Sen. Lorraine Inouye secures more state funding for Hilo airport improvements

Hawaiʻi state Sen. Lorraine Inouye announced two funding allocations that will update and improve the infrastructure of the Hilo International Airport.

On Wednesday, Inouye announced that Gov. Josh Green released $593,500 in funding to finance the replacement of cesspools with individual wastewater systems at the airport.

The funds will help help prevent water contamination and reduce environmental pollution by replacing outdated cesspools, improving wastewater management, and supporting the long-term sustainability of Hilo’s infrastructure.

Green also released $1 million for improvements to the Hilo airport on Thursday. The funding would be used specifically for upgrades to the west cargo ramp and for the design of T-hangars, which are hangars that are often used to store small aircraft like single-engine planes and helicopters.

“I thank Governor Green and his administration for supporting this project, which will benefit both infrastructure and the economy,” Inouye said. “These improvements will enhance operational efficiency and pave the way for future growth at the airport.”

In 2024, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation received $7.4 million from the state’s capital improvement project fund to be used for design work for an eventual project to rehabilitate the airport’s main 9,800-foot-long airstrip, as well as its shoulders and an associated taxiway.

Inouye decided she would pursue more state funds during the legislative session after she toured the Hilo airport in 2024 and saw that several parts of the facility need to be addressed.

Inouye stated in a press release on Thursday that the funding will be an important step in strengthening the Hilo International Airport and will ensure its continued role as a key transportation hub for Hawaiʻi Island – supporting local aviation and economic development.