Maui

The Beginning of Aviation on Maui

  • The first flight to Maui was made by Army Major Harold Clark on May 9, 1918 from Fort Kamehameha on Oahu.  When Major Clark tried to continue the flight to the Big Island he crashed on the slopes of Mauna Kea.  It took him and his passenger two days and nights to walk out to civilization. This was the first inter-island flight. Soon thereafter several Army pilots flew HS-2 aircraft to Hawaii, Maui, Molokai and Kauai.

Hamoa Airport (Old Hana Airport)

  • The original Hana Airport was a small grass field located at Hamoa. It was served by Inter-Island Airways with eight-passenger amphibians from May 1935 to the start of World War II.
  • Governor’s Executive Orders Old Hana Airport at Haneoo
    • Old Hana Airport operated under authority of the Territory from 1935 to 1951 when it was replaced by the new Hana Airport a short distance away.

Hana Airport

Kaanapali Airstrip

  • The Kaanapali airstrip was built by Amfac, Inc. at a cost of $40,000 to provide direct access to the developing resort area of Kaanapali. It opened in June 1962.
  • Kaanapali Airstrip Air Traffic Statistics

Kahului Airport

  • The history of Kahului Airport was one of extensive negotiations that began with the passing of Joint Resolution 18 on May 19, 1947 by the Territorial Legislature.  It noted, “As the U.S. Navy will abandon use of its Kahului Airport on Maui, and this airport may be more economically operated and provide safer airplane operations than the territorially owned airport at Puunene, the superintendent of public works is directed to make a survey with CAA officials and the U.S. Navy to determine whether or not the Kahului airport can be made available for civilian flying in lieu of Puunene Airport; and determine whether airplane operations at Kahului airport can be carried on more safely than at Puunene; and whether or not the Kahului airport can be operated more economically than Puunene.”
  • Governor’s Executive Orders Kahului Airport
  • Kahului Airport Air Traffic Statistics
  • Naval Air Station 27 (Kahului)

Kapalua Airport (West Maui)

  • Hawaiian Airlines developed and constructed Kapalua Airport for less than $9 million after the private Kaanapali Airstrip was closed.  The airport opened on March 1, 1987. The airport is located in West Maui, approximately .03 miles above Honoapiilani Highway on 57 acres of land.
  • Kapalua Airport Air Traffic Statistics

Kula Airport

  • The Superintendent of the Territorial Public Works Department proposed constructing a Class I airport at Kula, Maui.  The strip was chosen to encourage inter-island flying by small private and charter planes and to encourage private flying by the residents of Maui.  At the time, the only facilities for private flying on Maui were at Maui Airport and Hamoa Airport.

Lahaina Airport

  • On October 6, 1941, Act 35, SLH 1941, appropriated $5,000 for an airport in Lahaina. Due to the onset of World War II, the funds were never expended.

Maalaea Airport

Maui Airport (Puunene)

  • On June 15, 1938, Governor’s Executive Order No. 804 set aside 300.71 acres of land at Pulehunui for the new Maui Airport to be under the control and management of the Superintendent of Public Works.  The Department of Public Works started construction on the new airport shortly after July 1, 1938.  The airport was opened on June 30 1939.  Development was continued by various agencies including the U.S. District Engineers under the Civil Aeronautics Administration Territorial Airport Program, then by a joint Army-Navy program.  It was completed by the Navy.
  • Naval Air Station 30 (Puunene)
  • Governor’s Executive Orders Maui Airport

Maui District Airport Managers

  • The Department of Transportation, Airports Division, appoints a District Manager to operate the state airports in each county. In Maui County the airports include Hana, Kahului, Kapalua, Lanai, Kalaupapa and Molokai.

Photos