1,800 More Stalls at Honolulu Airport

KHON 2 TV News
Feb 17, 2009

By Ron Mizutani

Finding a parking stall at Honolulu International Airport won't be such a chore anymore.

On Tuesday state officials dedicated a new eight-story parking structure that will increase the number of stalls available from 4,500 to 6,300.

It stands eight floors high and will provide an additional 1,800 parking stalls.

"Finding a parking space at the airport becomes premium on a long weekend when you're late for your flight when you're hearing rang late there's no other flights to get home and there's nothing until Monday," said Sen. Kalani English, transportation committee chairman.

The new parking structure sits between the inter-island and overseas terminals and includes a moving sidewalk for pedestrians.

The$ 39.2 million project broke ground in September of 2007, providing jobs for 35 companies.

"That's 35 companies and thousands of employees," said Governor Lingle.

She says its projects like this one that can stimulate our economy.

"We don't want to build projects for the sake of building projects. We want to build projects that truly make life better that are part of a long-range plan. We don't want to be one of those communities that when there's money available they rush to figure out what to build," said Lingle.

"Especially in the economic downturn like we're experiencing -- it's very easy to stop and not plan for the future and then you know five years from now we're all talking about why we didn't plan for the future," said Blaine Miyasato of Hawaiian Airlines.

After the traditional untying of the maile lei -- a motorcade of classic cars made its way through the new facility. The parking garage is part of the statewide two-point-three billion dollar multi-year plan to modernize Hawaii airports.

"We want to bring tourists here and we want to our best quality of life for our residents in our state -- that we need a modernization plan," said Rep. Lynn Finnegan, who represents the airport area.

An important plan for many businesses including Hawaiian Airlines, a company that has seen a 50 percent increase in costs at Hawaii airports in the last two years.

"Many people have asked -- given the current climate are we still interested in supporting modernization it's a passionate yes," said Miyasato.

"Good airports plan -- good airports collaborate -- great airports make it happen and this is a really good example of that."

©2007 KHON-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Original article URL: http://www.khon2.com/home/ticker/39759722.html

Return to Sen. English Home Page - KalaniEnglish.com

Home Bills and Resolutions About Senator English Committees Community Profiles Newsletter Archive News Archive Capitol Web Site Media Photos

Connect with Senator English

OUR DISTRICT