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Plans call for lengthening Lanai Airport’s runway

500-foot extension would allow for longer flights, heavier payloads

The state Department of Transportation is requesting a 500-foot extension to Lanai Airport’s runway to ease payload restrictions for airlines and increase safety during wet weather, according to the project’s draft environmental assessment released this week.

Pulama Lana’i, which operates Lanai resorts and is the primary landowner of the island, would fund the design and construction of the extension as part of a memorandum of agreement with the department, according to the project’s draft environmental document.

No federal, state or county funds would be used. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2019 and be completed by the beginning of 2021.

The $5 million project calls for demolishing and replacing old concrete pavement about 700 feet long with the new 500-foot extension at the end of Runway 3-21 to the northeast, according to the draft. Other features include a 200-foot blast pad at the end of the runway, new runway lights and pavement markings.

The current concrete runway with a grooved asphalt overlay is approximately 5,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.

Maui District Airports Manager Marvin Moniz said Wednesday that the extension would help Lanai’s smaller jets, which would not need to stop for fuel nearby or fly with minimal fuel. He said the island’s emergency evacuation procedures also would benefit by not limiting the weight of planes.

“We had jet service there in the old days with Hawaiian and Aloha airlines, but it always limited us to payload restrictions because of the short runway,” Moniz said. “Those flights would have to take penalties in passengers, fuel or cargo.”

A quarter of the aircrafts that frequent Lanai Airport cannot reach the U.S. West Coast in a half-empty plane due to fuel restrictions and about 40 percent cannot land at the airport during wet conditions, according to the draft. Planes cannot fly nonstop to Mainland destinations due to the short runway, elevation and typical weather conditions.

The proposed extension would not increase the number or change the type of aircraft operations at Lanai Airport.

Moniz said Pulama Lana’i has not been too vocal about the extension, but he believes the extension would increase visitor numbers. The airport serves more than 100 businesses, and visitor expenditures generated by passengers are expected to grow from about $70 million in 2017 to $100 million by 2030.

“I’m sure with that extra 500 feet that it will benefit them,” he said.

Future improvements for the airport include adding restrooms within secure, passenger-checked areas of the airport, he said. That would mean that passengers would have access to restrooms inside and not need to go to facilities outside and then go through security screening again.

Moniz said the airport also received a new 1,500-gallon firetruck a little more than a month ago that can respond to structural, brush and aircraft fires.

“It’s a beautiful truck,” he said of the $1.2 million purchase. “The crew is happy and so are the airlines.”

Another airport that underwent improvements was Kapalua Airport, which renovated its restrooms and ticket lobby enclosure last week. The West Maui airport’s air conditioning and lighting also were upgraded.

* Chris Sugidono can be reached at csugidono@mauinews.com.

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