"We are continuing to take proactive measures to keep our airports operational in the event of an emergency or power outage," Lingle said in a news release. "The addition of a second electrical vault at Honolulu International Airport is an important step in this direction."

The funds will be used for the construction of a vault and a 7,200 square-foot building for the vault, as well as for a standby generator, electrical switchgear equipment, computerized control and monitoring systems, airfield lighting cable and other related work and items.

Currently, one electrical vault powers all of the airport's runway lighting, taxiway lighting and navigational aids. If the vault were to fail, the entire airfield at HNL Airport would be without electrical power, which would result in the closure of all four of the airport's runways.

Once the project is completed, the airport will have two parallel, independent electrical vaults that will each regularly run two, fully operational runways and be able to power the entire airfield should one vault fail.

The total project cost is $13.8 million, which consists of $8.76 million in federal funds and a previous state allotment of $153,399 for design. Construction is scheduled to begin in January and be completed in January 2009.

Following the anniversary of the earthquake and widespread power blackouts of Oct. 15, 2006, the state Department of Transportation has taken several steps to keep Hawai'i's airports operating in the event of a major power outage. At Honolulu International Airport, these steps have included the leasing of portable generators that will allow the airport terminal area to operate at near normal conditions in the event of a blackout.