FAA says state can’t WAILUKU >> Gov. Ben Cayetano cannot unilaterally shut down or privatize several small state airports, The Federal Aviation Administration says.
close small airports
By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com"We're pleased," said Joseph Pluta, president of the West Maui Taxpayers Association. "It clearly shows they can't close down the Kapalua Airport or any of these airports."
Cayetano announced in October that in light of a decrease in airport revenue after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, his administration was evaluating the closure or privatization of five commuter airports: Dillingham on Oahu, Port Allen on Kauai, Upolu and Waimea-Kohala on the Big Island, and Kapalua on Maui.
In an Oct. 11 letter to Cayetano, FAA official Ronnie Simpson said the state agreed to a number of terms in accepting federal funds for four airports, including not to dispose of them.
"Consequently, the state may not close or dispose of an airport without concurrence of the FAA Association administrator of airports," said Simpson, the manager of the Airports District Office in Honolulu.
Simpson said an airport closure can be justified only when circumstances clearly demonstrate that an airport no longer serves a public purpose.
"Such drastic action cannot be justified merely because an airport represents a temporal inconvenience or burden of some kind on the airport sponsor," Simpson said.
Simpson said a decision to grant or deny a request to close an airport would require public notice and hearings with the industry, airport users and communities.
Cayetano was not available for comment.
Pluta, whose taxpayers association represents 4,800 members, said the Kapalua Airport not only serves as a commuter link for some residents, but also an emergency alternative in the event the highway between West Maui and Kahului is closed.
Pluta said while the letter does not name Kapalua as among the four receiving federal money, he believes other federal funds were obtained as a result of the airport and bind the state to keep it open.
Activity at Kapalua is the highest among the five airports, with 95,390 passengers a year and 12,000 takeoffs and landings, while the lowest volume is at Upolu with 100 passengers a year and about 4,300 takeoffs and landings, according to state figures.
Cayetano said the state will continue to lose $2 million a year operating the smaller airports.
Simpson said his agency recommended the state pursue strategies to increase airport revenues, such as implementing a facility charge for passengers that could raise an additional $11 million per year.
He said the administration should also resolve long-standing compliance issues that have precluded the state from being eligible for airport discretionary funds.
The issues have included the return of federal grants diverted from state airport projects to other Hawaii government projects, including highways.
Dennis T. Higa, acting state airports administrator, said the state is evaluating whether to impose a facility passenger charge and also is close to resolving the compliance issues.
Greg Kahlstorf, president of the airline Pacific Wings, said he thought the state should focus on bringing itself into compliance so it could receive more federal grant dollars.
Kahlstorf said he felt shutting down or privatizing the airports was "reckless at worst and ill advised at best."
"We have concerns about either approach because there's no assurance how a private company is going to run the airport," he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration
State of Hawaii
