LIHUE — Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced Monday that Hawaii will receive over $2 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety at the Lihue, Kahului and Molokai airports. As part of the
LIHUE — Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced Monday that Hawaii will receive over $2 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety at the Lihue, Kahului and Molokai airports.
As part of the grant funding, Lihue Airport will receive $1,057,500.
“The money for Kauai will be used on new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles on our state firefighters stationed at the Lihue Airport,” said Tim Sakahara, spokesperson for the state’s Department of Transportation.
Maui’s Kahului Airport will receive $882,000 to support its acquisition of a replacement aircraft rescue and fighting vehicle, while Molokai Airport will receive $250,900 to support the purchase of a new runway sweeper to remove object debris and maintain safe airfield operations.
“The safety of our traveling public is critical to the well-being of the people of Kauai, Maui and Molokai who depend on air transportation and Hawaii’s visitor industry,” Hirono said in a statement. “This federal funding will help to strengthen safety at our airports by providing our first responders with the tools they need to quickly respond to incidents, while also enhancing overall runway safety.”
The total $2,190,400 coming to Hawaii’s airports is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation plan to revamp the infrastructure of airports throughout the country; $185.1 million is being dispersed throughout 107 airports in 40 states.
“HDOT is grateful to the federal government for providing this additional funding,” Deputy Director Ross Higashi of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airports Division, said in a statement. “The money will go a long way toward ensuring the health and safety of the passengers and employees of the airports system.”
The airport grant program’s funds will also help revamp runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting and markings which will help create thousands of jobs, according to the FAA’s website.
