Hawaii has received $51.3 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for upgrades at Lihue Airport in Kauai.
The work, required by the FAA, is focused on safety rather than expansion. It involves shifting the usable portion of Runway 3-21 about 1,000 feet west to create federally mandated safety zones, upgrading lighting and signage to energy-efficient LEDs, and replacing outdated infrastructure.
Lihue has been exempted from safety compliance for decades, and these improvements are intended to bring Lihue up to national runway safety standards. Construction is now underway, with completion targeted for 2026, though delays are possible. Travelers will mainly notice brighter lighting and occasional nighttime closures, while the real benefit is meeting long-overdue safety requirements.
The FAA funding boosts Hawaii’s existing $2.5 billion state-led bond-funded program through Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) to modernize airports across the islands.
In other Lihue airport projects, the HDOT is seeking design services for expanding the aircraft parking-apron area. It involves grade leveling, a retaining wall, fencing, a new vehicle service road, and additional apron lighting. The estimated construction cost is $30 million. Additionally, employee/public parking lot expansions, shuttle zone reconfiguration, drainage, lighting, ADA improvements and ticket and lobby area improvements will be covered with state funding.
The state program also extends to Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Hilo airports. The initiative covers terminal expansions, parking, security upgrades and runway improvements.
Photo by Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
