The U.S. Department of Transportation has released $3.2 million in grants to plan improvements at Kahului Airport on Maui and for airfield surface repair work at the Kona International Airport at Keahole, U.S. Rep. Mazie K. Hirono announced today.

About $2 million in federal funds will be used to update the Kahului Airport master plan along with the conducting of a noise compatibility plan study at the regional facility. The state last conducted a master plans study for Kahului Airport in 1993.

The other $1.2 million in federal funds will go toward rehabilitating taxiways, airport aprons and a runway blast pad at the Kona International Airport.

The repair 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.