12 thoughts on “Hawaii’s Airports: Beyond The Good, Bad, And Ugly”
DICKIE_D
Hilo International Airport (IATA: ITO, ICAO: PHTO, FAA LID: ITO), was formerly named renamed in 1943 for General Albert Kualiʻi Brickwood Lyman (1885–1942), the first U.S. Army General of Hawaiian ancestry. He was one of three sons of Rufus Anderson Lyman to attend the United States Military Academy.
You are quite right on one of the theories for the naming convention for Hilo (ITO) Airport. One theory, as you mentioned, says it was named after an early station manager, one Mr. Ito.
A second theory points out since HIL and ILO were already taken, Hilo International took its three-letter code from the nickname HIlo TOwn. You know how we like to refer to ____ (insert name) TOwn in Hawai’i.
Inside baseball (or aviation) note: in the ’70s the FAA named some HNL arrival waypoints for the TV shows of the day. One STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) flown when coming in from Japan and other Asian locales was therefore named “BOOKE”.
Names had to be 5 characters for the FAA computer, so they were:
BOOKE = i.e., “Book ’em” (Hawaii Five-O)
DANNO = “Danno” (Hawaii Five-O)
CANON = “Cannon” (TV detective series)
THOMA = “Toma” (TV crime drama)
Don’t know if it’s still there or not, but at 17.6 NM out on the ILS to RW 08L at HNL there was a fix called “SELIC” – named for Tom Selleck of Magnum P.I. fame. I’m old/retired now, so it may be renamed. (smiles)
The new terminal at Honolulu is a disgrace. Very little or no vendors or information center. Very few departing and arrival screens. Bathrooms are few.
It appears that SELIC is still very much alive and well as it is used not only on the ILS approach but also the LOC (localizer) approach and the RNAV (GPS) approaches.
In your article it stated that “Lihue Airport Improvements Hijacked by Anti-Visitor Sentiment”
1. Runway compliance work. Lihue Airport (LIH) needed to adapt to federal airport requirements that have existed for 15 years. It is the only airport in the United States that hasn’t already complied with FAA runway safety rules. (supposed be address in 2024)
2. Three additional gates. The Hawaii DOT/Airports proposed adding three other gates for the sometimes ridiculously overcrowded airport.
3. Building of a CONRAC (Consolidated rental car facility). Those were added at HNL (Honolulu) and OGG (Maui). This move of car rental facilities would have also added hundreds of additional parking spots for residents.
Lihue Airport (LIH) has prepared this Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan pursuant to §42301 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, Lihue Airport will:
1. Provide for the deplanement of passengers;
2, Provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available at the airport; and
3. Provide a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customers & Border Protection (CBP).
So when residents go to airport and the parking lot is full. who do they call.
In the mean time, inter-island and travelers are left with a 3rd world airport facility.
Mahalo on your informative article about Hawaii s airport! I enjoyed the history given Having been to all islands Kona s airport has the most charm for me Love landing and walking down the stairs!
A great feeling after a long flight
I still find it amazing that you can’t buy food at the Kona Airport. You can find as many chachkies as you want, but not food! Not having the jetways at Kona does slow down boarding/unboarding for older people as well as families with young kids.
Hi. I have a question not related to this article. Will be in Ka’anapali October 15th and am wondering if there is a website that lists all restaurants that are still open and their current hours as well as current tour operators. Any help is greatly appreciated.
We are scheduled for Kaanapali first week of October. We cannot get confirmation if the resort will be open or what facilities, dinning, pool, etc. will be available. This doesn’t give us much time to pick another resort if we cannot stay @ our original destination. very frustrating.
Hilo International Airport (IATA: ITO, ICAO: PHTO, FAA LID: ITO), was formerly named renamed in 1943 for General Albert Kualiʻi Brickwood Lyman (1885–1942), the first U.S. Army General of Hawaiian ancestry. He was one of three sons of Rufus Anderson Lyman to attend the United States Military Academy.
You are quite right on one of the theories for the naming convention for Hilo (ITO) Airport. One theory, as you mentioned, says it was named after an early station manager, one Mr. Ito.
A second theory points out since HIL and ILO were already taken, Hilo International took its three-letter code from the nickname HIlo TOwn. You know how we like to refer to ____ (insert name) TOwn in Hawai’i.
Inside baseball (or aviation) note: in the ’70s the FAA named some HNL arrival waypoints for the TV shows of the day. One STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) flown when coming in from Japan and other Asian locales was therefore named “BOOKE”.
Names had to be 5 characters for the FAA computer, so they were:
BOOKE = i.e., “Book ’em” (Hawaii Five-O)
DANNO = “Danno” (Hawaii Five-O)
CANON = “Cannon” (TV detective series)
THOMA = “Toma” (TV crime drama)
Don’t know if it’s still there or not, but at 17.6 NM out on the ILS to RW 08L at HNL there was a fix called “SELIC” – named for Tom Selleck of Magnum P.I. fame. I’m old/retired now, so it may be renamed. (smiles)
The new terminal at Honolulu is a disgrace. Very little or no vendors or information center. Very few departing and arrival screens. Bathrooms are few.
It appears that SELIC is still very much alive and well as it is used not only on the ILS approach but also the LOC (localizer) approach and the RNAV (GPS) approaches.
Recent online article said that HNL was the 2nd worst airport in the US
with only Newark being worse.
Aloha-I wish Lihue airport wasn’t such a dump
In your article it stated that “Lihue Airport Improvements Hijacked by Anti-Visitor Sentiment”
1. Runway compliance work. Lihue Airport (LIH) needed to adapt to federal airport requirements that have existed for 15 years. It is the only airport in the United States that hasn’t already complied with FAA runway safety rules. (supposed be address in 2024)
2. Three additional gates. The Hawaii DOT/Airports proposed adding three other gates for the sometimes ridiculously overcrowded airport.
3. Building of a CONRAC (Consolidated rental car facility). Those were added at HNL (Honolulu) and OGG (Maui). This move of car rental facilities would have also added hundreds of additional parking spots for residents.
Lihue Airport (LIH) has prepared this Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan pursuant to §42301 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, Lihue Airport will:
1. Provide for the deplanement of passengers;
2, Provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available at the airport; and
3. Provide a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customers & Border Protection (CBP).
So when residents go to airport and the parking lot is full. who do they call.
In the mean time, inter-island and travelers are left with a 3rd world airport facility.
Mahalo on your informative article about Hawaii s airport! I enjoyed the history given Having been to all islands Kona s airport has the most charm for me Love landing and walking down the stairs!
A great feeling after a long flight
I still find it amazing that you can’t buy food at the Kona Airport. You can find as many chachkies as you want, but not food! Not having the jetways at Kona does slow down boarding/unboarding for older people as well as families with young kids.
It is also lots of fun in the rain.
Actually there is a restaurant or two at KOA. Not gourmet maybe, but hot and cold food are both available!
Hi. I have a question not related to this article. Will be in Ka’anapali October 15th and am wondering if there is a website that lists all restaurants that are still open and their current hours as well as current tour operators. Any help is greatly appreciated.
We are scheduled for Kaanapali first week of October. We cannot get confirmation if the resort will be open or what facilities, dinning, pool, etc. will be available. This doesn’t give us much time to pick another resort if we cannot stay @ our original destination. very frustrating.