Hawaii Aviation

CHRONOLOGY OF AVIATION IN HAWAII

2010

• Hawaiian Airlines introduces the first of 27 new Aribus A330 abd A350 to their fleet.
• Transair offers daytime cargo services.
• NASA partners with Hawaii on Space exploration.  They will collaborate in a variety of activities involving small satellite development, advanced aviation, space exploration, education, and science.
• Air Force celebrates 100 years of aviation.

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2011

• WestJet adds Boeing 757 to fleet for Hawaii.
• Hawaiian Airlines announced it would launch daily nonstop service from Honolulu to New York.
• Alaska announces service to Lihue, Kauai.  This is the 4th nonstop destination from Oakland, California.

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2012

• January
  • 24th: Kahului airport proposes improvements the the runway 2-20.
• February
  • 1st: Sections of Kala Road on Maui will be permanently closed.
  • 1st: Airports at Kahului, Kapalua, Lihue, Hilo, and Kona are increasing parking fees.
  • 12th: Hilo constructs new modern cargo building and light industrial facility.
  • 16th: FAA provide airports $6 million in additional funding.
• August
  • 9th: Lanai Airport gains an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station and is now in compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA).
• October
  • 23rd: Kahului conducts triennial emergency response exercise.
  • 26th: 11 new firefighters graduate from Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety.
• December
  • 18th: Kahului Airport Security adds three new lanes to its current (six) lanes.
• Island Air leases 5 ATR 42s to expand their fleet.
• Hawaii state purchases new unmanned UAV from federal grant to increase security.  The FAA quickly advised that flying an unmanned aircraft around air traffic is a grave threat to safety.  The state is now attempting to sell the unused UAV.
• Island Air introduces new pineapple color scheme.

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2013 

• May
  • 2nd: HNL begins modernization of airport.  It also features a new Aloha Air Cargo facility.
  • 3rd: Lihue Airport conducts triennial emergency response exercise.
  • 29th: Kona receives new Air Traffic Control Tower and new Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting (ARFF) station.
• December
  • 18th: Airports go green; saving an average of $518 Million over the next 20 years.

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2014

• April
  • 11th: New exhibit “Celebrating Our Local Heroes” is dedicated at HNL honoring the late US Senator Daniel K. Inouye and the late sport legend Wally Yonamine.
  • 23rd: Taxiway construction begins at Kahului Airport.
• May
  • 9th: 6 Hawaii Winners of the 2014 International Aviation Art Contest are honored at ceremony at HNL.
• June
  • 9th: HNL street cellphone waiting lot is relocated 1/4 mile in the Diamond Head direction.
  • 11th: Kona airport receives new Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting (ARFF) station.
• July
  • 9th: Lihue debuts new bar in main lobby.
• October
  • 31st: Keaukaha annual tsunami disaster exercise scheduled at Hilo Airport.
• December
  • 7th: Kona conducts triennial emergency response exercise.
  • 8th: New transportation deputy directors appointed of airports and highways divisions.
• A United Airlines and US Airways plane have a close encounter mid flight north east of Hawaii.  After the miscommunication, security procedures were induced and the possible collision was avoided.
• Island Air CEO Paul Casey steps down and is replaced by David Pflieger.
• Allegiant drops flights between Hawaii and Bellingham.

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2015

• March
  • 17th: Groundbreaking for new ARFF station on Hilo.
• July
  • 2nd: Public viewing of the Solar Impulse 2 at Kalaeloa Airport.
• October
  • 28th: New car rental facility opening at HNL.
  • 30th: New parking rates at state airports.
• November
  • 2nd: HDOT Airports Division improves bond ratings.
• December
  • 31st: HDOT offers workshop for women seeing airport fire fighting careers.
• 1,400 photovoltaic solar panels were installed on The Pacific Aviation Museum roof.  It is expected for this to save the museum $300,000 a year in electrical costs.
• Aviation performance by the Blue Angels and other acts hosted at Kaneohe Bay.
• Hawaii Army National Guard Unit receives army aviation unit of the year award.

