Navigating potholes in Hawaii has become a multi-faceted situation. While driving conditions across the state often involve maneuvering around unfathomably deep potholes, you don’t expect it to stop your flight to Hawaii. But now it has, and it started with this week’s problems at Kona. But it isn’t over yet, as Hawaii runway problems also impact Lihue Airport Kauai.
Hawaii ranks among worst potholes in the USA. But at its airports?
Contrary to common misconceptions, potholes are not exclusive to roads and highways but also to airport runways, which are largely constructed of asphalt as well as concrete. Runway cracks and potholes up to 3′ across, as seen this week at Kona airport, don’t just impact regions experiencing harsh winters or extreme rain. And Kona has neither. The potholes result from combined factors that include water absorption, general wear and tear, and the quality of construction and repairs.
Kona Airport’s potholes are just one Hawaii airport issue.
More concerning is that potholes that appeared on the runway at Kona and were so serious as to require the closure of the entire airport. Next it will require a complete overhaul of the runway, set to commence later this year.
The first comment about the situation came from Aaron who said, “The HDOT knew about the pavement issues since 2018. They were cited for excessive FOD on the runway. They did stop gap pavement resurfacing at that time. Another commenter (Hal) asked, “The question remains that since Hawaii is so dependent on air travel for tourism and cargo transport, just how can they allow their critical infrastructure to crumble so badly? Just how competent is Hawaii’s government? This seems to be Third-World performance.” While Kenneth added, “If it is not one thing, it is another at Hawaii airports.”
Chris added, “The runways at our airport are plowed to clear snow down to the pavement many times per winter. I’ve never heard of these runways needing emergency repairs, cracking, etc. It makes me wonder who is doing the paving work in Hawaii.”
Hawaii Department of Transportation said they expect “most” of the runway rehabilitation work to be accomplished in phases and overnight. That “should” eliminate the need for any further runway closures. All bets are off, given how things went for DOT on the initial Honolulu runway remediation as well as the spalling and breaking away of runway concrete that occurred soon after the work was completed that has caused additional headaches.
The $100 million Kona airport runway project is up next.
What is on tap starting later this year (if things go on schedule) is a complete rehabilitation of the entire length of runway 17-35, which is the sole runway at Kona. The project includes new concrete and asphalt pavement.
Plans are for a 5-phased project that will begin before the end of the year and will be completed sometime in 2026 at a cost of approximately $100 million.
The Kona runway was last rehabilitated more than twenty years ago. And in 1992, the runway length was extended to 11,000 feet from its 6,500-foot length. The airport was initially built starting in the late 1960’s.
Assessment and patches were implemented in 2018.
That’s when the deformation of the runway surface was first noted, and again, we aren’t sure by whom. In any event, patching commenced at that point. We don’t know if it’s been ongoing since that point, and there’s simply no information from DOT.
Kauai Airport runway renovation and relocation project will also start this year.
Another $100+ million project is planned to start at Kauai’s Lihue Airport later this year. Whether there could be an interruption of flights is unknown at this time. Hawaii DOT certainly hopes not, but is renowned for unexpected problems. So anything is possible.
The required rehabilitation of Kauai’s runway “Includes replacing the 4-inch asphalt pavement, re-grading as necessary, re-painting all striping and markers, and re-grooving highspeed taxiways.” That is according to the state.
Not only does the runway need rehabilitation, including new asphalt, but it has also not met safety FAA requirements for years, which mandate 1k feet of runway safety area at the end. Lihue has been operating under a temporary exemption to that rule for nearly a decade. Now, however, the runway will both be lengthened and also shifted slightly inland. That, as it is within 300′ of the ocean.
We’re keeping fingers crossed that this time, unlike what happened at HNL, the Hawaii DOT can knock these major runway repairs out of the ballpark. How do you think these major Hawaii airport projects will go?
2/13/2024 – KOA airport repairs off to a bad start. Were supposed to be done by 6 am but apparently the contractor has a stuck piece of equipment on the runway and won’t be able to move it until 9 am? Hello travel delays!
Is HDOT waiting for something worse to happen, should have taken care of the issues if the issues were known about a long time ago.
The State of Hawaii is what I call, “in-breed”. They are bias against experts from the mainland in their hiring of engineering and construction experts. They must overcome their lack of quality aggregate used in concrete and asphalt. This is the result.
Fingers crossed, this is the state of Hawaii we’re talking about. I’ve tried for two years to get someone to clear the bushes obstructing the views from Wailua and Opeaka”a falls. Still an obstructed view.
There e once a pothole at kaneohe marine base base runway big enough a car could fit in. It was created from a watermain leak