Kona airport runway rehab project gets nearly $65M boost from feds

The runway rehabilitation project at Ellison Onizuka Kona Interational Airport is getting a nearly $65 million boost from the federal government.

That support is not only welcomed by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, it’s likely somewhat of a reassurance to the hundreds, if not thousands, of travelers flying in and out of the airport daily — especially frequent flyers from the Big Island and elsewhere in the state on trips for work, doctor’s appointments or other reasons.

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded two grants totaling $64.7 million to the state Department of Transportation was awarded two grants totaling $64.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Runway 17-35 Rehabilitation Project.

“We appreciate the support of the Biden Administration, the [Federal Aviation Administration] and our congressional delegation in our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiencies and enhance safety at the Kona airport and our airports across the state,” said Hawai‘i Director of Transportation Ed Sniffen.

The project involves construction and repair to the 11,000-foot runway’s asphalt and cement pavement and making necessary upgrades to meet Federal Aviation Administration criteria.

Runway 17-35 is the airport’s only runway. It was paved 30 years ago.

The first grant of $49,643,867 is part of the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grant program, which is aimed at improving airport and air traffic control infrastructure throughout the nation.

The state Transportation Department was also awarded $15,037,617 on Aug. 9 as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program, which funds airport infrastructure projects.

Site preparation and other pre-project work for the project should begin in October. Construction is anticipated to start in November.

The project is estimated to cost a total of about $120 million.

The news of the grant funding comes about 4 months after the Kona airport was temporarily closed yet again after another crack was found in the runway the morning of April 12.

The crack in a portion of the runway’s asphalt surface, thought to be caused by overnight rainfall, was patched well enough to reopen the airport shortly after noon that day, but further repairs had to be done the next night to establish a more long-term solution.

That was the third time this year the airport was shuttered because of cracks found in the runway and equipment malfunctions while trying to repair them.

It was first closed in January after two large cracks and a large hole were discovered. It was again closed about a month later in February after the shuttle buggy that transfers paving material broke down during overnight repairs.

“[I’m] hearing stories from people missing funerals and surgeries,” said Captain Cook resident Matt, who chose not to give his last name, in February. He was one of the travelers affected by the runway issues and airport closure that month. “[I’m] hearing of airlines canceling flights to save money. Someone needs to be held responsible.”

Others such as Debby Ciambrone’s husband, who had a business meeting on O‘ahu that day and was expected to fly out of Kona at 7 a.m., also didn’t make it.

After dropping him off at the Kona airport for his Hawaiian Airlines flight, Ciambrone quickly learned the trip was delayed. While her husband missed a full day of work, the Waikōloa resident was also concerned that her United flight to Santa Barbara that night would be canceled.

Even the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i was impacted by the runway issue.

It was scheduled to start a blood drive that day in Kona but was forced to limit donations it accepted because of a lack of staff unable to fly in from O‘ahu to assist with the event.

“This airfield improvement project is more than just installing new pavement,” said Sniffen. “It’s ensuring reliability for residents and businesses that depend on the airport’s only runway to stay connected and to sustain the economic well-being of the community.”

Additional information about the project can be found online.