Robots are scrubbing floors at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu

To keep floors “sanitary and sparkling” at the Big Island’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the Hawai’i Department of Transportation has purchased automated floor cleaning robots.

The robots cost $157,000, including training.

The robots are part of HDOT’s efforts to modernize HNL. They will supplement janitorial services.

“Use of this technology will also allow us to maximize available staff in maintaining our busiest airport to standards,” said Ross Higashi, the state Deputy Director of Airports.

These robots are much more sophisticated than Roombas. Staff can sit on them like riding lawn mowers. Staff also can program them to do the job on their own.

Training for staff involves mapping an area and formulating a cleaning plan.

“The first robotic scrubber is already deployed in our 230,000-square-foot Mauka Concourse,” Higashi said. “We’re excited to continue training staff and getting the second unit out on the floor.”

HNL has an average of 73,000 arrivals per day. To support the volume of arrivals, DOT built new facilities, including the Mauka Concourse and the Consolidated Rental Car Facility. It also renovated restrooms; replaced pedestrian bridges between the Terminal 2 parking structure and lobby; and planned upgrade work for Terminal 2 lobbies.

A current list of airport modernization projects across the state can be found at https://www.hawaiiairportsmodernization.com/   

The traveling public may soon see additional cleaners in other concourses at the Honolulu airport. Anyone interested in working for the state airports division can view job listings at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/jobs/