#Kahului Airport

The airline communications systems impacted by a global technology outage are back online. Some flights have been able to depart Hawai‘i airports, while others were cancelled or rescheduled. Passengers should check with their airline prior to going to the airport and should expect delays.

The state Department of Transportation will be conducting road work this week that will result in lane closures at various locations. Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting.

Prolific herds of hungry Axis deer continue to wreak havoc in Maui County, damaging farm crops, overgrazing livestock pasture lands, threatening fragile watersheds and even encroaching in heavily urbanized areas like Kahului Airport’s runways and baggage claim areas. Without natural predators in the islands, the deer have flourished unchecked. Now, in part due to an initiative funded by Maui County, some deer are falling prey to hungry humans.

As if airports weren’t busy enough, Hawaiʻi is poised to break the all-time record number of Pacific State travelers as well as become a top destination for US travelers over the extended Independence Day holiday.

It’s been a rocky road for Puʻuhonua o Nēnē, a temporary homeless shelter near Kahului Airport that has provided emergency tented shelter for 120 to 130 people nightly since opening last fall within weeks of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire disaster.

The Kahului Airport Runway 2-20 has been reopened as of 8 a.m., May 6, 2024. Staff are coordinating departures to minimize delays.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association celebrated its 45th year of giving back to the community with the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday. Nearly 1,600 walkers attended the in-person event at the War Memorial Complex. Walkers finished 2.5 miles of exercise and received complimentary breakfast, treats, giveaway prizes, and local entertainment, including a performance by Tihati Productions. An impressive total of $1,235,482 was raised so far from Maui County. 

CLEAR, a secure identity company, launched its signature biometric ID verification technology at Maui’s Kahului Airport on Tuesday. The kiosks are designed to streamline the airport’s security screening experience. CLEAR’s launch at OGG is expected to create 33 jobs and generate approximately $2.1 million annually in local economic impact, according to a company announcement.

Travel services provider, CLEAR, will begin offering its optional identification verification services at Kahului Airport on Tuesday. The new airport vendor will allow travelers who subscribe for a fee to CLEAR, to use a dedicated line to verify their identity using biometrics such as an eye scan or fingerprint, instead of having to show a government-issued photo I.D. Passengers will still need to be screened by TSA.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is doing night work on Runway 2-20 at Kahului Airport (OGG) from Monday, April 1 through Sunday, June 30, from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Hawai‘i US Sen. Brian Schatz reported Monday that congressional leaders have released billions of dollars in federal funding for critical needs in Hawai‘i.

R.D. Olson Development held a groundbreaking recently of the Maui Airport Industrial project, located on a 6.3 acre parcel in Kahului near Costco at 250 Lauo Loop.

Maui police have reopened Mayor Elmer Cravalho Way as of 8:13 p.m. The road was closed n the east bound direction for several hours following a motor vehicle accident.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation advises air travelers of potential flight delays due to the Sentry Aloha fighter exercise that is being hosted by the Hawai‘i Air National Guard through the end of January.

Some Maui offices of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture will be temporarily closed for building maintenance from Jan. 12 to approximately early summer 2024.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced increases in parking rates at four neighbor island airports, including Kahului Airport on Maui. Starting on Feb. 1, 2024, the new maximum daily charge will be $24, up from the current $15 rate; an the monthly rate will increase to $189, up from the current $160 rate.

The NTSB is investigating the crash of a Cessna 172 airplane near Kahului Airport on Saturday morning, Dec. 23, 2023.

Firefighters with the state’s Airport Rescue Fire Fighters are conducting live fire training today near Kahului Airport from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Smoke is visible near the airport.

AAA Hawaiʻi predicts 20.5 million residents of Hawaiʻi, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington will travel during the year-end holiday period this year between Dec. 23, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024.

Based on reporting from the airlines, there are no major increases in the number of flights at Hawai‘i airports compared to last Thanksgiving; however, flights are expected to be fuller, meaning the airports will be busier, especially during peak times between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The busiest travel day is expected to be Wednesday, Nov. 22, followed by Sunday, Nov. 26.