Hawai’i Gets $5 Million for Airport Repairs

By Wendy Osher

Honolulu International Airport, photo by Wendy Osher.

The runway at the Kona International Airport at Keahole be rehabilitated under a $2.27 million federal grant. Improvements include the removal of debris and the strengthening of the pavement.

“The strength of Hawaii’s economy is directly linked to our visitor industry and we must do everything we can to ensure safe and expedient air travel for our residents and visitors from around the world,” said US Senator Inouye, who joined his colleagues, Sen. Daniel Akaka, Rep. Mazie Hirono, and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in making the announcement today.

“I am very pleased that these funds will help improve our air travel infrastructure and it is my hope that the federal government continues to put people to work by supporting our visitor industry through similar investments,” said Sen. Inouye.

The funds are part of a larger $5.5 million appropriation from the Federal Aviation Administration for airports in Hawai’i.  The grants are being used to rehabilitate runway pavement, repair lighting and improve terminal buildings at the Honolulu International Airport, the Kona International Airport at Keahole, and the Lihue Airport on Kaua’i.

“These grants will not only provide long-term benefits by making our airports safer, but will also put members of our hard-hit construction industry back to work,” said Congresswoman Hirono, Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

While Kona received the largest single appropriation, Honolulu International Airport received funds for five projects totaling more than $3 million including:

• $275,000 to repair the runway lighting system on runway 08L/26R and 04L/22R
• $105,375 to acquire a friction measuring device required to measure and maintain the skid resistant pavement surfaces on the runways
• $802,000 to rehabilitate runway 08R/26L
• $821,025 to continue roof repair to the central concourse at the Honolulu International Airport.
• $1,000,000 to repair runway 4R/22L at the Honolulu International Airport.

Lihue Airport received a total of $226,480 to remove a drainage swale from the runway and taxiway safety area to eliminate ponding on airfield surfaces.