Expanded Airport Security Checkpoint to Reduce Wait Times

State and federal officials dedicate the new security checkpoint and open it for air travelers. From left to right: Blaine Miyasato, co-chairman, Airlines Committee of Hawaii; Mayor Alan Arakawa, County of Maui; Bill Pursley, Transportation Security Administration; Kahu Wayne Higa; Senator J. Kalani English, Chair, State Senate Transportation Committee; JoAnn Inamasu, Governor’s Liaison; Ford Fuchigami, Deputy Director, DOT Airports Division; Marvin Moniz, Airports District Manager, DOT Airports Division.

By Wendy Osher

A new security screening checkpoint was dedicated today at Kahului Airport.

The new checkpoint was opened to air travelers today following the brief ceremony.  It was designed to increase the total number of passenger screening lanes from six to nine.

State transportation officials say the added capacity will help to reduce the wait time for air travelers, along with travel-related stress and anxiety.

The project went from concept to completion in less than seven months, becoming fully operational prior to the hectic holiday travel season.

The dedication ceremony was hosted by the state Department of Transportation, Airports Division, in collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration, and the Airlines Committee of Hawaii.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, State Senator J. Kalani English, who chairs the state senate Transportation Committee, the Governor’s Liaison JoAnn Inamasu, and DOT Airports District Manager Marvin Moniz.

The new checkpoint increases the total number of passenger screening lanes from six to nine. The additional capacity will help to reduce wait times for air travelers, along with holiday travel-related stress. Photo courtesy Hawaii DOT.