Hurricane Lowell Causes LIH Closure

As of 14:00HAST, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports has suspended operations at LIH as Category 3 Hurricane Lowell approaches Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. Inbound flights already en route are being diverted to HNL. The airport will be inspected tomorrow, and a reopening time will be announced then.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

For all of our friends on Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, please stay safe!

08 September 2026 UPDATE

HDOT-A reopened LIH at 11:20HAST.

KOA Operations Temporarily Suspended

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports temporarily suspended operations at KOA due cracks found on Runway 17/35. The closure began at 13:35HAST, and lasted for 90 minutes. HDOT-A will do permanent repairs tonight from 23:30, and lasting to 05:00 tomorrow morning.

Further information in this HDOT-A news release.

HNL Runway Night Closures

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports will conduct night closures of Runway 8L, and both Runway 4L and 4R, and at the same time Runway 8L will be shortened to 7,000 feet, as part of a rehabilitation project for Runway 8L and Taxiway A. The project is scheduled to begin on 08 September, and run until April 2027.

Night closures will begin at 22:00, and re-open at 08:00 the next morning. Here are the scheduled closures for the first phase of the project.

08 Sep to 10 Sep: Runway 8L.

08 Sep to 26 Oct: Runway 4L/22R.

26 Oct to 09 Nov: Runway 4R/22L.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

Hurricane Lala Airport Updates

With Hurricane Lala approaching and expected to pass over Hawai‘i Island today, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has already closed ITO for the day, and will close KOA around 14:00.

Flights into and out of OGG have been canceled for latter part of today.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

If you are traveling today and tomorrow, please check with your airline for flight status.

For all of our friends in Hawai‘i, please stay safe!

16 August 2026 UPDATE

Following inspections, HDOT reopened ITO and KOA this morning.

As the now-downgraded Tropical Storm Lala is now south of Kaua‘i, please check with your airline about your flight status. Some airlines have reported cancellations for today.

17 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lala is now west of the main Hawaiian Islands, and continuing toward the International Date Line.

HDOT Launches Apps For HNL and LIH

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation released smartphone apps for both HNL and LIH today. The apps include an interactive map, along with information for gates, baggage claims, and amenities.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

HDOT To Tender Inter-Island Charter Service

In response to the recent maintenance stand-down and suspension of service by Mokulele Airlines, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has issued a tender for inter-island charter service for the five smaller Hawai‘i airports: MKK, LUP, JHM, HNM, and MUE. Mokulele Airlines is the sole passenger air carrier to serve these five airports.

Kamaka Air Charters filled the void with numerous flights to MKK during Mokulele's suspension. Pacific Air Charters has yet to begin scheduled service to the smaller airports, but has been flying charters.

Mokulele holds a government-subsidized Essential Air Service contract to these airports, and has drawn the ire of Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, whose Congressional district is where the five airports are located.

Further details in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Runway 4R Re-opens

With the construction work on Runway 4R/22L completed, the runway will re-open today. Later this afternoon, Runway 4L/22R will close for continuous repairs similar to the work done to 4R, lasting to 02 September (weather permitting). Runway 8L will remain shortened to 8,600 feet, with Taxiway E as the last exit point; and Runway 26R will remain closed for arrivals.

The above illustration shows Runway 4L/22R closed, along with the corresponding taxiways. Because most arriving heavy traffic is required to roll to the end of Runway 4R, they are not able to turn left to taxi to the main terminal. Only flights going to the south ramp are landing on 4R, or those able to turn left at Taxiway E. Most commercial and military flights will have to land on Runway 8L, with Taxiway E as the last exit point. Runway 8R is available for full-length arrivals on request. Aircraft can cross both Runway 4s at Taxiway D or E when going between the north to south sides.

No mention was made if there should be a reversal in the traffic pattern.  Both Runway 26R and 22R would be closed for arrivals, but 26R will be open from Taxiway E for departures. 22L can be used for departures, though traffic from Terminals 1 and 2 will cross the 22s at Taxiway D or E, then down Taxiway C.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

LIH's Runway 3/21 Extension Project

HDOT announced that LIH's Runway 3/21 will be extended an additional 855 feet on the approach end of Runway 3, to bring it to a length of 7,355 feet. Taxiway A will be extended to the new end of Runway 3 as well. Runway 3/21 will close, with work will be done nightly from 23:00 to 08:00. This is part of the project to work to rehabilitate LIH's runways and taxiways.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

HNL's Runway 4L/22R To Close For Repairs

Following the completion of the work done on Runway 4R/22L, that runway is scheduled to re-open on 10 June, and on the same day, Runway 4L/22R will close for the same type of work. Runway 4L/22R is scheduled to re-open on 10 September, weather permitting.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

HNL's Runway 8L To Reopen This Morning

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Airports Division (HDOTA) announced that HNL's Runway 8L reopens this morning at 07:00. It has been closed since last October for widening and repaving.

Further information in this HDOTA press release.

The first flight to depart from 8L was HAL166 at 08:05, flown by N491HA. The first flight to land on 8L this morning was HAL144, at 08:13, flown by N486HA. 

HDOT Breaks Ground On Mauka Extension

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) held a ground breaking and blessing ceremony for the new Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal (to be known as Terminal 1) at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport today. When completed (estimated to be by the end of 2020), it will be able to handle six of Hawaiian Airlines' A330-243s or 787-9s wide-bodies, or eleven 717-200s or A321-271Ns narrow-bodies.

Demolition of the Commuter Terminal and parking lot will begin on Friday, June 1st.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

News coverage by KHON.

KOA Begins Terminal Modernization

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) broke ground today on the first phase of terminal modernization at the Elison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole [KOA]. The $75 million project will streamline operations, and enhance passenger experience. 

 Further details in this HDOT news release.