Hilo, Hawaii · field elev 38 ft
Density Altitude at Hilo International (PHTO)
Hilo International sits at 38 ft, and even a typical September afternoon (83 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 1,620 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 71.4 | 870 ft | 78.7 | 1,332 ft |
| February | 71.2 | 857 ft | 78.4 | 1,314 ft |
| March | 71.9 | 902 ft | 78.5 | 1,320 ft |
| April | 72.5 | 940 ft | 79.0 | 1,351 ft |
| May | 74.0 | 1,035 ft | 80.7 | 1,458 ft |
| June | 75.2 | 1,112 ft | 81.8 | 1,527 ft |
| July | 76.3 | 1,181 ft | 82.8 | 1,589 ft |
| August | 76.6 | 1,200 ft | 82.9 | 1,595 ft |
| September | 76.5 | 1,194 ft | 83.3 | 1,620 ft |
| October | 75.7 | 1,143 ft | 82.4 | 1,564 ft |
| November | 74.0 | 1,035 ft | 80.3 | 1,433 ft |
| December | 72.2 | 921 ft | 78.8 | 1,339 ft |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for PHTO
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 38 ft — the air behaves like 1,601 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 39 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Hawaii fields
- PHMU — Waimea-Kohala
Kamuela · elev 2,671 ft
- PHUP — Upolu
Hawi · elev 96 ft
- PHKO — Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole
Kailua-Kona · elev 51 ft
- PHHN — Hana
Hana · elev 78 ft
- PHOG — Kahului
Kahului · elev 55 ft
- PHNY — Lanai
Lanai City · elev 1,308 ft
- PHLU — Kalaupapa
Kalaupapa · elev 24 ft
- PHMK — Molokai
Kaunakakai · elev 454 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at PHTO in summer?
On a typical September afternoon — around 83 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Hilo International reaches roughly 1,620 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at PHTO on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 857 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,200 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 38 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Hilo International?
38 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is PHTO (ICAO) / ITO (FAA), in Hilo, Hawaii.