Hawaii Aviation

The following aeronautical activities were available at Honolulu Airport: Scheduled Airlines (Overseas)—Pan American Airways, United Air Lines, China National Aviation Corporation, British Commonwealth Pacific Airways and Philippine Airlines; Non-scheduled (Overseas)—Trans-Ocean Airlines (Guam-USA, China –USA), Pacific Overseas Airlines (Contract & Ferry); Scheduled Interisland—Hawaiian Airlines (Passenger and Freight); Trans-Air Hawaii (Temporary permit); Non-scheduled Interisland—Andrew Flying Service, K-T Flying Service, Hawaiian Air Transport Service, Cockett Airlines, Island Flight Service; Trans-Pacific Airlines; Flying Schools—Andrew Flying Service, K-T Flying Service, Hawaiian School of Aeronautics, Aero Service & Supply; Island Flight Service; Mechanic’s Schools—Honolulu Vocational; Repair Shops (Light Plane)—Andrew Flying Service, K-T Flying Service, Hawaiian School of Aeronautics, Leighton & Schriver Metal Shop, Aviation Radio Maintenance Company, Associated Aircraft Repair, Aero Service & Supply; Repair Shops (Heavy Planes)—Hawaiian Airlines, Trans-Pacific Airlines, Trans-Air Hawaii, Hawaiian Air Transport Service, Cockett Airlines, Pan American Airways; Government Planes—Military Air Transport Service, Utility Flight Unit, Civil Aeronautics Administration.

As of this date the following airports were under the management of the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission: Honolulu Airport, Bellow Field, Haleiwa Airport, Port Allen Airport, Kalaupapa Airport, Molokai Airport, Hamoa Airport (Hana), Lanai Airport, General Lyman Field (Hilo), Kamuela Airport, Upolu Airport, Morse Field (South Cape).  Three new airports were under construction to be added to the list on completion: Lihue Airport, Kailua (Kona Airport) and Hana Airport.  There were no civil airports at Kahului; that site still belonged to the Naval Air Station.  Puunene still served as Maui Airport.

The construction of Maui Airport began in 1938 by the Department of Public Works and the development was continued by various agencies such as the U.S. District Engineers under the Civil Aeronautics Administration-Territorial airport program, then by a joint Army-Navy program and then completed by the Navy.  The airport comprised 2,317.969 acres of land.  The land was owned by the Territory of Hawaii, Army- Navy and Hawaii Commercial and Sugar Company.  The main portion of the airport, including the runways and taxiways, was located within the boundaries of land owned by the Territory and consisted of 515.639 acres.  This area, which was under lease to the Navy, was in the process of being declared surplus to their needs and returned to the Territory.  Plans for future development of this airport were not made since negotiations were under way with the Navy for a long-term lease on Kahului Naval Air Station which was considered much more desirable for commercial airline operation.  The airport had two paved runways 400 feet in width and 6,900-feet and 6,000-feet in length.  The airport was used mainly by commercial airlines operating between the islands.  Each airline had its own terminal facilities.

Molokai Airport was located on land belonging to the Territory and was leased to the Army during the war.  It had been declared surplus to the Army’s needs and was in the process of being returned to the Territory.  Development was made by the Army and consisted of two runways, 4,400-feet and 3,200 feet in length.  Each is paved to a width of 200- feet. The only terminal facility belonged to Hawaiian Airlines.

Upolu Airport had one paved runway 4,000-feet long and was the only airport in that part of the island which met the requirements for scheduled airline operation.  Hawaiian Airlines was the principal user and made one stop a day en route from Honolulu to Hilo, and return.

Kamuela Airport was located on Parker Ranch lands and was built by the U.S. Marines during World War II.  It had a paved runway 3,000 feet in length, and was used extensively by charter airlines and freight planes. The 1947 Legislature appropriated $60,000 for the development of this field but the construction necessary to develop a field with sufficient length to meet schedule airline operation using DC-3 aircraft would necessitate an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars.  Studies were on-going as the community wanted to be able to fly to Honolulu.

Morse Field was an Army air field located on the south tip of the Island of Hawaii and was controlled by the Territory on a temporary permit basis pending final transfer.  Because of its remote location, the Aeronautics Commission did not see commercial use, but wanted to retain the strip as an emergency landing field.

Hamoa Airport in Hana was owned by the Territory and had been in operation since May 1934.  Hawaiian Airlines used to operate from there with smaller planes, but the field could not be economically developed to meet the requirement of larger type air carriers.  Plans were being developed for a new airport in the Hana District.  Presently only small charter and private airplanes land there.

Construction plans for the new Hana Airport were about 30 percent complete.

Haleiwa Airfield was on privately owned land under lease to the U.S. Army and was used by both the Army and Navy during the War.  The use of this field by small plane operations was acquired by the Department of Public Works prior to the creation of the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission at no cost to the Territory.  The Army lease expired in September 1948 and upon the expiration for this lease, its continued use by the Territory has not been determined.