Lihu‘e Airport gets funding

LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Airport, Kaua‘i’s gateway to air travel, is scheduled to receive more than $13 million in funding.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced Tuesday that Lihu‘e Airport will be the recipient of $12.4 million as part of the $133 million new federal funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Act, or CARES.

The funding that includes airports on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island will support airports and its workers experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency, the announcement states. The funding will be used to pay for operational costs and require each of the airports to keep at least 90 percent of its staff on the job.

“Hawai‘i airport workers and the entire airline industry have taken a significant hit during this crisis,” said Shatz who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new federal funding will help save jobs and keep our airports across the state running.”

Earlier, on April 8, Hawai‘i Senate President Ron Kouchi announced that Governor David Ige released funding for two major Capital Improvements Projects connected to the Lihu‘e Airport.

The release from Kouchi’s office states that a total of $6.7 million will be used to finance additional land acquisition costs at the airport as well as construction costs for the ticket lobby and holding room improvements.

“I would like to thank Gov. Ige for releasing these funds,” Kouchi said in the Hawai‘i Senate release. “Working to solve the great challenges during this difficult time, and funding projects such as these are important and contribute to building a better home for our kupuna, keiki, and all the residents of Hawai‘i.”