U.S. Department of Transportation grants totaling $1.9 million have been awarded for airfield surface repair work at Kona International Airport in Keahole and Hilo International Airport, it was announced today by Hawai'i Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono.

Federal grants of $1.1 million will go toward the continued rehabilitation of taxiways, airport aprons and runway blast pads in Kona and $761,644 for repair and maintaintenance of four interconnecting taxiways in Hilo.

The rehabilitation work will help prevent foreign objects and other debris from posing a danger to aircraft, prolong the service life of the airfield surface, as well as enhance the overall safety of aircraft operations, officials said.