State considers closing five small airfields

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

The state says it may have to close five airports, including the busy facility at Kapalua on Maui, unless it can turn them over to private operators.

Dwight Velazquez, a pilot of powered and glider aircraft for Honolulu Soaring Club, cleans off the canopy of a Schweizer 2-32 glider at Dillingham Airfield, one of five airfields in the Islands that could be closed or privatized. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

An anticipated drop in airport revenue since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prompted the review, with the possible closures intended to ensure "that service is not degraded" at the state's primary airports, according to Cayetano's letter.

State officials stressed that the review does not mean that closures are a certainty. But they said the review underscores the seriousness of the state's budget problems and the fact it may not be able to support the infrastructure of airports where passenger or tourist traffic is relatively light.

Marsha Wienert, head of the Maui Visitors Bureau, called the possible closure of Kapalua Airport "a shocker."

"(The Kapalua Airport) is a perfect way to not have more traffic on the highway and to be able to fly back and forth to Honolulu," Wienert said, noting that Maui tourism officials have not been consulted about the review of the state's airports.

Flying into Kapalua is a popular choice for travelers, especially affluent visitors heading to the luxury hotels and condominiums on the Ka'anapali Coast that are the mainstay of West Maui. In addition, Wienert said closing the airport would leave residents and tourists no option but to make the 45-minute drive to Kahului Airport on two-lane Honoapi'ilani Highway.

Kapalua Airport also "provides easy access for those folks staying on the west side if they choose to fly into Honolulu and transfer over to West Maui," she said.

But the airport, which receives only small propeller-driven planes, has seen a drop in passengers in recent years, especially with the addition of nonstop flights between Maui and the Mainland.

The state is in the process of evaluating operations at the five airports. By the end of the month, the state will request proposals for management contracts to operate and maintain the facilities, while preparing to shut them down if there isn't commercial interest.

But closing any airport won't happen immediately, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Tweet Coleman.

"It will be a very long and arduous process," Coleman said. "The state can't just say they want to shut down an airport."

The FAA requires the state to hold public hearings, issue public service announcements and put a notice in the federal registry before getting approval to shut down a facility. If an airport receives federal money, the state would have to pay back that money to the FAA.

"It could easily take up to a year to fulfill all the obligations to the FAA to close an airport," Coleman said. "It won't happen in Cayetano's time."

A new governor will take office before any decision will be made on the five airfields.

Dillingham Airfield on the North Shore of O'ahu is the state's only authorized drop zone for skydivers and there are three skydiving operations on site. In addition, two glider businesses use the field, as does the U.S. Army and numerous single-engine and light twin-engine aircraft, sailplanes, ultralight aircraft and helicopters.

Closing the airport would cost dozens of jobs and take away one of the economic engines that drives business on the North Shore, said state Rep. Michael Magaoay, D-46th, (Kahuku, North Shore, Schofield Barracks).

"Whatever economic drive we can sustain is a plus," Magaoay said. "Once you start depleting it, how do you replace it?"

According to airfield staff, Dillingham has up to 400 operations — takeoffs and landings — per day.

"I'm still in a state of shock," said Clarence Lopez, 56, who manages Skydive Hawai'i. "There's a lot of people who work out there. It's going to impact a lot of people."

Skydive Hawai'i has a staff of 30, 25 of whom are full-time, and about 600 customers a month.

"If they shut down Dillingham, there won't be any skydiving in the state," said Lopez, who has been jumping at the Mokule'ia field since 1969. "(The state) says it's losing money, but they'll sell it for more than it's worth. Well, if it's worth something, you should keep it."

Kaua'i's Port Allen Airport, also called Burns Field, has historically made money for the state, which charges users for each takeoff and landing and space rentals for planes, Coleman said. The Port Allen-based Ni'ihau Helicopters is the sole provider of transportation and goods to and from Ni'ihau.

Waimea-Kohala Airport houses an aircraft rescue and firefighting facility, with a fair number of general aviation planes using its single runway, according to the state Department of Transportation.

'Upolu Airport, on the northern tip of the Big Island, has little traffic on its single runway, which is used by the Coast Guard. The airport doesn't have a control tower or air-cargo facilities.

Neighbor Island Editor Christie Wilson contributed to this report. Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.

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