As airport expands to keep pace with increasing rate of tourism, is it only a matter of time before it becomes a “big city” airport?With the strong economy and rising tourism numbers, the time has come for Kahului Airport to get a face-lift, for a total cost of approximately $2.3 million.
The airport occupies 1,391 acres of land three miles east of Kahului Town. In 1998, the Hawai‘i State Legislature appropriated $180 million for work that would strengthen the existing 7,000-foot runway and lengthen it by 2,800 feet.
In 2001, the plan was amended to drop the runway extension due to a great deal of opposition from Maui residents. They feared that elevating the airport to international status would bring too many visitors to the island—an island that already suffers from inadequate roads, water supplies and housing. But as the second busiest airport in a state where tourism is the No. 1 industry, the airport may be forced to grow into what so many had wanted to avoid: “a big city airport.”
While the runway extension plan may be on hold for now, all other aspects of turning Kahului Airport into a world-class facility are happening quickly and continuously.
Kathy Wade, assistant airport superintendent, says that expansion of the airport facilities is crucial in keeping the foot traffic running smoothly, and the only trouble is coordinating construction schedules while still trying to accommodate the growing number of visitors who come through every day.
Wade and Hawaiian Airlines attendant James Miyahira reminisce about busy winters and slow summers, but now they say there is no slack time because tourism has lately been consistent year-round.
Most of these sought-after projects were awarded last year to the Miller/Watts Construction Company, based out of Honolulu, for $12.5 million. However, as of Monday, May 1, they’re now known as Watts Constructors, LLC, due to booming business that allowed partner Diane Miller to retire.
Projects of importance include new ticket counters, airline offices, and a two-bay extension to the ticket lobby, as well as completion of the last unfinished bay. Two baggage carousels have already been replaced, complete with a new baggage break-down area and conveyor systems. The baggage carousel will now include new bomb detection equipment, known as “bomb-sniffers,” to make sure that every piece of luggage on board has been thoroughly screened. Finally, there will be installation of a new emergency electrical power generator system, housed in a new building, to guarantee back-up power.
Fred Thornhill, director of business development at Watts Constructors, hopes to have the project completed by November. As of now they are on schedule, and Thornhill is confident that things will progress smoothly. Watts Constructors was awarded the contract partly because of their “zero-injury” reputation. Their safety record is award-winning, and they keep full-time safety officers on their projects at all times.
In January of this year, construction also began on a new state-of-the-art facility to inspect incoming cargo for invasive species and agriculture, as required by the Alien Species Action Plan (ASAP). The state’s earlier Biological Assessment Report of Kahului Airport had expressed concern that with the growing number of international flights, the risk of introducing invasive species would rise; and it would make more sense to have one main airport in Honolulu with high quality quarantine procedures, rather than create a larger (and to some, an unnecessary) risk to Maui’s environmental safety.
Now all cargo containers will be opened in a closed building instead of on the bare pavement, lessening the risk that any species will fly, crawl, or squirm out, and protecting agricultural products from weather damage. The project was awarded to Hawaiian Dredging Company and is expected to be completed in 2007.
According to the Department of Transportation’s Airport Modernization Plan, the airport’s infrastructure is “beyond replacement age” and its water, sewer and drainage systems have not been replaced since their original construction during World War II. All storm water and crash fire certification measures will be upgraded to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, along with runway safety areas and perimeter security.
A new fuel storage site will be constructed across from the airport in the rental car area, addressing a major concern that larger jets, like the Boeing 747, could not take off fully loaded without making a pit-stop at the Honolulu Airport first. Now direct flights to the Mainland will be available more often. This also means that fuel trucks will no longer be necessary, as airlines will be able to run pipelines directly to fueling stands.
All improvements are expected to be completed by 2007, including the realignment of Haleakala Highway to prepare roadways attached to the new facilities. “The bottom line is all of these improvements will help upgrade Kahului Airport to deal with increasing visitor demand at our airport,” said Rodney Haraga, State Department of Transportation director. “Kahului is clearly becoming a first-class facility.”