Hawaii Aviation

Lihue – On September 4, 2025, U.S Senator Brian Schatz announced that Hawaii Department of Transportation has been awarded with $51,315,763 in federal grant funding for renovation of Lihue Airport.

The funds will be used to improve the infrastructure on Lihue Airport. The primary goal is to “relocate” the Runway 3-21 to meet the Federal Administration’s runway safety requirements after years of temporary fixes and exemptions. It might seem like a minor adjustment, but it’s a significant upgrade. Lihue Airport’s redesigned layout now includes buffer zones that were previously absent, giving pilots extra room to maneuver during emergencies and lowering the chances of runway overruns.

Meanwhile, there’s a major overhaul happening beneath the surface. Outdated lighting and signage systems are being removed and swapped with energy-efficient LED fixtures along the runways and taxiways. Beneath it all, fresh conduits and wiring are being installed to support the new infrastructure.

The Renovation is projected finish in 2026.

 

Reference

1. Matsumura, Carley. ( Sept 4, 2025) $51M+ federal grant funding heading to Lihu’e Airport. khon2. https://www.khon2.com/kauai-news/51m-federal-grant-funding-heading-to-lihu%CA%BBe-airport/?nxsparam=9
2. Hawaii Travel News.  (Sept 7, 2025) $51 Million Coming To Lihue Airport. BEAT of HAWAII. https://beatofhawaii.com/51-million-finally-coming-to-lihue-airport/