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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:42 p.m., Monday, February 25, 2008

Meeting Tuesday on Hana skydiving proposal

Advertiser Staff

HANA, Maui — The state Department of Transportation will host a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Hana to discuss a proposal for Skydive Hawaii to operate at the Hana Airport.

Skydive Hawaii, based at Dillingham Airfield on O'ahu, has not filed a formal request to use the airport for parachuting activities, according to DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa. However, the company has expressed interest in doing so, he said.

The company could not be contacted to comment. Skydive Hawaii president Frank Hinshaw is expected to make a presentation at the meeting.

Ishikawa said the state is concerned about allowing skydiving operations at the Hana Airport because of the potential for increased aircraft noise, since homes are located within a mile of the Hana Airport. Safety is another concern "because of the fickle weather out there," he said.

A glider operation uses the East Maui airport, but there are no skydiving companies on Maui.