WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Maui’s Kahului Airport will receive $2 million in federal funds to conduct a noise compatibility study and to update the airport’s master plan.
The Senator also announced that the Big Island’s Kona International Airport will receive a federal grant of $1.2 million to rehabilitate portions of parallel Taxiways A and connecting Taxiway G, the blast pad at the end of Runway 17/35, and portions of the north and south aircraft aprons.
“The combined $3.2 million will be released by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the neighbor island airport improvements,” Senator Inouye said.
“The Kahului Airport’s current noise compatibility plan was approved 12 years ago, so it is time to update noise exposure maps and to review land use of the areas surrounding the airport.
“We also need to be forward thinking in terms of the airport’s future needs. The last time an airport master plan study was undertaken for Kahului was in 1993.”
Senator Inouye said the rehabilitation initiative for the Kona airport was needed to prolong the service life of the airfield pavement, and to better ensure the safety of airport operations.
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