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2016

• February
  • 8th: Live fire training begins in Kona.
• April
  • 15th: Construction begins of new earth friendly facility at Kahului Airport.
• May
  • 10th: International travelers see 45% reduction in processing times becasue of new automated passport control kiosks.
  • 22nd: Public Viewing of Historic Solar Impulse 2.
• July
  • 22nd: HDOT Airports Division celebrated the opening of the new Kahului Airport Access Road.
  • 29th: HDOT opens new Hilo ARFF station.
• October
  • 7th: Emergency training exercise scheduled for Hilo International Airport.
  • 21st: New exhibit honoring World War II veterans unveiled at HNL.
• Virgin America merges with Alaska Airlines.

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2017

• February
  • 9th: Annual fire training exercises begin at Kona International Airport.
  • 25th: New works of art by distinguished local artists displayed at HNL.
• March
  • 22nd: Construction begins on terminal modernization project at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.
• May
  • 3rd: HDOT cuts usage in half at Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, &Kauai airports with improved lighting and photovoltaic systems.
  • 30th: Hawaii’s biggest airport officially renamed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
• June
  • 26th: Hilo International Airport (ITO) receives outstanding airport award from Federal Aviation Administration(FAA).
  • 29th: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport emergency power facility is full operation.
• July
  • 10th: Hawaii airport conrac projects receive strong bond rating in response to positive presentation by HDOT leadership.
  • 11th: HDOT fire chiefs receive patriot award from the employer support of the guard and reserve.
• August
  • 10th: Rental car return route modified to continue construction of new facility at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
  • 24th: HDOT is in compliance with environmental regulations and comments on earthjustice’s lawsuit alleging violations.
• October
  • 19th: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport hosts triennial aircraft disaster exercise.
  • 27th: Hawaii Airport Division receives upgraded bond rating from fitch ratings.
• November
  • 6th: New China Airlines aircraft begins service to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
  • 7th: United Airlines completes last Boeing 747 flight.
  • 9th: Island Air stops service.
  • 14th: Kona International Airport at Keahole hosts triennial aircraft exercise.
  • 30th: Uber and Lyft begin business at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

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2018

• February
  • 20th – 22nd: Annual fire exercises at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole on Feb. 20, 21 and 22, 2018
• May
  • 14th: HNL gates and baggage claims to receive new numbers beginning June 1, 2018 as part of the Airport Modernization Plan
  • 24th: Mokulele Airlines is moving to new location at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport beginning May 29, 2018
  • 30th: HDOT breaks ground on new Mauka Concourse at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
• June
  • 18th: Availability of free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, including new coverage throughout Terminals 1 and 2.
• July
  • 24th: HDOT is adding more than 4,200 solar panels at HNL to boost sustainability
• August
  • 3rd: Governor Ige announces Consolidated Rental Car Shuttle pilot at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to begin September 1
  • 14th: Amended rules regarding Transportation Network Companies, including Uber and Lyft, approved
  • 27th: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $24.1 million in airport infrastructure grants for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding, nationwide.
• September
  • 14th: Recap of impacts on state transportation infrastructure from the former Tropical Storm Olivia
  • 26th: Triennial Emergency Response exercise conducted at Kahului Airport Fuel Farm Facility
• November
  • 1st: The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) will be operating and repositioning four F-22 Raptors at the Hilo International Airport.
  • 16th: More than 4,200 solar panels installed at HNL boosting sustainability and efficiency.
• December
  • 17th: Hawaiian Airlines begins new international passenger check-in operations at HNL Lobby 3

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2019

• January
  • 4th: Runway 4R-22L will be closed for construction at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
  • 9th: Ramp closure at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for sign replacement work starts Monday night, Jan. 14
  • 18th: U.S. Air Force emergency exercise to be held at Lihue Airport
  • 24th: Transportation Network Companies eligible to begin pick up service at neighbor island airports beginning Feb. 1, 2019
• February
  • 8th: Improvement project scheduled for Hilo International Airport parking lot
  • 8th: HDOT begins pedestrian bridges replacement project at HNL
• March
  • 8th: Construction closure for improvement project scheduled for Hilo International Airport parking lot
• October
  • 25th: Hilo International Airport hosts triennial emergency exercise