HILO >> Air service at a small airport on the Big Island will continue this year after officials and community partners raised the amount required in matching funds.
The Hawaii County Council approved the remaining amount in matching funds last week for the Waimea-Kohala Airport, accepting contributions from residents and groups for the $20,000 in needed funding, West Hawaii Today reported.
The U.S. Department of Transportation had threatened to cancel a $400,000 subsidy to Mokulele Airlines, citing federal rules that require 5 percent in matching funds from local sources. The federal subsidy is intended to support small communities whose nearest airport is 40 miles from the closest hub airport. The airport on the island’s north side is about 39 miles from Kona International Airport.
To meet the funding requirement, the council took $10,673 from contingency funds allocated among council members and $8,000 from the county Department of Research and Development, which promotes tourism. The rest of the funding came from the Waimea community.
“Had we allowed this to lapse, it would have taken literally an act of Congress to bring it back,” Councilman Tim Richards said.
The state Department of Transportation had planned to cover the matching funds but learned federal rules prevented it, a spokesman said.
Pahoa home occupied by squatters destroyed in fire
PAHOA >> Hawaii island firefighters were investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant, single-story home in Pahoa that was occupied by squatters.
The fire at 15-336 Kahakai Blvd. started at about 1:45 p.m. Friday. The wooden structure was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. A neighboring home sustained heat damage, firefighters said.
The unauthorized occupants of the house escaped with injuries. Police are investigating.
