Airport work statewide gets $100M more from governor

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office has released nearly $100 million in additional funds for airport projects happening across the state, including the massive Honolulu Airport expansion that started last year.

The latest round of airport funding — about $96.6 million — was announced by Abercrombie’s office Monday. The funds largely come from various airport user fees and don’t include state taxpayer revenues or money from the state’s general fund, officials said.

Among the slated upgrades: $50 million for taxiway "structural improvements" and $35.7 million for construction of the new Diamond Head commuter terminal at the Honolulu airport; $4.8 million for restroom renovations, and $3.7 million to replace fire sprinklers and risers at Maui’s Kahului airport; and $2 million to renovate pedestrian bridges at the Honolulu airport’s Overseas Terminal, according to a statement from Abercrombie’s office.

The latest funding also includes $410,000 to plan an environmental report devoted to the eventual reconfiguring of runways at Lihue’s airport, the release said.

Abercrombie’s office routinely announces the release of such airport dollars, which are part of the governor’s statewide capital improvement program. The last batch of airport funding — $74 million — was announced in late December.

The announcements aim for greater transparency in letting the public know how those airport dollars are being spent, even if they’re not taxpayer funds, Abercrombie spokesman Justin Fujioka said Monday.

In May, state transportation officials launched a $739 million Honolulu Airport modernization — a four-year project set to add two more concourses, a large central rental car facility, wider taxiways and other upgrades.

Two weeks after the project broke ground, the state auditor released an audit slamming the state’s Airports Division for a "pattern of recurring violations and questionable practices" related to procurements tied to the modernization project in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, before Abercrombie took office.