Senate Bill Proposes Airport Runway Expansion

Current map of the Molokai Airport by the Federal Air Administration

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

A new bill, SB1570, introduced to the Hawaii State Legislature this year is looking at options for securing more reliable flight transportation for Molokai primarily via an expansion of Molokai airport’s runway.

The bill explains that “the legislature further finds that there has been urgent and growing concern regarding ongoing issues with Mokulele Airlines, including frequent delays and cancellations, which are forcing residents to resort to unsafe, makeshift transportation options.”

Specifically referencing the most recent Mokulele service shutdown, the bill describes Molokai residents rushed to Oahu on boats for emergency medical care.

“The legislature believes that Mokulele Airlines’ unreliability and lack of alternative air carrier options put lives and livelihoods at risk,” explains the bill. “Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation (DOT) to plan and design an expansion of the runway at Molokai airport to accommodate the landing of larger aircraft.”

At a Feb. 10 hearing for the bill by the senate committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, as well as the committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, Molokai residents and organizations had a chance to offer feedback on the proposal.

While DOT supported the intent of the bill and explained that they are in communication with other commuter airlines looking to enter the Hawaii market for Molokai and Lanai, they raised several concerns about expanding the runway.

According to DOT, the “FAA Cost-Benefit Analysis would not justify the expansion of the runway at MKK,” which would be extended by 1,500 feet and widened by 50 feet. Likewise, DOT said they could not get a commitment from a non-commuter airline to have scheduled service to Molokai.

For Molokai, organizations like Molokai Drugs, Kapualei Ranch and Rawlins Service Texaco along with 17 individuals testified in support of the bill. Only one individual testified in opposition.

The expansion of the Molokai airport runway most recently came up in discussions after Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague highlighted it as the main reason why Hawaiian could not return to Molokai.

“The length of the runway and other airport limitations on Molokai and Lanai just don’t allow us to operate our airplanes to those locations,” Sprague said in an interview with The Molokai Dispatch back in September 2024.

Likewise, Sprague explained that the 48-seater ATR-42 planes which ‘Ohana was flying to Molokai prior to 2021 are no longer part of the Hawaiian fleet.

Bill SB1570 passed both senate committees with amendments on Feb. 10. It has been referred to the Ways and Means committee to be heard next, although that hearing is yet to be scheduled.