B757 flight crew complains about taxiway signage at koa.

Attributes
ACN	596550
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phko.airport
State Reference	HI
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	596550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

In kona, hi after pushback, we sat on taxiway B north ramp. When cleared for taxi to runway 17, the ramp-taxi lines do not show 'a.' I thought we were still on the ramp looking for a mid-taxi extension to 'a.' ground inquired if we wanted runway 35. We stated that we needed runway 17 and realized that we were on taxiway a heading south. We made a 180 degree turn on the ramp and continued to runway 17. The uncontrolled ramp and controled area is difficult to see from taxiway B north ramp. Taxi signs and/or markings (yellow marking -- like seattle) would help in directing to appropriate runway. My thought pattern was to find a short taxi extension to taxiway a (like at lihue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLT CREW COMPLAINS ABOUT TXWY SIGNAGE AT KOA.

Narrative: IN KONA, HI AFTER PUSHBACK, WE SAT ON TXWY B N RAMP. WHEN CLRED FOR TAXI TO RWY 17, THE RAMP-TAXI LINES DO NOT SHOW 'A.' I THOUGHT WE WERE STILL ON THE RAMP LOOKING FOR A MID-TAXI EXTENSION TO 'A.' GND INQUIRED IF WE WANTED RWY 35. WE STATED THAT WE NEEDED RWY 17 AND REALIZED THAT WE WERE ON TXWY A HEADING S. WE MADE A 180 DEG TURN ON THE RAMP AND CONTINUED TO RWY 17. THE UNCTLED RAMP AND CTLED AREA IS DIFFICULT TO SEE FROM TXWY B N RAMP. TAXI SIGNS AND/OR MARKINGS (YELLOW MARKING -- LIKE SEATTLE) WOULD HELP IN DIRECTING TO APPROPRIATE RWY. MY THOUGHT PATTERN WAS TO FIND A SHORT TAXI EXTENSION TO TXWY A (LIKE AT LIHUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.