with its trunk open. Nearby, a Hilo Airport Taxi is also visible. Travelers in period-correct early seventies fashion—including patterned dresses, bell-bottom trousers, and floral lei—wait for transportation or collect luggage near the “Claim Area 2” sign. Hilo Airport is still standing today and serves as a primary gateway to the east side of the island, though the terminal has undergone several major expansions and modernizations since the 1970s to accommodate jet service. Mackenzie Tours was a staple of the Hawaiian tourism boom during this era, and while the fleet has since been retired, the brand remains a nostalgic part of Hawaii’s travel history. This factual record preserves the unique “Golden Age” of Hawaiian tourism and the transition of air travel on the Big Island. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.