Honolulu, HI -- PATA Hawaii welcomed members and guests to its most recent event, “Airport Revisited, Behind the Scenes”.  The March 22 luncheon held at the Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki provided an update on the most recent improvements that the Honolulu International  Airport has undergone as well as planned projects for the near future.  Among the distinguished panel of presenters were: Marsha Weinert, State of Hawaii Tourism Liaison; Brian H. Sekiguchi, Deputy Director, State Department of Transportation (DOT); Alan Yamamoto, HMS Host, District General Manager, Hawaiian Islands; Kenneth Muranaka, Visitor Information Program Administrator, DOT; and Marge Kawashima, General Manager, DFS Galleria, Honolulu International Airport and Neighbor Islands.

According to Wienert, a large portion of the $2.3 billion makeover planned over the next 10 years will focus on transportation and related infrastructure, including a $30 million people-mover system, new passenger transport (i.e., “Wiki Wiki”) buses, and a new 1,500-stall parking structure.  Security upgrades will consist of the integration and relocation of various baggage screening systems out of lobby areas.  In addition, new signage, phones, and monitors will be installed throughout the airport, and a wider array of restaurants, bars, and shops are scheduled to open in the near future.  Such changes have long been anticipated, as many of these projects were put on hold after September 11.  Since then, airport traffic has rebounded and customer demand for goods and services within the airport has increased accordingly.

For many travelers, the Honolulu International Airport is their first and last impression of Hawaii.  As such, the ultimate goal is that it will complement the visitor experience, providing the safe, relaxing, and friendly spirit of Aloha for which the destination is known.